Tag: Folk

Hannah Delynn’s Trust Fall: A Vulnerable and Soulful Debut Album

Finding freedom through vulnerability, Delynn writes heartfelt songs of hope and healing. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Hannah Delynn Releases Debut Album Trust Fall — Out September 5

NASHVILLE — Nashville-based vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Hannah Delynn will independently release her debut full-length album, Trust Fall, on September 5. Known for her ability to view life through many perspectives, Hannah crafts songs that are emotionally engaging, compelling, and rooted in vulnerability. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2025)

This record is a heartfelt exploration of self-responsibility and the tangled web of emotions that come with it—a journey toward finding freedom by embracing one’s true self.

“I write about matters of the heart and hope my words and songs bring you hope and healing and connect you with the beauty that is all around us—even when it feels difficult to see.” — Hannah Delynn

A Spotlight on “Jealousy”

Hannah recently released “Jealousy,” the album’s third single, which premiered on The Bluegrass Situation. They described it as “anchored by emotive piano, exploring the depths and catacombs of often squashed emotions.”

The track leans toward a raw, almost pop sound, offering complete vulnerability by shining a light on a difficult emotion.

“Instead of being a shameful thing, jealousy can be an insight into what one really wants by seeing others as mirrors to oneself.” — Hannah Delynn

A Journey Across Continents

Originally from Florida, Hannah’s path to Nashville in 2013 took her through New Zealand, British Columbia, and Australia, collecting life stories along the way. Many of these experiences now live in the songs of Trust Fall, which reflects a season of profound grief, loss, betrayal, heartbreak, but also love, generosity, friendship, and beauty.

A Collaborative Creation

Produced by fellow songwriter Maya de Vitry, who also provides harmonies and performs on the record, Trust Fall features a talented cast of Nashville musicians:

  • Alex Wilder — harmony vocals, piano/Wurlitzer
  • Ethan Jodziewicz — arco and ukulele bass
  • John Mailander — fiddle, electronics
  • Jordan Tice — guitar
  • Annaliese Kowert — violins
  • Lizzy Ross — harmony vocals

The Songs of Trust Fall

The album features 11 original tracks by Hannah Delynn, with notable co-writes:

  • With Maya de Vitry: “Leaf on a River,” “Blood Alone,” “No Small Thing,” and string arrangements on “For the Record”
  • With Josh Rennie-Hynes: “For the Record”
  • With Clare Reynolds: “Jealousy”
  • Chordal arrangements for “Waiting” by Emily Mann

Trust Fall will be available September 5 on all major streaming platforms. It’s available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.
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‘Suitcase Blues’: Shelby Means Hits the Road with Her Solo Debut

Shelby Means gets help from her all-star friends for a heartfelt road song, “Suitcase Blues.” It’s the latest single from the Maya de Vitry-produced self-titled solo debut. Photo: Hunter McRae, used with permission.

Shelby Means Packs Up the “Suitcase Blues” and Heads Down a New Road

“I had driven out of Nashville hundreds of times as a touring musician, but this time I was packed up and moving to a different city,” says songwriter, singer, and bassist Shelby Means.

Known for her dynamic work with world-class string bands like Della Mae and the GRAMMY-winning Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Means is now stepping into the spotlight with her debut solo album, Shelby Means. The bittersweet memory of leaving Nashville is captured in her latest single “Suitcase Blues.” (IV-PR, 2025)

Backed by an all-star lineup—Billy Strings on harmony vocals, along with Bryan Sutton, Michael Cleveland, Ron Block, and Sam Bush—the track offers a poignant twist on the classic road song.

“Bryan, Michael, Ron, and Sam brought incredible life and depth to the recording,” Means shares. “Already a very strong collaboration with the band, I was honored that Billy Strings agreed to sing harmony. His voice and energy mixing with mine and the sentiment of the song paint a vivid picture of chasing down a dream on the open road.”

Musically, “Suitcase Blues” rolls forward on a moody chord progression, its trepidation mirrored in the interplay of fiddle and banjo, with tasteful flourishes on guitar and a brief, emotive mandolin solo. The lyrics tell a story many touring musicians know all too well:

“I don’t know when I’ll be back
I gotta go with Cackalack Jack
It’s a lonesome road that I choose
Packing up my suitcase blues”

🎧 Listen now: Stream or purchase “Suitcase Blues.”
📀 Explore more music: Check out previously released singles — “Farm Girl,” “Streets of Boulder,” and “Million Reasons.”
🛒 Pre-order the full album: Shelby Means arrives May 30. Pre-order now.
💾 Want to pre-save on Spotify? Click here.

🎶 Catch Shelby Means on Tour

May 23 – WMOT Finally Friday @ 3rd and Lindsley – Nashville, TN
June 4 – The Ramkat & Gas Hill Drinking Room – Winston Salem, NC
June 6 – Midwood Guitar Studio – Charlotte, NC
June 7 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC 🌟 Album Release Show
June 25 – The 5 Spot – Nashville, TN 🌟 Album Release Show
July 4 – Soundcheck Summer Music Series – Pinedale, WY
July 6 – Hot House West – Salt Lake City, UT
July 13 – Means House Concert – Laramie, WY
July 17 – Big View House Concerts – Westcliffe, CO
July 18 – Music on the Green – Telluride, CO 🎤 with Maya de Vitry
July 25 – RockyGrass – Lyons, CO 🎤 with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
August 22 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC 🎤 with Bronwyn Keith-Hynes
October 18 – Henderson Bluegrass – Henderson, NV
October 20 – WoodSongs – Lexington, KY
October 22 – Red Barn Radio – Lexington, KY

📍 See all tour dates online.

🌾 About Shelby Means

Shelby Means was born in the bluegrass of Kentucky and raised on the high plains of Wyoming. With nearly two decades of experience across bluegrass, folk, rock, Americana, and country, she’s one of the most respected upright bassists in the roots music world.

During her years in Nashville, she was a core member of the GRAMMY-nominated Della Mae, bringing her magnetic presence and deep rhythmic pocket to stages across the globe. She’s since toured nearly 30 countries as a musical diplomat and collaborated with some of the genre’s finest artists.

Now based in Charleston, SC, Means also performs with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, earning her first GRAMMY with the group’s 2023 release, City of Gold. Her accolades include multiple IBMA awards for her work with both Della Mae and Golden Highway.

With her upcoming solo debut, Means opens a new chapter—blending tradition with individuality, heartache with hope, and musicianship with soul.

From NPR to the Grand Ole Opry, Telluride, Bonnaroo, Newport Folk, and beyond, Shelby Means is forging a path that’s both grounded and boundless.

Shelby Means album cover. Courtesy photo,used with permission.

Honoring John Hartford: Tribute Album Brings Classic Fiddle Tunes to Life in Volume 2

Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project Vol 2 features the most beloved female artists in the Hartford-inspired bluegrass scene. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Nashville, TN – In the twenty-three years since Bluegrass and Americana titan John Hartford’s passing, the witty, vibrant tunes of the Grammy-winning, river and steamboat-obsessed, flatfoot dancing legend have taken on a life of their own, creating an entire sub-genre of the American music canon. That’s thanks to not only Hartford’s pure, funny, and virtuosic catalog, but also to the family and friends attending to the late banjo and fiddle player’s legacy. In the past few years alone, Hartford’s daughter, Katie Harford Hogue, and modern-day fiddle great Matt Combs compiled a never-before-seen collection of unrecorded music in a book entitled “John Hartford’s Mammoth Collection of Fiddle Tunes” which quickly turned into a star-studded album, The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project Vol 1. (IV PR, 2024)

Today, Hartford’s legacy takes another step into the future with the announcement of Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project Volume 2. Again co-produced by Hogue, along with Sharon Gilchrist and Megan Lynch Chowning, Volume 2 celebrates some of the most beloved female artists in the Hartford-inspired bluegrass scene: Rachel Baiman, Phoebe Hunt, Ginger Boatwright, Brittany Haas, Deanie Richardson, Allison de Groot, Della Mae, The Price Sisters, Uncle Earl, and many more.

“The feeling of working on an all-female project is unparalleled. It felt powerful and developed a real sense of togetherness and community.” – Della Mae’s IBMA Award-winning bassist and vocalist, Vickie Vaughn

Volume 2 contains thirteen new Hartford instrumental fiddle tunes and five “legacy” covers of beloved John Hartford songs, all of which take on new life under the hands—and voices—of some of the finest musicians around today. “What is so incredible is that you hear these tunes played in so many different ways, and Dad comes through on every one of them,” says Hogue. “It’s like his DNA is in the songs.” Today, with the announcement of Volume 2, one of Hartford’s most beloved songs, “Steam Powered Aereo Plane,” was released, much to the pleasure of the Goodle Family, the official-ish collective of Hartford fans worldwide. 

Fronted by legendary country vocalist Kathy Mattea, the cast behind “Steam Powered Aereo Plane” delivers a mellow, true-to-the-original version of the song originally released on Hartford’s 1971 album of a slightly altered name, Aereo-Plain. Alison Brown, who produced the single, leads into the first verse on banjo accompanied by none other than Sierra Hull on guitar. Gradually Missy Raines brings in the bass and Larkin Poe’s Megan Lovell and the latest Punch Brothers band member Brittany Haas add their dobro and fiddle flourishments, respectively. The result is four straight minutes of pure John Hartford ethos, brought into the present day by a lineup of some of the most respected and accomplished musicians of their time—all of whom credit Hartford as an iconic influence in their musical lives. 

Fans can stream or purchase “Steam Powered Aereo Plane” and pre-order or pre-save Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project Vol 2 ahead of its February 28 release. 

For fans who can’t get enough Hartford, the Hartford family has rallied their efforts around the Goodle Family Patreon page: a subscription-driven home base for all things John Hartford. Whether it be archival releases, updates on the Fiddle Tune Project, orin-person/livestream fan meetups—like the upcoming installment of Mammoth Marathon Mondays.

Julia Belle: The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project Vol 2 tracklist:
Irish Familiarity
The Julia Belle Swain
Grant Marsh & Joseph La Barge/Little Pig/Entertainment Tonight (medley)
Spirit of the South
Availability
I’m Still Here
Kenny and Mac
Merry Christmas
Learning To Smile All Over Again
Royal Box Waltz
Takes Her Clothes Off
Gasoline Alley No. 1
No End of Love
Living Up Stairs
Not Soft Enough
Don’t Throw Her Down
Steam Powered Aereo Plane
Champagne Blues

One of the most respected musicians in Nashville history, John Hartford is considered a cornerstone of the newgrass movement due to his 1971 masterpiece, ​Aereo-Plain​. He won a career four Grammy Awards, including two for his 1967 recording of “Gentle on My Mind,” a third for his 1976 album Mark Twang, and a fourth for his contributions to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack in 2000. He was posthumously inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2010, was awarded the Americana Music Association President’s Award in 2005, and the Folk Alliance “Spirit of Folk” award in 2011.

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‘The Nail Beside The Door’: The Soulful New Single from E.W. Harris’ new album

Alt-folk singer/songwriter E.W. Harris unveils new single and announces new EP Machine Living in Relief. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

(New York, NY) With the release of the new single, “The Nail Beside The Door,” alt-folk singer/songwriter E.W. Harris announces the forthcoming EP, Machine Living in Relief, due out this year. An ambitious collection of songs born out of a last call challenge to make a completely acoustic record about robots and AIs, Machine Living in Relief is the latest in a five-album series set inside Harris’s self-styled “romantic dystopia” Rocket City. (One in a Million Media, 2024)

If one weren’t already familiar with Harris’s more traditionalist background, the chummy strum of his guitalele reaches out and shakes your hand by way of friendly introduction. He also incorporates a number of unusual instruments (cedar flute, a broken autoharp), outside-the-box toys (Speak-n-Spell, Mr. Robot, Magic Wand Reader), and MacGyvered percussion hacks (can full of rice, “suitcase that I hit with a roll of duct tape”) throughout these folkways-meets-the-spaceways tracks. Call it asteroid field recording.

In a strange bit of real-time lore that feels like it could only happen to Harris, one of his cousins walked up to him mid-set a few years back and handed him a banjo, offering only the briefest explanation – “Here man, I’m not gonna learn this and I thought you might use it” – before promptly leaving the gig. The result, some months later as Harris tinkered with the unfamiliar instrument under lockdown, was this album’s lead single, “The Nail Beside the Door.” “Written from the perspective of a prisoner who becomes emotionally dependent on an AI companion,” it effectively sets out to explore the ideas behind the album opener from the other side, with all the profound, maddening aloneness of COVID isolation bleeding through the character loud and clear.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Though perhaps best known for his event horizon synths, spaghettified guitar effects, and above all, his overwhelming, spacetime singularity of a voice, Harris’s career began, some 25 years ago, in a much more earthbound vein, with the train trestle roots-rock of Luminous and the cable knit jazz-folk of The Eric Harris Group.

Through subsequent releases and relentless touring Harris steadily populated his teeming retropolis with comet-hopping hobos and android vagabonds of every stripe, worldbuilding his future from the ground up until it finally skyscraped against the present, with Machine Living in Relief, and the fateful fortune of that half-remembered night at the bar.

If Machine Living in Relief is truly the result of some apocryphal gauntlet throw issued at last call, Harris has met it in spades. Both a natural outgrowth of what came before, and a tantalizing peek at what might be soon to come, it pushes all the right buttons – even when those buttons are connected to the characters themselves – and leaves you contemplating your place within our brave new world of hyperconnected loneliness and transhuman striving.

“If the heart pumps a turbine that generates power to the computer half of the cyborg brain, what is the value of the parts? Is addiction just a modality of being a divided whole? If time is not linear, in remembering our past mistakes do we actually return to those moments? It’s a damn good thing songs don’t need to answer questions.” – E. W. Harris

John Mailander’s ‘Let The World In’: The Soul-Stirring New Album

John Mailander’s Forecast to independently release ‘Let The World In’ on January 24, 2025. Photo: Emily Walis, used with permission.

Nashville Tenn. —  John Mailander’s Forecast is excited to independently release Let The World In on January 24, 2025, on CD, vinyl, and digitally. Forecast is a Nashville-based collective of visionary musicians led by acclaimed performer, producer, composer, educator, and recording artist John Mailander, known for his voice on the fiddle and other stringed instruments. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2024)

Forecast is John Mailander on fiddle, keys, and electronics; Ethan Jodziewicz on upright and fretless electric bass; Chris Lippincott on steel guitars, keys, and electronics; Mark Raudabaugh on drums and percussion, Jake Stargel on acoustic guitar, and David Williford on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet.

Produced by Mailander, Let The World In was recorded by Brook Sutton at The Studio Nashville, assisted by Will Tyson and Maeve Graham. It was mixed by Daniel Rice and mastered by Wayne Pooley. With nine tracks, four of which are shorter free improvs, all but “Road” are original instrumentals. 

The songs show a crossover from the jazz side of things and more into the jam band world, especially with the first single—a Nick Drake song, “Road,” which is available to stream and buy now.

“‘Road’ has been a bit of a mantra to me over the past couple of years. I haven’t always considered myself much of a singer, but it felt important for me to sing this one myself on the album. Lyrically, I feel like it ties into the themes of the album as a whole, and it’s a great vehicle for jamming as a band. This track captures a lot of the vibe of what we do live.” – John Mailander

The song was described as “majestic and expansive” by JamBase, who debuted the Grouch Bucket-animated video that accompanied it. In their feature, they went into deeper detail with John about “Road” and the entire album. 

Let The World In is the spiritual third in a trilogy of “Forecast” records and the second “true” album as a band since 2021’s Look Closer, which was recorded during the pandemic. Originally assembled for the live debut of John’s 2019 album Forecast, the group adopted the name for a series of residency shows in Nashville at Dee’s Lounge. John Mailander’s Forecast has since developed a dedicated following through their adventurous improvisations, singular collaborations, and genre-bending, exuberant musical explorations.

The album opens with 18 seconds of the band candidly gathering to warm up, culminating in the count-off to “Let The World In.” The title track is a Forecast sound collage in which Mailander explores on fiddle and Wurlitzer, and the ambiance is enhanced further with the addition of the “Let The World In Sound Freedom Expressionists” (Hannah Delynn, Maya De Vitry, Gibb Droll, Ella Korth, Lindsay Lou, and Royal Masat).

Other compositions include the bluesy, whimsical, and mysterious “Gardener,” the string-layered “Chapters,” and the peaceful Metheny/Hornsby-inspired “Heartland,” which showcases Stargel’s imaginative guitar solo along with a Jodziewicz arco bass feature and Mailander’s piano playing. 

“(improvisations 1)” and “(2)” are short pieces that were spontaneously composed by Forecast during the end of their daily recording sessions. “(reprise),” bookends the album with a reinterpretation of the title track’s cinematic main melody, with Mailander again on piano. Let The World In is meant to be played as a whole listening experience. Play this album loud.

Along with “conducting” the Forecast, Mailander is a member of Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers. His playing can be heard on albums by Billy Strings (including the Grammy-winning album Home), Noah Kahan, Joy Williams, Lucy Dacus, Molly Tuttle, Joe K. Walsh, Chatham County Line, and many more. John is currently on tour with Sam Grisman Project.

Let The World In Track Listing:

(open) (0:18)

Let The World In (6:52)

Gardener (4:40)

(improvisation 1) (1:15)

Chapters (2:55)

Heartland (6:22)

(improvisation 2) (1:44)

Road (9:25)

(reprise) (1:47)

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