June 5th, 2026 is a MASSIVE Release Day. Here’s Your Guide

June 5th, 2026 is one of those super massive album release days where both the volume, and the gravity of the releases is so significant, it deserves its own guide. There’s a bunch of great albums from great artists spanning the wide panorama of country and roots music.
Colby Acuff – Handmade Horsepower – (June 2nd)

Released on the unlikely date of Tuesday, June 2nd,Handmade Horsepower is a strong work of Outlaw country from the increasingly iconoclastic Colby Acuff. Having moved on from his major label era, the album will be released completely independently. The 11-track album was produced once again by Eddie Spear, who Acuff has worked with numerous times in the past.
A native of Idaho, Acuff took off via the viral nature of his song “If I Were The Devil.” Ever since then, he’s worked hard to stick to his own center of gravity and sense of artistry as opposed to chasing the next viral moment. It’s paid off for him with sustained success and a strong grassroots fan base.
The Red Clay Strays – Grateful

Produced once again by Dave Cobb, it won’t be a Gospel album in its entirety as some had rumored. But as the debut song “Demons In Your Choir” backed by a Gospel choir illustrates, it will have a strong spiritual component.
“’Moment of Truth’ was a big album about having faith in dark times, looking to a higher power,” says frontman Brandon Coleman. “And ‘Made By These Moments’ focused on realizing those dark times that you were having to have faith through, which made you who you are. You made it through when you didn’t think you would. And now we’re at a point where we’re grateful. Looking to God in whatever situation you’re in is a denominator in all of the albums.” (read more)
Charlie Marie – Signs

Charlie Marie wowed country fans with her early EPs and her debut album Ramble On (2021), but left us crestfallen when she announced she was stepping away from music for an extended period at the end of 2021.
Charlie steps back into music in a big way with her new song called “Heart” ahead of what will be her second full-length album Signs. The album comes inspired by an extended journey Charlie Marie took after the death of her father and other trauma where she detached herself from all other priorities, packed up her car with no intention or itinerary, and embarked on what the old cowboys would call a “high lonesome” out West, venturing through Montana and even up to Alaska. (read more)
Jason Eady – Tulsa Turnaround

When you’re talking about preeminent songwriters, the talk often turns to Jason Eady, especially in Texas, and Mississippi, and now, Tulsa—the inspiration for his latest album, Tulsa Turnaround. The title track is out now.
“My writing process has changed a lot as I get further into my career so the songs don’t come as frequently as they used to, but they come with a lot more intent. And this record was intentional,” Jason Eady explains. “I’ve always been a fan of the Tulsa Sound. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt something different when I heard songs with a certain sparseness and laid back groove. The kind of groove that wasn’t in your face but sucked you in. The kind that pulled you in deep and wouldn’t let go.”
Bella White – A Sign In The Weather

Bella White has been captivating audiences with her elevated songwriting and unique phrasing that makes songs into experiences that stick to the inside of your soul. Her third studio album A Sing In The Weather is solely written by Bella, and was co-produced by White with Ross Farbe. Drummer Sam Gelband, bassist Gina Leslie, guitarist Nick Corson, and pedal steel player Nikolai Shveitser, pianist Duncan Troast, vocalist Maddy Kirgo, and long time bandmate Patrick M’Gonigle on fiddle also appear on the album.
“To me this album was a real labor of love and so empowering to make—it validated that I trust myself and trust my vision, and now I just want to keep doing it my way and keep working with people I believe in,” Bella says.
John R. Miller – The Great Unknowing – June 5th Physical / July 17th (digital)

If you know, you know. And what you know is that John R. Miller is one of the greatest songsmiths of this generation, tearing down highways to play for appreciative audiences, and making albums the right way for the right reasons. He might not be selling out arenas, but he’s a direct inspiration of guys like Tyler Childers who are, and brings that authentic West Virginia perspective to everything he does.
What he’s been doing lately is putting the finishing touches on his latest album called The Great Unknowing, set to be released June 5th on physical formats, and distributed digitally on July 17th by Rounder Records. But this one wasn’t cut in Appalachia or even Nashville. To try and find a renewed vigor behind his music, John R. Miller ventured to Tulsa, Oklahoma to record. (read more)
Old Crow Medicine Show – Union Made

Celebrating nearly 30 years of making music, Old Crow Medicine Show’s latest album is said to be a “love letter to America, or the America that could be.” It’s also their most collaborative album to date, with appearances by Evan Felker of the Turnpike Troubadours, Jesse Welles, John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash, as well as Maggie Rose.
“This is a fascinating time in our short history as a nation,” frontman Ketch Secor says. “We wanted to meet that moment by collecting a bunch of songs that speak to the joys and potentials, the rights and the wrongs of where we are today, where we’re going, and what can embolden us to have a more perfect union in the future. There are wonderful, ghostly American sounds that only bands steeped in folk music traditions know how to conjure.”
Brent Cobb – Live a Song, Write a Memory. Vol 1 (acoustic)

Only announced a week ago, songwriter extraordinaire Brent Cobb is releasing the first of what promises to be a series of acoustic albums that might include some previously-released songs done acoustically, along with perhaps some new material as well.
“As y’all know, I consider myself a songwriter-singer, not a singer-songwriter,” Cobb says, saying the album is a “Pulling back the curtain on songwritin’ and takin’ y’all to my songs’ truest form. It’s just me, a guitar, and some stories. If you’ve been here since the beginning, you’re gonna recognize some of these and discover some new songs. And if you’re new here, they’re all going to be new. Regardless, I hope you enjoy it all the same.”
Caleb Caudle – Heavy Thrill (Americana)

Americana songwriter Caleb Caudle’s latest record comes at a time of transition for him. As he and his wife are expecting their first child, and he self-produced Heavy Thrill—the first time he’s ensconced himself in the producer’s chair. It was once again recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville like recent projects.
“For this record, I wanted to focus on embracing the patina of life,” says Caudle. “Our plans rarely shake out the way we want them to. This record is about doing the most with what you’regiven and weathering the storms. Much like farming, my career has been about putting in the work,” Caudle says. “You can’t always control the weather, but you can show up every day and give it your best.”
Grey DeLisle and Les Greene – Grey & Greene – Classic American genre-spanning project matching musician and voice actor Grey DeLisle with quintessential soul showman Les Greene. This one will be fun.
The Carter Sisters – Voices from the Ridge: The Final Sessions – “Recorded during a series of sessions that reunited Helen, Anita and June Carter Cash, along with John Carter Cash and Lori Davis Bennett in 1993, the project serves as both a celebration of the Carter Sisters’ enduring artistry and a poignant closing chapter in one of country music’s most storied family dynasties.”
Sierra Ferrell – Live At Third Man Records (Vinyl Only) – Previously-released songs recorded live direct to acetate, and only available on vinyl.
Jo Dee Messina – Bridges – Though you might be nostalgic for some classic Messina, the early singles from this album have come with very, very contemporary production.
Mountain Grass Unit – Self-Titled EP (June 3rd) – Mountain Grass Unit has been setting stages on fire across the United States, but was in arrears for offering any new studio music. Now they unleash a 3-song EP ahead of their debut album Appalachian Smoke to be released on August 28th.
Tony Kamel – Live from the Bunker (live album) – The former member of the Grammy-nominated Wood & Wire offers stripped-down performances recorded at an analog studio in Texas in front of a 30-person audience.
Tony Rice – Self-Titled (reissue, bluegrass) – The long-time out-of-print self-titled album from this bluegrass legend returns both in digital form and on vinyl to celebrate what would have been his 75th birthday.
Drew Cooper – Sadder Songs Than You Had Hoped For
Avry Truex – The Restless Wandering Avry Truex
The Two Tracks – Seasons Unknown
Deer Tick – Coin-O-Matic (indie Americana)
Alexandra King – Across The Pond (Irish Americana)
The Rounder Circle –California Bound (bluegrass, Americana)
Haylie Davis – Wandering Star (Americana)
Light Bird – See Her (folk)
Grace Gunn – Across The Pond (Irish Americana)
Nest of Singing Birds – The Marshall Sessions (folk)
The Huntress and Holder of Hands – Babylon (Gothic roots)
Vandoliers – Afterglow EP
Rita Bliss – Live From London EP (folk)
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June 4, 2026 @ 8:13 am
Very much looking forward to the new Charlie Marie and the new Deer Tick album first and foremost
June 4, 2026 @ 1:16 pm
I got the Charlie Marie record in the mail on Monday. Different sound for her. Need a few more listens to see if I like it or not.
Seems not as produced as “Ramble On”. God do I love her voice.
June 11, 2026 @ 2:57 am
Not as produced sounds like a positive to me. Her new album sounds way more authentic, her true sound. Not what Nashville wanted her to be.
June 4, 2026 @ 2:21 pm
New Deer Tick album, you say?!
*heads to their website to order it*
June 5, 2026 @ 4:15 am
What’s with all the Deer Tick love by SCM readers?! I was a huge fan from 2007-2013. I can’t say I’ve even thought of them much over the last 5 years. I welcome it.
One of my best concert memories was in 2011 (maybe 2012) and I was living in Michigan for work. I was torn between Miranda Lambert headlining the Hoedown in downtown Detroit or Deer Tick in a club in Ferndale. We kind of did both.
Miranda was by far the best free concert I’ve ever attended – Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley were there to do a mini Pistol Annie’s set and Kid Rock (sang “Picture” with Lambert). It was over 10:30 pm and we somehow caught the last 4 songs of Deer Tick at the Magestic. This was still when Deer Tick was a beautiful sloppy mess and everyone drunkenly screamed “Let’s all go to bar!”
I’m up for a little Deer Tick revival!
June 5, 2026 @ 8:03 am
I don’t know these folks or their music, but who names their band Deer Tick?
June 5, 2026 @ 10:07 am
Who names their son Troyal?
June 5, 2026 @ 10:22 am
Who did?
June 5, 2026 @ 10:27 am
SCM commenters get too worked up over album covers and band names.
June 6, 2026 @ 8:44 am
I’m from RI as they are and I don’t waste any opportunity to bring them up. I think they fit as a SCM adjacent band. And the new album is great too
June 4, 2026 @ 8:48 am
Have really been enjoying Collin Nash’s For the Square (June 1), feels like a country Kristofferson.
June 4, 2026 @ 9:09 am
Really nervous to see what the Strays are cooking up. That single was decent but that other single they lumped onto the album (people hatin) has gotta be the worst song I’ve heard in a long time. Primarily because I don’t listen to radio but nonetheless why include it.
June 4, 2026 @ 9:29 am
Looking forward to the Brent Cobb album. Will definitely be checking out the Red Clay Strays album, too. Not sure Jo Dee Messina ever had a classic sound; her music always leaned hard into the mainstream.
On a side note: I’m surprised Jason Isbell hasn’t sued Colby Acuff over “If I Were The Devil.” You can literally sing “Live Oak” to it. He flipped out over a Dierks Bentley song that didn’t sound this close. I will definitely be checking out Acuff’s new album, too.
June 4, 2026 @ 10:56 am
IIRC, Isbell’s complaining/whining about the Bentley song (“Home”) was when Isbell was at or close to the peak of his abuse of alcohol and drugs.
I think he has previously spoke about how he regrets that whole episode.
June 4, 2026 @ 9:34 am
Best of luck Trigger. Sleep when you’re dead I guess. Brent Cobb acoustic- that will be phenomenal. Elizabeth Cook dropped a single with Felker yesterday and announced an album coming this fall. Looking like the second half of 2026 is going to be better half.
June 4, 2026 @ 9:34 am
6/6 is Josh Mitcham’s single release for “Break it to Me,” not the album release date. But thanks for the mention!
June 4, 2026 @ 9:54 am
I have been listening to the new Colby Acuff album and it is another good one. I am looking forward to the new Red Clays Strays album. There is a lot of good music being released.
June 4, 2026 @ 10:28 am
I’m excited for the RCS, Brent Cobb, and John R Miller releases! Stephen Wilson, Jr. Is releasing a new single “Preacher’s Kid” tomorrow also.
June 4, 2026 @ 10:35 am
Definitely looking forward to that Jason Eady release.
Also, while it isn’t technically country, Don Henley has a reissue LP of “The End of the Innocence” arriving June 5th on 180g vinyl. I have an original pressing of it, but looking forward to the re-issue with higher quality sound.
June 4, 2026 @ 10:54 am
I will never, ever complain about new Jason Eady. Only thing I will nitpick a bit is I do wish the new album had a more “Country” sound ala “Daylight and Dark” which remains one of my favorite albums of all time.
June 4, 2026 @ 1:14 pm
That one is one of my favorites too. Wish he would reissue on Vinyl. I will say I quite enjoyed the “Mississippi” record.
June 5, 2026 @ 12:07 am
yes it seems like he’s more into the “groove” sound right now but he’s always great.
June 4, 2026 @ 11:32 am
Tony Rice! Btw: they also just re- released the all time best Tony Rice album on vinyl, Manzanita of course. Church Street Blues was re- released a couple years ago. Looks like the powers that be are working on his whole dang catalog! No better flat picking in history.
Mountain Grass Unit. August can’t come quick enough. Out with that album boys.
Carter Sisters : im intrigued to hear that.
Sierra Ferrell: her first live album i believe. Cool.
June 4, 2026 @ 1:13 pm
I love Tony Rice and so glad the reissued Manzanita. Just one of the best bluegrass albums of all time.
June 5, 2026 @ 5:48 am
Tyler, so agree on Manzanita. I did learn something super interesting about that album from Rhonda Vincents bass player, much of the guitar playing by Rice on that album was done not on a vintage Martin like we all had assumed, but wait for it… a stinking Ovation! Yeah, turns out Rice was endorsed by Ovation during that era and he obliged by using one on that album. Its about the most un- bluegrass guitar i can think of, and I know bluegrass purists heads are melting , but it’s true. Just shows that it’s all about the man and the artist that was TR and less about the gear. I once had an Ovation and HATED it. Tone was awful IMO. But Rice made one sound like ten million dollars…I digress.
June 5, 2026 @ 10:50 am
I had no idea about that. Thank you for sharing! Personally I’ve bought every single TR reissue on vinyl.
There has rarely been a day where I don’t play “Blue Railroad Train”, “Hold Whatcha Got” and “Ginsing Sullivan”
I’m not sure if he would be underrated in this regard but I always loved Tony’s singing and him and Hot Rize blew open the door for 20 something old me to fall in love with bluegrass,
June 4, 2026 @ 12:07 pm
Sam Morrow getting greasier, yeah here for that…
June 4, 2026 @ 1:50 pm
I LOVE the Charlie Marie album cover. Caleb Caudle gets honorable mention on that front too.
June 4, 2026 @ 3:56 pm
Very interested in the carter family album. I stumbled upon anita when i was looking up who the backing vocal was on some songs i was listening to. Anita has the voice of an angel. Maybe the best female voice i have ever heard. If she could have written or had been given more songs that really took advantage of it maybe she would have been bigger as a solo artist. Though hard to say, back then as is today, people gravitate in droves to less than great voices.
June 4, 2026 @ 4:35 pm
Anyone think Old Crow Medicine Show have lost something in recent years they used to be an automatic listen whenever they released something ?
June 5, 2026 @ 5:59 am
These days Ketch comes off as a theater kid cosplaying as a 21st Century Pete Seeger.!
June 5, 2026 @ 6:57 am
…no, to the first part of the question.
June 5, 2026 @ 10:53 am
I’m not a super fan or anything but the level of joy that I get when i listen to “Jubilee” from a recent album is why I love music.
“Shout Mountain Music” and “Carry Me Back to Virginia” also will get me running through the wall.
How much of a fan am I of them? I was gifted tickets to go see them for my birthday and completely forgot about it and missed the show. It was awkward when the person who bought me tickets how was the show?…..I venmoed them baclk
June 4, 2026 @ 4:52 pm
Thanks for letting me know to avoid the OCMS album!
What a pretentious comment from Ketch. Can’t say I’m surprised.
The others look great, especially Bella White, the songs released already are all killer.
June 5, 2026 @ 12:15 am
OCMS,Red Stray Clays,John R.Miller and Tony Rice all coming my way today. Generic cola and non branded supermarket cheap shit for the month !
June 5, 2026 @ 3:11 am
Deer Tick- Coin o’ Matic
June 5, 2026 @ 4:34 am
Flagging the new Vandoliers EP too. Great stuff.
June 5, 2026 @ 6:07 am
Colby Acuff album slaps hard.
June 5, 2026 @ 6:50 am
Holy shit, I am outdated. I have only heard of two of these artists. One of them is Jo Dee Messina.
Honest question for ya’ll. Are any of these mainstream artists? I realize we frown on mainstream artists here, but I am so out of touch, I am just wondering who is and isn’t at this point.
June 5, 2026 @ 7:10 am
The only artist on this list that could be considered “mainstream” would be The Red Clay Strays who have now won numerous “Group of the Year” awards from major award institutions. They’re also selling out arenas, though you won’t hear than anywhere near country radio.
It’s a topsy turvey world trying to consider who is “mainstream” these days. Many independent acts are much bigger than major label, radio-supported performers.
June 8, 2026 @ 6:42 am
Interesting. Thank you so much for the reply, Trigger.
As I said, I am so out of touch with modern music. I don’t know who is who. I know the charts work completely differently for years now. Interesting that independent acts are bigger than major label artists. I did not know that.
June 5, 2026 @ 7:23 am
Great release day! Don’t forget Collin Nash new album!
June 5, 2026 @ 8:07 am
BOY do I have a lot of new music to listen to today. First world problems.
June 5, 2026 @ 12:08 pm
I enjoyed the new OCMS album. A good birthday salute to America on its birthday. Songs are both celebratory and some express concerns about the current state. Well done.
June 7, 2026 @ 9:40 am
Also The Two Tracks released their fifth album “ Seasons Unknown” on Friday, June 5. Produced by Will Kimbrough, their music fits right in and holds it’s own against any of these others mentioned here.
Listen here: https://ffm.to/seasonsunknown