This was a devastating week in the roots music community. RIP to Bonnaroo and Outside Lands co-founder Jonathan Mayers (The Tennessean) and New York City venue owner and local music champion Billy Jones (Pitchfork). Additionally, two musical legends — funk, rock, and soul artist Sly Stone and the Beach Boys’ pop genius frontman Brian Wilson both passed away this week. Read tributes to them by two of music’s best contemporary critics, Rob Sheffield at Rolling Stone and Ann Powers at NPR, respectively.
Margo Price announced her return to country music with the rollicking, defiant “Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down.” The new album, Hard Headed Woman, is due out August 29 via Loma Vista.
Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter announced a new album, I Believe in You, My Honeydew, due out September 12 via Thirty Tigers. The first track, “You Won’t Dig My Grave,” is out now.
Montral-based folk-rock band The Barr Brothers also announced a new album this week. Their first effort in nearly eight years (and unfortunately their first without harpist Sarah Pagé), is titled Let It Hiss, and is due out October 17 via Secret City Records. Listen to the title track below.
Trampled By Turtles announced the winner of their inaugural Palomino Grant. Congratulations to Sophie Hiroko, who will be opening for the Minnesota bluegrass band on July 5 during their show with S.G. Goodman. Read more about the award here.
In industry news, beloved North Carolina indie label Merge Records (Superchunk, Hiss Golden Messenger, Fruit Bats, Waxahatchee) have reached a deal in which the Secretly Group purchased 50% stake of the company. The Indiana-based indie label group, which comprises Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory, and Secretly Canadian (and which has released roots music classics by Bon Iver, Songs: Ohia, Richard Swift), has had a longtime distribution partnership with Merge, but this agreement brings the two companies much closer. Read more at Pitchfork.
Finally, awards season continues. The Tony Awards took place last Sunday, where the country-roots themed Dead Outlaw was nominated for seven awards. Swept Away, which featured music by The Avett Brothers, was nominated for Best Scenic Design in a Musical, but lost to Maybe Happy Ending. Read more about that musical here, as well as last year’s big Tony winner The Outsiders, featuring music by Jamestown Revival here.
AMERICANAFEST announced the nominees for its 2025 Americana Honors & Awards with a video featuring an introduction by Kacey Musgraves.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Charley Crockett - Lonesome Drifter
Jason Isbell - Foxes in the Snow,
MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks,
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - South of Here
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Charley Crockett
Sierra Ferrell
Joy Oladokun
Billy Strings
Waxahatchee
DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Julien Baker & TORRES
Dawes
Larkin Poe
The Mavericks
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
EMERGING ACT OF THE YEAR:
Noeline Hofmann
MJ Lenderman
Medium Build
Maggie Rose
Jesse Welles
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR:
Fred Eltringham
Alex Hargreaves
Megan Jane
Kaitlyn Raitz
Seth Taylor
SONG OF THE YEAR:
Maggie Antone - "Johnny Moonshine"
I'm With Her - "Ancient Light"
MJ Lenderman - "Wristwatch"
JD McPherson - "Sunshine Getaway"
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - "Heartless"
The Libera Awards also held its annual awards show this week. While presenting organization A2IM highlights independent musicians and labels of all genres, the following roots musicians won:
Best American Roots Record: MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks (ND review)
Best Blues Record: Ruthie Foster – Mileage (ND story)
Best Country Record: Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood (ND review)
Best Global Record: Mdou Moctar - Funeral for Justice
Best Soul/Funk Record: Thee Sacred Souls - Got a Story to Tell (ND review)
Best Folk Record, Best Singer-Songwriter Record, and Record of the Year: Jessica Pratt - Here in the Pitch
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
Sly and the Family Stone - There’s A Riot Goin’ On
Songs: Ohia – Didn’t It Rain
The Twilight Sad – Nobody Wants to Be Here & Nobody Wants to Leave
Nikki Lane – “Woodruff City Limit”
Wild Horses — “Sioux Falls”
Kai Crowe-Getty — “American Radio”
NEW RELEASES – 6/13/25
Joseph Allred - Old Time Fantasias
Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. + The Wild Magnolias - Chip Off the Old Block
Buick Audra - Adult Child
Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell - We Insist! 2025
Common Holly - Anything Glass
Ruby Friedman Orchestra - Chimes After Midnight
John C Reilly - What's Not To Love?
Wayne Scott - Wayne's Pain
Māhealani Uchiyama - Pōpoloheno: Songs Of Resilience And Joy
Joshua Ray Walker - Tropicana
The Westerlies – Paradise
Patrick Wolf - Crying the Neck
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts - Talkin to the Trees
COMING SOON – 6/20/25
William Beckmann - Wiskey, Lies and Alibis
Clay Street Unit - Sin & Squalor
S.G. Goodman - Planting by the Signs
D.K. Harrell - Talkin Heavy
Mason Jennings - Magnifier
Elija Johnston - Stupid Soul
Little Marzan - Mustang Island
James McMurtry - The Black Dog & the Wandering Boy
Lukas Nelson - American Romance
Willie Nile - The Great Yellow Light
Nathan Salsburg - Ipsa Corpora
Special Consensus - Been All Around This World
Edna Vazquez - Te Esperaba
The Vegabonds - Young and Unafraid
Kelsey Waldon - Every Ghost
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