Each member of this trio carries serious pedigree: Ian Moore’s psychedelic fire, Johnny Moeller’s deep-pocket sting, and Jesse Dayton’s outlaw storytelling have powered everything from The Fabulous Thunderbirds to Austin’s Antone’s legacy to Grammy-nominated collaborations and cult favorite solo records. With roots tracing back to Antone’s and the late Clifford Antone’s last wave of discoveries, the Headhunters are here to remind the world what Texas blues was, is, and still can be. This self-titled album will be officially released Friday the 22nd.

Surprise! This Connecticut-based jamband – not to be confused with the New York-based indierock band Geese – just released this new album with no previous announcements, right before their debut performance of new song “Madalena” aired on The Tonight Show. It’s their second album of 2025, a rapid follow-up to April’s Everything Must Go. The e-drums, the heavy use of overdubs, and (some might say) overproduction that dominated much of that album are more absent on this one.

The music collective from Los Angeles and New Jersey called Pigs on Corn met drummer Mike Kowalski and bassist Ed Carter while those two legendary backing musicians were touring with the Beach Boys reunion band. Kowalski and Carter played on the late Nick Drake’s Bryter Later album, and upon revealing their mutual love for Drake’s work, decided to record this new EP.

Dar Williams has spent most of her life touring the world, and perhaps her love affair with Paris is reflected in this new single from her 13th album, Hummingbird Highway, out September 12 on Righteous Babe Records. September 12th also sees the release of Shawn Camp’s The Ghost of Sis Draper, which features 10 songs co-written by Camp and the late Guy Clark, as well as one solo Clark composition, all centered around their famous character immortalized in this beloved song. We’re looking forward to seeing Shawn at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival coming up Labor Day weekend, both with his Earls of Leicester and with another of Clark’s frequent collaborators, Verlon Thompson. The Ruen Brothers have a dramatic song shaped by Rupert Stansall’s haunting production and brother Henry Stansall’s yearning, multi-octave vocals, perhaps shaped by their love for film noir and Westerns. After working previously with Rick Rubin, their self-produced album Awooo comes out on October 17th, weeks after their return to the Albino Skunk Music Festival.

with this one, out Friday August 15th. It was produced by Michael Selverne (Steep Canyon Rangers, Boyz II Men, Asheville Symphony, Rising Appalachia) and features performances by world renowned musicians, including Jeff Pevar (David Crosby; Ray Charles, Donald Fagan); Philippe Saisse (Al Di Meola, Nile Rodgers, Chaka Khan); Bashiri Johnson (Michael Jackson, Sting, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin); Bill Berg (Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, The Moody Blues); Michael Bearden (Madonna, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson), Daryl Jones (Miles Davis, Sting, The Rolling Stones); and Al Carty (Christina Aguilera, Ed Sheeran, Rob Thomas).

Sunny Sweeney has made a name for herself with most music fans these past few years as a host on a couple of Sirius/XM’s country music channels. But she went back into the studio to record and co-produce this new one, which draws on her East Texas upbringing and years spent working the Nashville and Austin music scenes. She’s clearly forsaken the pop-oriented direction of her past for a more honky-tonk focus, and we applaud her for that! Sunny Sweeney’s tour for this new one takes her to Galax, VA on Aug. 22nd and Johnson City, TN on the 23rd.

Grant-Lee Phillips has always considered himself a visual artist as much as a musician and performer. Indeed, the entirety of Grant-Lee Phillips’ songbook, from the albums of the band Grant Lee Buffalo, through his 12 solo albums, are highly cinematic and atmospheric. “Although art and film had become eclipsed by music, I found that putting out albums provided me with an opportunity to create accompanying visuals. I’ve always embraced the intersection of music and album art, much like the painting you see on the cover of this album. Painting quiets, or directs my mind towards a focal point, and everything else goes away.”

The ever prolific Charley Crockett has already released his second album of the year. Once again joined by co-producer Shooter Jennings, the new one marks the second installment in The Sagebrush Trilogy, coming just five months after Lonesome Drifter, part one of the trilogy and his Island Records debut.

These two members of the Rising Appalachia band, both of whom grew up in Asheville, recorded this album in a rustic cabin in Colorado (named Long Branch.) It’s a wonderful exploration of both both traditional Appalachian and Irish tunes and inventive originality here. Duncan played fiddle, mandocello, guitar, cello; David played guitar, banjo, upright bass. By the way, the album art is by another artist who grew up in Asheville, Hannah Seng. She helped introduce the two to each other years ago, as well as coax Duncan into playing old time fiddle.

Lake Street Dive singer Rachael Price and guitarist/songwriter Vilray Bolles have their 3rd collaboration out, and this time it’s an out-of-time vision of their beloved New York City, inspired by Vilray’s recent fascination with classic musicals. Recorded at Sear Sound in New York City, West of Broadway features saxophonist Steve Wilson (Chick Corea’s Origin sextet) and drummer John Riley (Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie). Comedian and late-night TV host Stephen Colbert, a longtime fan, also appears on the album version of “Off Broadway.” “There’s so much imagery in the lyrics,” says Price. “I think a fun way to listen to the record would be to go for a walk and let the songs play out like a little movie in your mind.”