Tag: Americana music

Teddy and the Rough Riders: A New Chapter with Down Home

Fast Livin’ is the latest single from Teddy and the Rough Riders’ forthcoming new album Down Home, due out October 11, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Nashville, TN – The speed and momentum Teddy and the Rough Riders are gathering throughout Nashville’s underground country music scene is embodied in their latest single, Fast Livin.’ Music City natives, Jack Quiggins and Ryan Jennings, have been going non-stop since the late 2010s, collaborating with everyone from Margo Price to Emily Nenni to Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears, quickly becoming your favorite country band’s favorite country band. With Fast Livin,’ Teddy and the Rough Riders paints a small picture of their upbringing, leaving town to hit the road, and all of the nefarious hijinks that come along with it. But it’s not completely autobiographical. (IV PR, 2024)

Brooklyn Vegan recently premiered the track. Fans can stream or purchase Fast Livin’ check out Teddy and The Rough Riders’ previously released singles, Catfish Summer and Hippies, and pre-order or pre-save Down Home ahead of its October 11 release via Appalachia Record Co. right here. 

On their new album Down Home, the songwriting duo of Jack Quiggins and Ryan Jennings double down on all the elements that garnered praise for their previous, eponymous album produced by Margo Price. Holler Country succinctly sums them up: “Teddy and the Rough Riders are pulling apart the lost threads of country rock and weaving them back together with their own alternative take on the form.” As native Nashvillians, the pair came up through Music City’s DIY rock scene explosion of the late 00s into 2010s, eventually embracing the traditional country roots of their home city. At just 33 minutes, Down Home moves at a fast clip, with a variety of blazing rippers, traditional sounds, and alt-country styles inviting repeat listens.

Down Home tracklist:
Bullet
Fast Livin’
Catfish Summer
Trouble Sleeping
Golden Light
Edna’s Song
Mountain Girl
Hippies
Love After Life
Bird Has Flown
Gettin’ High

The band has recently been named “Best Honky Tonk Group” by Austin TX’s Ameripolitan Awards for 2024. They toured North America, the EU, and the UK through the summer backing and opening for Emily Nenni and will embark on their own North American tour in October.

Catch Teddy and the Rough Riders on tour:
October 3 – Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar
October 4 – Reno, NV – Off Beat
October 5 – Folsom, CA – Folsom Hotel
October 6 – Los Angeles, CA – Permanent Records Roadhouse
October 7 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer
October 8 – Tempe, AZ – Yucca Tap Room
October 10 – Abilene, TX – Lone Star Dry Goods
October 11 – San Antonio, TX – Lonesome Rose
October 12 – Austin, TX – White Horse
October 13 – Austin, TX – ACL Fest
October 17 – Birmingham, AL – Woodlawn Theatre
October 18 – Nashville, TN – Soft Junk
October 19 – Thomaston, GA – Mule Days

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Some Place to Rest Easy: The Stories and Inspirations of Bob Sumner’s New Album

Bob Sumner wrangles real-life subject matter with a good-time country sound in new album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Vancouver, BC – Singer-songwriter Bob Sumner cites the musically progressive sensibilities of his heroes when talking about the spirit of his new album, Some Place to Rest Easy, out now via Fluff & Gravy (worldwide) and North Country Collective (Canada). “They were always creating something new, something different,” he says of idols like George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. With that ideology in mind, Sumner set about creating an album that takes as much inspiration from the audio production of Randy Travis as it does the lyrical soul of Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker—a melding of eras, sounds, concepts, and stylings that’s informed by the past, but never bound by it. (IV-PR, 2024)

With Some Place to Rest Easy, Sumner picks up the tempo compared to his previous releases, balancing the stirring lyrical depth fans have come to expect with a more buoyant, lively feel. “It felt appropriate to give the music itself some joy,” says the man who’s made a career out of tapping into difficult-to-touch-on, real-life stuff in a relatable, palatable manner. In the end, that’s what Sumner’s music has always been about—more than a single sound, influence, instrumental, or clever line. “I always want people to feel something,” Sumner explains. “If I heard that this album helped somebody that was feeling down, even just by feeling some other emotion for a little while, that’s the number one thing for me.”

Fans can now stream or purchase Some Place to Rest Easy. Sumner will take the stage at Nashville’s world-famous Bluebird Cafe on September 15. Tickets and complete tour dates are available online. 

Some Place to Rest Easy tracklist:
Bridges
Motel Room
Don’t We Though
You Can Stay Here
Forty Years on the Floor
Didn’t We Dream
Turn You Into Stone
Baby I Know
Lonesome Sound
Familiar Feeling
Is It Really Any Wonder

Some Place to Rest Easy In The News:

“A blend of past, present, and future sounds” – American Songwriter

“More than a single sound, influence, instrumental, or theme, the through line in Sumner’s music has always been vulnerability.” – Glide Magazine

“Genuine and weighty songwriting” – Americana Highways

“High class, country leaning Americana.” – Americana UK

“It takes a deft hand to put out a good, sad record…Bob Sumner nails it on Someplace To Rest Easy.” – Twangville

Exploring the Heartland: Jim Lauderdale’s Latest Album My Favorite Place

Jim Lauderdale’s new album My Favorite Place will be released June 21, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Jim Lauderdale is the Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and performer known as one of Americana’s most steadfast champions. Put him in a room with a killer band and a near-as-can-be-perfect country tune, and one would be hard-pressed to find a better combination in all of current-day music. Luckily, that’s exactly what happened when Mr. Americana took to the studio to record “I’m A Lucky Loser.” Flanked by Chris Scruggs and Kenny Vaughn on electric guitars, Wes L’angolis on acoustic, Will Van Horn on pedal steel, Micah Hulshcer on piano, Pat Bubert on drums, and equally stellar touring band members Jay Weaver, Frank Rische, and Lillie Mae Rische, Lauderdale took to Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studios to track the lilting, cheeky ode to luck, both good and bad. (IV-PR, 2024)

“I’m A Lucky Loser” is the latest single from Lauderdale’s upcoming LP, My Favorite Place—out June 21. Continuing a string of stellar releases with his touring band, The Game Changers—Craig Smith (Guitar), Frank Rische (Guitar), Jay Weaver (Bass), Dave Racine (Drums), and the extraordinary Lillie Mae Rische (Vocals)—along with some of Music City’s favorite ringers like the cast of “I’m A Lucky Loser,” My Favorite Place is pure Jim Lauderdale country; his legendary voice carrying a new batch of stories, all framed by pure pedal steel, fiddle, and the tightest rhythm section this side of the Grand Ole Opry. 

To hear the new single live, fans can check out Lauderdale’s recent performance and interview on RFD-TV here. Fans can stream or purchase “I’m A Lucky Loser” at this link, hear Lauderdale’s previously released singles, “You’ve Got A Shine,” and “Mrs. Green” at their respective links, and pre-order or pre-save My Favorite Place, ahead of its June 21 release right here. 

My Favorite Place tracklist:
My Favorite Pace
Mrs. Green
The Lightning Tree
You’ll Be Gone By Then
Sweethearts Remember
Don’t You Treat ‘Em That Way
Baby Steps
I’m A Lucky Loser
We Ought To Celebrate
You’ve Got A Shine
What’s Important After All

Catch Jim Lauderdale on tour. A full list of Lauderdale’s tour dates can be found below or online.

June 13 – The Colonial Theatre – Phoenixville, PA ^
June 14 – Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA ^
June 15 – Godfrey Daniels – Bethlehem, PA
June 22 – Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
June 27 – ROMP – Owensboro, KY *
July 30 – Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival – Parson, WV
August 31st – Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival – Brunswick, ME *
September 13 – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion – Bristol, TN
September 27 – IBMA Bluegrass Live – Raleigh NC
September 28 – IBMA Bluegrass Live – Raleigh NC
October 10 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA !
October 13 – CaveFest – Pelham, TN

^ With Los Lobos
* With The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
! With Lillie Mae

https://youtu.be/upxUpZkKaAE?si=eq_CvgEkyL9mKx5u
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New album release: Talking to Strangers – Jack McKeon

“Last Slice of Heaven” is the first single off Jack McKeon’s forthcoming new album Talking to Strangers, due out June 21, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Jack McKeon is a different sort of musician; a Nashville-based singer-songwriter with an honest, plainspoken vocal, an eclectic-roots sound, and a knack for bringing crystalline characters to life. A student of the greats drawn to the timeless, rather than the trendy, he hails from Chatham, New York (a few hours north of New York City and a world removed from the Americana and bluegrass scene he now inhabits), and harbors a deep love for the written word. First inspired by literary music icons from Hank Williams and Guy Clark to Tom T. Hall and John Hartford, McKeon arrived in Nashville in 2021 and has since established a reputation for his own message-drive lyricism—a value which shows up in its full sonic serenity on his 2024 album debut, Talking to Strangers, due out June 21. (IV-PR, 2024)

Recorded live over three days, Talking to Strangers captures the warm, organic sound of contemporary Appalachian soul, infusing folk rock with an easy-going bluegrass sway and speaking to his long-held musical values. It’s a work of classic craftsmanship, sturdy and simple yet packed with the nuance of a true, intentional wordsmith, and just the first significant step in what McKeon sees as “a lifelong pursuit.”

“Last Slice of Heaven” is the first single from Talking to Strangers. Fans can stream or purchase the single and pre-save Talking to Strangers ahead of its release.

With a classic banjo kick-off and rose-colored details dotting the first verse, Jack McKeon gives listeners their first taste of his new album with “Last Slice of Heaven.”

McKeon’s depiction of developmental creep is the story of every landowner outside of burgeoning cities nationwide. It doesn’t take long for the story to take a darker turn. How are the bills getting paid? Is there a new contractor twisting the county’s arm to condemn? “But now the land that he’s been working is worth more than he could need,” McKeon sings in the song’s pre-chorus. “If selling out’s surrender, is leaving like defeat?” “I wrote this song to give a voice to the person I imagined holding on to this ‘Last Slice of Heaven,’ a character at odds with the transformation around him who’s fighting to hold on to his own identity,” says McKeon. “…in spite of ‘A world that’s always changing what it means to be the same.’”

The Bluegrass Situation premiered the music video for “Last Slice of Heaven,” a simple, poignant affair in which McKeon picks the song on his vintage Gibson dreadnaught in his own little slice of heaven.

Talking to Strangers track list:
Willow Lane
Paler Shade of Blue
Highway 29
Last Slice of Heaven
I Don’t Trust You
Hard Headed
Crooked Teeth
Past the Point of Rescue
Waffle House Wonder
Love at the End of the World

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New album release: When It All Goes Down – Sarah King

Sarah King’s new album When It All Goes Down is available now. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Award-winning singer-songwriter-guitarist Sarah King makes her long-awaited full-length solo debut with When It All Goes Down, exploring life’s seismic shifts via her own singular strain of Gothic Americana. Produced, engineered, and arranged by David Baron, the album sees King weaving classic rock ‘n’ roll, Southern soul, true country, and primal folk-blues into something inspiring and cathartic, deeply personal yet wholly universal. Fired by King’s spellbinding, seen-it-all vocals and rock solid rhythm guitar, songs like “The Longest Night” and the empowering, anthemic title track are haunting, oft-times harrowing, tales of impossible guilt and inconsolable grief, of raising hell (and the repercussions that follow), of how to stand face to face with the Devil himself yet somehow emerge bigger, better, and badder than before. (One In A Million Media, 2024)

Currently residing in the Green Mountains of Vermont, in a tiny log cabin without cell reception, Sarah King has walked many a hard road to reach When It All Goes Down. New England born and raised, King spent her early twenties down South, playing in a GA-based rock ‘n’ roll band and generally “growing up, a.k.a. becoming an adult.” She eventually moved back north but found herself at a crossroads, slightly burnt out but driven by an evolving passion for front porch folk and traditional blues, hard times music as real and true now as it was nearly a century ago.

A captivating and engaging live performer, King is keen to bring her cathartic blues to life on stage both as a solo artist and bandleader. Rich with rare integrity, earnest emotion, and a restless energy born of extraordinary experience, When It All Goes Down captures an acutely authentic artist exploring her spirit and songcraft in an effort to reach a place that’s both true and transcendent not only in herself, but in all those who also call upon the power of music in their time of need.

“My stories are folk stories,” says Sarah King. “Of the people, for the people, by the people (I’m a person). These are songs for folks who’ve lived through some shit and want some music that doesn’t shy away from that.”

When It All Goes Down track list:

1. Lord Take My Soul
2. Always an Almost
3. When It All Goes Down
4. The Longest Night
5. Blame it on the Booze
6. Stronger Than You Ever Knew
7. You Were Wrong About Me
8. Hey Hey What Can I Do
9. Whiskey Thinking
10. Pretty Things
11. The Moth
12. Devil’s Try

“A declaration of empowerment… with a wild, unbridled attitude”
– Americana UK

“A haunting tale with slow-burning Americana Noir sound”
– Glide Magazine

“Fiery, vulnerable songs informed by heartbreak and whiskey alike”
– Relix Magazine

“Merciless…she sings with a venomous tongue”
– American Songwriter

“Hard-hitting soul drenched Americana”
– Lonesome Highway 

“King’s powerful voice is uniquely suited for Americana and blues, a force of nature that conveys big emotions amidst rock-steady arrangements”
– Rainbow Rodeo

New single: High Hopes and Low Expectations – JD Clayton

High Hopes and Low Expectations is the new single by JD Clayton. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

With his new single, High Hopes and Low Expectations, the Natural State’s new favorite recording artist, JD Clayton, tells the story of a young man searching for a better self and greener pastures, leaving his small town for the glamour of the big city. “This is really a song to myself,” says Clayton who co-wrote High Hopes with Nashville veteran Kendell Marvel. The song was self-produced by Clayton and he teamed up with six-time Grammy Awards winner Vance Powell to mix the track. The song’s protagonist meets an older gentleman who gives him a bit of free advice: “Live with high hopes and low expectations.” It’s not lost on Clayton that Marvel is the one who’s giving him the sage advice back in the real world. “He has become such a good friend and has been so kind to me as I’ve started my career,” says Clayton. “It felt like we were living out the song literally as we penned it.” (IV-PR, 2024)

Clayton found the inspiration for High Hopes and Low Expectations by chasing a blend of James Taylor and Elton John. Acoustically rich, the mid-tempo slow burner rides a heavy emphasis on a borderline-funky backbeat, piano, and guitars playing counterpoint to Clayton’s earnest vocal delivery. High Hopes and Low Expectations is out now and can be streamed or purchased right here. This single is the first in a number of new releases from Clayton as he gears up for a full-length follow-up to 2023’s Long Way From Home.

JD Clayton’s debut album, Long Way From Home, was released in early 2023 receiving overwhelming critical acclaim. Named one of 2023’s most anticipated Americana albums by Wide Open Country, the debut, 10-song offering has simplicity and sincerity running throughout. Earnest lyrics and lived-in vocals are delivered with a balance of warmth and resolve, and his timeless sound has an immediate appeal. Touring-wise, 2023 was spent building fans market by market, city by city while touring with Dwight Yoakam, Old Crow Medicine Show, Josh Turner, Tanner Usrey, Pat Green, Shane Smith & The Saints, Vincent Neil Emerson, Parker McCollum, Hank Williams Jr., Brent Cobb, Ashley McBryde, Cole Chaney and playing tastemaker festivals such as Bonnaroo, Rebels & Renegades, Born & Raised, and Dreamy Draw. On the heels of his debut album’s success, Clayton is putting finishing touches on his forthcoming self-produced record to be announced in spring and released later 2024. 

Clayton just wrapped up a 22 date tour with Tanner Usrey through early March and has upcoming dates with Ashley McBryde in April as well as adding additional headline and other support dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

Catch JD Clayton On Tour:
April 25 – Joliet, IL – Rialto Square Theatre *
April 26 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory *
May 3 – Cullman, AL – Alabama Strawberry Festival 2024
May 12 – San Diego, CA – Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival
May 17 – Bentonville, AR – FreshGrass Bentonville
* With Ashley McBryde

Upcoming new album release: All is Song – Misner & Smith

Misner & Smith’s new album, All is Song, will be released April 12. Photo: Misner & Smith

Misner & Smith treasure the unpredictability of their band. Technically precise songwriting mirrored with an improvisatory spirit and soaring harmonies have made the band—consisting of Sam Misner and Megan Smith—one of the most acclaimed acts in the Americana world. Blending elements of that genre with bluegrass, traditional folk ballads, and more pop-leaning ideas, Misner & Smith make music gloriously nonconforming. The duo first met at a Shakespeare festival as professional actors in California in 2002 but began working as a musical duo two years later when Sam and Megan discovered a mutual love of roots music, Woody Guthrie, and in particular, harmony singing. Leading up to the release of their sixth LP All is Song, the duo has released five critically acclaimed records. On their new one, All is Song, they build upon that momentum and turn in their finest work to date, an album of inspired declarations to the power of music, song, and, most importantly, collaboration. (Misner & Smith, 2024)

“One thing that’s for sure / Though we never found a cure / We can ride out heartbreak like the weather,” sings Sam Misner on the group’s first single “Anthem.” Along with his longtime musical partner Megan Smith, Misner set about writing the tune that would eventually become the first single from Misner & Smith’s upcoming LP All is Song by dissecting the idea of anthemic music itself. All is Song is set for release on April 12 and can be pre-ordered or pre-saved right here.

The music—every single choice on the album, really—revolves around a single question: “What is this song about?” Every sound on All is Song is in service of the songs. The harmonies are often subtle but always pitch-perfect, a key to the album that took some time to harness. “Harmony is almost like a sculpting tool. I use it as a tool to draw out the stories and the songs and draw out the characters that we’re talking about,” explains Smith. “It’s a huge part of what we do.” Misner adds, “Serving the song became the credo, so we never included a certain line, part, or harmony for its own sake. It was always, ‘How can we best serve the song? That was our lighthouse.”

Catch Misner & Smith on tour:
May 2 – Freight & Salvage – Berkeley, CA
June 8 – McCloud River Mountain Music – McCloud, CA

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

All is Song track list:
Compose (2024)
Deep as the Water
Threadbare
Sadie’s Song
Interlude 1
Kerosene
Rising Of The Moon
Interlude 2
Tears and Ink
Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
Silence Of The Sun
One Day (2024)
Anthem
Interlude 3
Little Light

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Upcoming new single release: Family – The Peterson Brothers

The Peterson Brothers will unveil heartfelt single ‘Family,’ from anticipated album Experience, on February 27, 2024. Photo: Michael Davila, used with permission.

The Peterson Brothers, hailing from the vibrant musical hub of Austin, Texas, have been enchanting audiences with their very own blend of Americana music consisting of classic Soul, Funk, Blues, and Jazz for over a decade. The dynamic duo consists of Glenn Jr. on vocals and guitar, and Alex, a GRAMMY® award-winning artist, on bass, vocals, and even the violin. Their musical journey began when their mother and grandmother bestowed upon them a treasure trove of assorted albums and a turntable from a garage sale, sparking a lifelong love affair with classic music. (The Peterson Brothers, 2024)

Immersing themselves in the sounds of iconic artists such as The Isley Brothers, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Brothers Johnson, and B.B. King, the Peterson Brothers honed their craft by absorbing the nuances of these legends. Drawing inspiration from their musical roots, they crafted a unique stage show that showcases their infectious energy and undeniable musical prowess.

As torchbearers of classic American music, The Peterson Brothers continue to leave an indelible mark on the music scene, captivating audiences with their infectious spirit and a musical prowess that pays homage to the timeless sounds that inspired their journey.

Celebrated for their genre-defying blend of Americana, classic soul, funk, and blues, The Peterson Brothers are gearing up to release their latest single, “Family,” on February 27, 2024. The single is available for pre-save HERE. This track serves as a heartfelt ode to the fans who have been with them since their early teen years. Dedicated to those who feel more like family than followers, the song is a musical expression of gratitude and connection. With lyrics that resonate with the bonds of kinship and shared experiences, the song celebrates the profound connection between a person and their biological or chosen families.

Experience, set to be unleashed in April 2024, is a jubilant celebration of life’s common themes, encapsulating the joys of spending time with family, the thrill of newfound love, and the beauty of human connection. Through the lens of gratitude, The Peterson Brothers invite listeners to join them on a heartfelt exploration of life’s many experiences, all set to a sonically uplifting soundtrack.

“This album is really personal to us and our experiences in life and conversations we’ve had through this journey in life and music. The name for the album comes from our experiences that we’ve had, conversations we’ve had with other people on their lives, the growth in our musicianship and artistry up to this point, and the fact that all of the songs on the album are experiences that everyone has had and can relate to.” – Alex Peterson

Experience will be available on all major streaming platforms on April 12, 2024. Fans can also pre-order the album starting March 29 to gain exclusive access to bonus content.

Experience track list:
In The Beginning
Family
Take You Time
Out Of My Mind
Too Soon
South End
I’ll Be Around
Shine

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

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Upcoming new album release: Your Very Own Dream – Clay Parker and Jodi James

Your Very Own Dream is set for a January 19 release. Photo: Clay Parker and Jodi James

Before their artistic paths converged in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in late 2014, Clay Parker and Jodi James roamed the musical landscape as lone troubadours, each nurturing their own raw and genuine sound. Now, almost a decade after their first long-distance co-writing collaborations, the duo’s distinct sound has maintained a minimalist yet unpredictable quality—in part by reflecting the ways the artists themselves have changed both together and as individuals. Following their self-titled debut EP in 2016 and 2018’s The Lonesomest Sound That Can Sound, the duo who jokingly refers to themselves as a “band without a name” are returning with a brand new LP in 2024: Your Very Own Dream will be released on January 19, 2024. (IV-PR, 2023)

Parker and James have gained a fanbase by creating worlds within their records, populating each song with points of view that are archetypical yet unique. With Your Very Own Dream, the pair hones this technique to a razor’s edge; equal parts plaintive folk existentialism, blue-note bluster, prairie-fire idealism, and fever-dream ballad with which fans of Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, and Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings will feel right at home. Parker and James consistently present music that carves a most-direct, excess-free path to its listeners and patiently displays the duo’s true nature as creators of a primitive kind of beauty—stark yet expressive, accessible yet deep, shadowy yet real.

The duo recently released the first single from Your Very Own Dream, the James-led, slow-burner, “Nothing At All.” Fooling very little with the trivial and getting to the heart of the matter quickly, “Nothing At All” rides a mellow, mid-tempo arrangement akin to late 90s alt-country acts like Whiskeytown or Uncle Tupelo; a heartbeat of Americana music in the modern age where the song comes first and everything else is lagniappe.

Fans can stream or purchase “Nothing At All” and pre-order or pre-save Your Very Own Dream ahead of its January 19 release.

Your Very Own Dream track list:
Fire For The Water
Hey Hey Hey
Nothing At All
In The Cool Of The Evening
Flatfoot
How High Would I Have To Fly
A Matchbook Song
Your Very Own Dream

Catch Clay Parker and Jodi James on tour:
January 19 – Baton Rouge, LA – MidCity Ballroom – Album Release Show
February 16 – Galveston, TX – Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe
February 17 – Austin, TX – House Show
February 18 – Austin, TX – NeWorlDeli
February 19 – Oklahoma City, OK – House Show
February 21–25 – Kansas City, MO – Folk Alliance International
February 28 – Nashville, TN – 5 Spot
February 29 – Dunlap, TN – House Show
March 1 – Chattanooga, TN – The Woodshop
March 2 – LaGrange, GA – Pure Life House of Music

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New album release: Christmas at the Burchills

Christmas at the Burchills is the new album by Beth // James. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

On their new EP, Christmas at the Burchills, Jordan and Mikaela Burchill invite you into their home for the holidays. While the duo goes by the moniker Beth // James, Beth and James are in fact, their middle names. Both Jordan and Mikaela took an interest in music at a young age. Jordan grew up with a guitar in his hands, raised by musician parents, and Mikaela grew up at the studio, singing on records in Nashville since her elementary school years. The young songwriters met in music school and clicked immediately. They moved to Austin, Texas, after graduation, fell in love, and quickly became a duo. They have since released two EPs, one full-length record, and their song “Lion Eyes” was featured in Spike Lee’s Academy Award-winning film, “BlacKkKlansman.” Dubbed “masters of indie-folk” by Austin’s NPR station, KUTX, the Austin duo has cut their teeth touring all across the US, performing as Kerrville New Folk Finalists, and recently got back from a run in Europe and the UK where they played Germany’s only Americana music festival. (IV-PR, 2023)

With their latest EP, Beth // James balance their signature, indie-Americana sound with a healthy dose of varied holiday cheer. Out now, Christmas at the Burchills flies between classic Christmas sounds, touching down for an Elvis cover and Elvis-influenced original, a Hawaiian-infused shot of Christmas paradise, dusty Americana set in Marfa, Texas, and a candle-lit Yuletide ballad.

EP highlight “Tiki Christmas Land” imagines escaping winter heartbreak for Hawaii, drowning your sorrows in Mai Tais and December sun. It is simultaneously cozy as a sweater, and bursting with catchy tropical cheer. Meanwhile, “Marfa Christmas Lights” trades Hawaiian steel guitar for contemplative country western lap steel, serenading the mystical grandeur of west Texas in December. On piano ballad “The Christmas We Used to Know,” Mikaela explores childhood Christmas nostalgia and the difficulty of growing up. Like the writers of many classic Christmas songs, Mikaela grew up Jewish, explaining “as a kid I would always go to my childhood best friend’s house to spend Christmas with her and her family.”

Fans can stream or purchase Christmas at the Burchills in its entirety today by following this link. On December 15, the duo will celebrate their EP release with Beth // James & Friends Christmas Spectacular at Quack’s Soundspace in Austin. Tickets are available here.

Christmas at the Burchills track list:
Tiki Christmas Land
Marfa Christmas Lights
Santa Won’t You Deliver (My Baby This Winter)
Blue Christmas
The Christmas We Used To Know