Playlist

Modest Mouse

“The Sun Hasn’t Left” 

From the album The Golden Casket

Epic Records

The Golden Casket heralds a new chapter in the unpredictable evolution of Modest Mouse. Produced with Dave Sardy and Jacknife Lee in LA and Portland, Isaac Brock explores themes ranging from the degradation of our psychic landscapes and invisible technology to fatherhood.

modestmouse.com

Joe Marcinek Band

“Supreme”

From the album JMB4

Self-released

JMB4 is the 4th album by the Joe Marcinek Band and features an all star lineup with Tony Hall (Dumpstaphunk) on bass, Nikki Glaspie (Nth Power) on drums, Shaun Martin (Snarky Puppy) on keys plus special guests Eric Gales, Roosevelt Collier, Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce) and Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident)

joemarcinekband.com

Bob Malone

“Oh Well”

From the album Good People

Delta Moon

Good People (out May 21) grabs onto Bob Malone’s “keyboard wizardry” on the piano and serves up a variety of bluesy rock—ranging from contemplative ballads to sweeping jams, all carried along by smoky vocals and Malone’s unmatched ability to wrest every drop of emotion out of the keys possible.

bobmalone.com

James Kelly

“Who Do You Think You Are?”

From the album Loose Talk

Bert’s Beats

After a decade spent on the production side of the music industry, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter James Kelly has released his debut album, Loose Talk. The 10-song cycle explores his battle with bipolar disorder. It was produced by James and mixed by Michael Brauer (The Stones, Bob Dylan, MMJ).

jpkellymusic.com

Kevin Daniel

“My Oh My”

From the album Been Here Before

Self-released

Kevin Daniel is a North Carolina-based Americana artist with three releases under his belt and a fourth on the way. His music has been described as “radio and TV ready with enough darkness creeping in around the edges to appeal to fans of Jason Isbell and Langhorne Slim.” His fourth album is out in July 2021.

thekevindaniel.com

Foxtrotter

“Temporary Life”

From the album Night Sky

Self-released

Foxtrotter is a four-piece band from New England, known for their high-energy live shows and catchy-yet-intricate songwriting. Foxtrotter mixes elements of folk and pop with a true vintage rock-and-roll spirit.

foxtrotterband.com

Good Morning Bedlam

“Hold Me”

Single

Self-released

Good Morning Bedlam has become an innovative force in the folk scene. Their shows are known for their contagious energy, with members jumping and dancing about the stage! After winning the prestigious JHMF 2019 band competition, they’ve been working on their new record Lulu, to be released in late 2021.

goodmorningbedlam.com

Jess Jocoy

“Brighter Eyes”

Single

Self-released

Jess Jocoy makes atmospheric Americana for rainy days and twilight hours. It’s an ethereal sound with organic roots, anchored by a longtime love of country music, a storyteller’s nuanced delivery and a folksinger’s finesse.

jessjocoy.com

Gráinne Duffy

“Mercy”

From the album Voodoo Blues

Self-released

The debut album Out of the Dark (2007) led Duffy to the stage at Glastonbury fest. In 2020, she released Voodoo Blues album — reaching No. 7 in the U.K. and No. 13 in the U.S. RMR chart. She was named “Best Female Vocal” (2014) and “Best Artist” (2015) in the Blues Matters Writers Poll, and sang with Billy F. Gibbons at Mahindra Blues (2017).

grainneduffy.com

Terrorists of Romance

“Shake Me Mad”

From the EP Like Kerosene

Vankiki Records

Terrorists of Romance is an indie-folk and alternative-rock band formed in Barcelona in 2019. Vanessa Salvi, composer and performer, of Italian-Norwegian descent is the creator of this musical project integrated by Francisco Ujaque “Kiko,” Pol Barberán, Nito Sanchéz and Fran Pesich.

terroristsofromance.com

Seven Purple Tigers

“One Night’s Promises”

Single

Self-released

Based in Germany’s Black Forest, American-German indie band Seven Purple Tigers have been crafting a unique transatlantic blend of rock and pop since forming in Krakow, Poland, in 2015. The band’s creative duo, Austin Horn and Phil Dyszy, write, record and produce from the bowels of a disused inn.

sevenpurpletigers.com

Tara Dente 

“Anyone’s Hometown”

Single
Self-released

Tara Dente hails from the shores of N.J., with a soul embedded in the mountains of Appalachia. Her roots are in traditional American folk music, elevated by her fingerpicking, soaring vocals and engaging storytelling. “Anyone’s Hometown” brings you back to your stomping grounds: the place that scars, shapes, brings joy and seems to always be drawing you home.

taradente.com

Wood & Bone

“Rising Smoke”

From the EP Rising Smoke

Simple Truth Records

Wood & Bone is a Boston-based roots band featuring Jesse Ciarmataro aka Qwill on guitar, banjo and lead vocals; Joe Wilkins on guitar, mandolin and vocals; Joe Cardoza on upright bass; and Dennis Monagle on drums and vocals. The band plays an ever-changing mix of harmony-driven folk, soul and blues.

woodandbone.com

Editor’s Pick: Midnight North

“Coyote”

From the album There’s Always a Story

Americana Vibes

There’s Always a Story represents a new chapter for Midnight North. Ten stories told through song on their most polished album to date.

midnightnorth.com

Bonus Track: Oliver Wood

“Fine Line”
Single
Honey Jar Records/Thirty Tigers
Oliver Wood is a mainstay of modern-day American roots music. The frontman of The Wood Brothers since 2004, he’s spent the 21^st century blurring the boundaries between folk, gospel, country-soul and Americana, earning an international audience and a Grammy Award nomination along the way.
oliverwoodmusic.com

Circus Mind

“Joy Machine (feat. Scott Metzger)”

From the album Joy Machine

Self-released

Circus Mind are entering their 20th year as a band. Their new album Joy Machine, is a fresh explosion of ear candy sounds and flavors from the ’70s rock era. The album features guests like Nels Cline, Ivan Neville, Marc Ribot, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Scott Metzger, Big Sam and More! Ear worms a’plenty!

circusmindband.com

Marbin

“Messy Mark (Live)”

From the album Shreddin’ at Sweetwater

Self-released

Marbin are a progressive jazz-rock band based in Chicago, with a unique story that stands out in today’s music world. With a do-it-yourself approach, Marbin started touring extensively in 2011, bringing their original instrumental music to every part of the United States.

marbinmusic.com

 Greg Dayton

“See My Baby”

Single

Ropeadope/Modern Icon Recordings

Greg Dayton is a singer/songwriter/guitarist based out of Sausalito, Calif. and NYC. Inducted in the New York Blues Hall of Fame in 2016, his writing draws on a wide palette of blues, rock, soul and folk. With two critically acclaimed albums out, this is the first release from his third album.

gregdaytonmusic.com

Tom Joseph

“Trouble in Mind”

Single

Elephant Island Records

Tom Joseph is a singer/songwriter and guitarist based in Innsbruck, Austria. His music consists of a broad range of stylistic influences from folk and blues to soulful pop – from Nick Drake to Bon Iver and a lot in between. “Trouble in Mind” is the latest single from the upcoming EP Words Matter.

tomjoseph.org

Jeremy Squires

“Unravel”

From the album Unravel

Blackbird Record Label

New Bern, NC native Jeremy Squires is a singer-songwriter best known for his haunting melodies and evocative lyrics. Squires carries in his voice the undeniable charms of the small Southern city, as well as a darker, haunted undercurrent.

jeremysquires.bandcamp.com

Stripmall Ballads

“Pullover Johnny”

From the album Distant

Freeloader Free Press

The music of Stripmall Ballads combines Piedmont folk, psychedelic country and lo-fi field recording aesthetics with beat lyrical sensibilities to explore the underbelly backroads of the American ideal, skewering its mythology in favor of poetic recognition and reckoning.

stripmallballads.com

Dusty Green Bones Band

“Misty Mountains”

Single

Self-released

Based out of San Francisco, Dusty Green Bones Band’s music is a runaway wagon ride careening around blind curves through majestic mountainous terrain. They’re known to ignite the dancefloor as their confluence of psychedelic jamgrass and rollicking Americana rock takes control.

dustygreenbonesband.com

The Resolute

“Leopard”

Single

Self-released

The Resolute live to create. They are a metal/rock duo from Northwest Arkansas with a DIY approach, controlling all aspects from the writing, producing, recording and mixing of their music to the creation of their own music videos. Now they’re releasing a song each month
.

linktr.ee/The_Resolute

Jordan T

“Fire By Your Side”

Single

Self-released

With a growing audience of over 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Jordan T is no stranger to the global reggae touring circuit. His music has taken him to International Music Festivals like Riddu Riddu Festival (Norway), Chiemsee Summer (Germany) and SummerJam (Germany).

jordantmusic.com