News broke after publishing last week's Bonus Tracks that Jon Dee Graham passed away last Friday, March 27 after a fall. He was 67 years old. The Austin singer-songwriter was beloved in Texas and across the wider roots music community. Austin radio station KUTX shared a tribute, as did The Bitter Southerner. And here at No Depression, co-founder Peter Blackstock recalled this feature that co-founder Grant Alden wrote for issue #63, May-June 2006, of the original magazine. Check out even more old photos, stories, memories, and messages from roots musicians and organizations below.
Bluegrass band Greensky Bluegrass will premiere a documentary about recording 2024's The Iceland Sessions this Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm EDT via nugs and YouTube. The film, titled Find Ourselves Lost, The Iceland Sessions, is the feature-length directorial debut from René Huemer, a music photographer and videographer who has worked artists like KISS, Dave Matthews, Phish, The Rolling Stones, and more. Additionally, the band will be donating to the Divided Sky Foundation, a Vermont-based nonprofit that helps individuals affected by addiction.
Dobroist Anders Beck wrote the following about Find Ourselves Lost, The Iceland Sessions in a press release:
When we decided to make a film about the making of The Iceland Sessions EP, the idea was essentially to let Rene make something beautiful where the band and the location were both the subject. We know Rene as a friend through his work with Phish and trusted his artistic vision enough to put him in the driver’s seat. I, and the whole bad as well, love that the stunning scenery of Iceland play such a huge role in the film. To me, it feels like an art piece as much as a music documentary. I think that is really special and unique.
What started out as a documentary about the band making a record turned into much more... we all individually (and unbeknownst to each other) really ended up opening up to the camera about so much more than just this particular recording session. The finished product was pretty jarring at first to us, but that is the sign of good art to me. The film captures a time of real vulnerability and introspection in Greensky’s life, addressing both the human and musical aspects of being in a band.
I’m really proud of this documentary for being more than just a fluff piece, honestly. For a band that has always prided ourselves on our brand of silly humor and fun, it took a lot of guts to really let people see behind the curtain at some of the real struggles we’ve faced together.
Check out the trailer below:
Mandolinist Sierra Hull announced the release of a three-part bluegrass concerto — originally commissioned by No Depression's nonprofit publisher, The FreshGrass Foundation — due out next Friday, April 10. The album, simply titled The Movements features her band Avery Merritt, Erik Coveney, Mark Raudabaugh, and Shaun Richardson. The musicians began work on the concerto in 2023, integrating elements into their live sets, but didn't finish recording until more recently. As Hull shared in a press release:
“Movement 3" has been a staple in our live shows over the last few years, occasionally sneaking in "Movement 1" or "Movement 2" when we were craving a challenge. ...Folks have been asking for a while now when we would finally release a recording of them, so we are pumped to finally share it with everyone! It’s truly a capture of the earliest days of this group of musicians learning to make music together.
Check out a performance of “Movement 3” On CBS Saturdays below:
Adrian Quesada, solo artist and member of The Black Pumas, surprise-released a new album today titled Trio Asesino. The trio comprises Quesada, keyboardist Joshy Soul (The Teskey Brothers, Curtis Harding), and drummer Jay Mumford (Gnarls Barkley, J-Zone), and the LP includes special guests including trumpeter Keyon Harrold (Leon Bridges, D’Angelo) and harpist Minta Spencer.
Trey Anastasio also surprise-released a new album today. Trey Anastasio – Live and Acoustic comprises 22 tracks of stripped-down performances from last year's acoustic tour. Check out a new song below, and read this essay that Anastasio wrote for the Summer 2022 "Movers and Shakers" issue of No Depression.
California-based singer-songwriter (and Lucinda Williams aficionado and documentarian) ISMAY announced a new album titled Half Truth, which is due out June 12 via Fossil Records.
Tony Award-winning actor and singer-songwriter John Gallagher Jr. announced a new EP titled Almost OK, due out May 29 via Grand Phony Music. The new tunes follow 2024's breakup record Goodbye or Something and a successful run on Broadway as the protagonist of The Avett Brothers-soundtracked musical, Swept Away. Read more from Gallagher Jr. in this 2024 No Depression feature about Swept Away and check out the lead single from Almost OK below.
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
Taylor Vidic - "Falling Out of Love"
Crys Matthews - "Forged In Fire"
Low Cut Connie - "Little Red Corvette" (Prince cover)
Alison Brown and Steve Martin - "New Cluck Old Hen"
NEW RELEASES - 4/3/26
Paul Cauthen - Book Of Paul
Charley Crockett - Age of the Ram
Jessye DeSilva - Glitter Up The Dark
Elizabeth & The Catapult - Responsible Friend
Mark Erilli - Spring Green
Jonny Fritz - Debbie Downers: Woodwinds
David Aaron Greenberg - Trap Poems
Bruce Hornsby - Indigo Park
Thomm Jutz - Ring-A-Bellin'
Kronos Quartet - Glorious Mahalia
Joe Pernice - Sunny, I Was Wrong
Maria Taylor - Story's End
Joe Troop - The Truth Machine [EP]
COMING SOON - 4/10/26
Brown Horse - Total Dive
Drivin N Cryin - Crushing Flowers
Fantastic Cat - Cat out of Hell
Cactus Lee - Lee's Dream
Rachel Lyme - STORIES
Tenille Townes - The Acrobat
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