Photo by Suz Film

Today, South Carolina rock outfit The Blug Dogs released Big Dreamers, their first studio-recorded offering since 2004’s Halos and Good Buys. The anticipated album was produced by acclaimed producer, solo artist, songwriter and Grammy-winning member of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Sadler Vaden.

Blue Dogs were founded in Charleston, S.C. in 1987 and are led by songwriters Hank Futch and Bobby Houck, who handle bass and acoustic guitar respectively. Since forming, the duo spent two decades on the road eventually slowing down in 2007 to take jobs outside of music to support their new families. Despite that, music stayed at the forefront of their minds and the desire to create an album only grew.

“We’re doing this to follow that dream of playing music and sharing our sound with whoever wants to listen,” Futch said. “We’ve probably been Americana before that became a term. But we didn’t feel like we had to be anything other than ourselves to write these songs.” Houck added, “We still have something to say. We can write good songs that we like, knowing other people will like them too. We’ve got a lot more to do, more places to play, and maybe bigger places to play. Because of this album, we get to live this dream longer than we thought.”

Big Dreamers came together when guitarist Dan Hood, steel guitar player Charlie Thompson, and longtime drummer Greg Walker joined the Flutch and Houck in the studio – former member Phillip Lammonds also joined them to co-write three of the new songs featured on the project. The LP serves as a comeback for the Blue Dogs and a full-circle moment for Vaden who collaborated with the band since he was 18 and admired their sound even before that.

“Any time I hear the Blue Dogs, it takes me home to the Carolinas. I feel like they have never gotten the recognition outside of South Carolina and the Southeast circuit,” said Vaden. “So, I hope this album can get them out there a bit more and gain some new fans who will look back at their legacy as well. These guys deserve the type of record we made.”

Vaden isn’t the only support seen on Big Dreamers, legendary Texas songwriter Radney Foster is featured on “That’s How I Knew,” which he wrote with Houck and adds background vocals on the glossy, “If Ever.” Master dobro player Jerry Douglas also assists Blue Dogs on the bluegrass-influenced “The Road You Don’t.”

To celebrate the release of the project Blue Dogs will perform a show at Isle of Palms, S.C. famed Windjammer beach stage tomorrow, June 3. Tickets are available now and can be found here. Following the album release party, Blue Dogs will continue to perform around the South through the summer and into October where they’ll perform a homecoming performance stint at North Charleston, S.C.’s Riverfront Revival Music festival.

“[‘Big Dreamers’] is written for all the family members, friends and fans that have loved and supported us and our music and helped us be big dreamers,” said Futch, tying a bow on the project. “‘Big Dreamers’ seemed to be a title that we can all relate to and embrace. Take the Big Dreamers recording wherever you go and be a big dreamer believer.”

Listen to Big Dreamers below:

Tour dates:

June 3 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer’s Kona Liquid Aloha Beach Stage

June 10 – Norfolk, VA – Norfolk Harbourfest

July 2 – Aiken, SC – Aiken Music Fest

July 8 – Columbia, SC – The Main Course

July 9 – Knoxville, TN – Barley’s Knoxville

July 10 – High Point, NC – The Revival with Paul Thorn & Friends

July 23 – Phenix City, AL – Chattahoochee Brewing

Sept. 13-17 – Nashville, TN – AMERICANAFEST

Sept. 30 – Sumter, SC – Sumter Opera House

Oct. 8-9 – North Charleston, SC – Riverfront Revival