For his his 155th album (according to Texas Monthly) and 78th solo record, Willie Nelson has announced an 11-track tribute to fellow Texas icon Merle Haggard. Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, which follows a series of covers albums honoring Harlan Howard, Ray Price, George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, and Rodney Crowell, is due out November 7 via Legacy Recordings. Listen to lead single "Workin' Man Blues" below.
Speaking of Haggard, Craft Recordings announced the revival of HighTone Records with a vinyl reissue of 1994's Tulare Dust: A Songwriters’ Tribute to Merle Haggard. The label, which became known for its support of American roots music, began in 1983 and shuttered in 2008. As stated in a press release:
Now, under Craft Recordings, HighTone returns with a renewed mission: to bring timeless recordings back into focus and introduce foundational artists to a new generation of listeners.
The original covers LP featured artists including Iris DeMent, Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, and Dave Alvin (who co-produced the record with Tom Russell). Check out the hype video below.
Canadian-Grenadian musician Kaïa Kater began a banjo-teaching video series cleverly titled "Claw & Order." In the YouTube description, she writes:
Welcome to 'Claw & Order', a monthly lesson series where I start with the basics of the clawhammer banjo technique and work my way into teaching my original songs, and traditional/covers too.
For this beginner lesson, you don't have to know how to play clawhammer - I'll teach you! We'll start with tuning the banjo and move on to the classic 'bum ditty' motion that every beginner learns.
Like + Subscribe for more lessons every month, and drop any questions below - I'll do my best to answer!
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Todd Snider has announced a new album titled HIGH, LONESOME AND THEN SOME, due out October 17 via Lightning Rod Records. The album will apparently be a more acoustic affair and lead single "WHILE WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE" features cowriter Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes and producers Aaron Lee Tasjan, Robbie Crowell and Joe Bisirri. Plus, read more on Snider in the Fall 2022 journal.
Finally, it's Bandcamp Friday again, where all fees are waived and all proceeds go directly to artists.
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
Hunter Metts - "Blue Ridge Run"
Cotton Clifton - "California Stoned" f/Nikki Lane
Dave Hause - "Enough Hope"
The Brudi Brothers - Motherland
Celia Cruz and Tito Puente - Alma Con Alma (The Heart & Soul of Celia Cruz and Tito Puente)
Emily Hines - These Days
Alexa Rose - "Arms" (from her forthcoming album, Atmosphere, due out October 31 via First City Artists)
William Prince - "For the First Time" (from his forthcoming album, Further From the Country, due out October 17 via Six Shooter Records)
Various Artists - LIDER MIT PALESTINE לידער מיט פּאַלעסטינע: New Yiddish Songs of Grief, Fury, and Love
NEW RELEASES – 9/5/25
Darol Anger - Diary of a Fiddler #2: The Empty Nest
Timothy Seth Avett as Darling - Feathe
Big Thief - Double Infinity
Becky Buller - Songs That Sing Me
Robbie Fulks - Now Then
Wesley Hanna - Magnolia
Curtis Harding - Departures & Arrivals: The Adventures of Captain Curt
Grant-Lee Phillips - In The Hour of Dust
Gwenifer Raymond - Last Night I Heard The Dog Star Bark
Liam St. John - Man of the North
Various Artists - I Will Swim to You: A Tribute to Jason Molina
COMING SOON - 9/12/25
Brothers Comatose - Golden Grass
Shawn Camp - The Ghost of Sis Draper
John Carter Cash - Pineapple John
Fruit Bats - Baby Man
Margaret Glaspy - The Golden Heart Protector
Hazlett - last night you said you missed me
Michael Hurley - Broken Homes and Gardens
Nicholas Jamerson - The Narrow Way
Ruston Kelly - Pale, Through The Window
Jens Lekman - Songs from Other People's Weddings
Ali McGuirk - Watertop
Carson McHone - Perimento
Josh Ritter - I Believe in You, My Honeydew
Emma Swift - The Resurrection Game
West Texas Exiles - 8000 Days
Dar Williams - Hummingbird Highway
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