Release Radar & Most Anticipated Albums for Last of 2021

Well ladies and gentlemen, all the down time of the quarantine is catching up with us with an extra busy final portion of 2021 when it comes to the release of new albums. So to help you stay on top of it all, find this handy dandy guide to the albums you should be on top of, including a few highlighted that you should make sure you don’t miss, and then a more comprehensive list below that.
Hint: Bookmark this page, and come back on Fridays to make sure you don’t miss anything important. This list will be updated periodically under the “confirmed releases” heading when new albums are announced, though older albums won’t be removed from the list so people can look back at what they might have missed.
PLEASE NOTE: No artist or album was overlooked, snubbed, or disregarded here. If you know of an album that is going to be released that you believe is of interest to country and roots music, please feel free to share the information below in the comments section for the benefit of everyone.
RC and the Ambers – Big Country – September 10th
Sorry, I can’t reveal new music from the Turnpike Troubadours at this turn, but Turnpike bass player, songwriter, and beating heart RC “Rooster” Edwards has been working a side hustle for some years now called RC and the Ambers with singer and long-time Turnpike friend Amber Watson, and they have a new album on the way.
Big Country features nine songs written or co-written by RC Edwards, another written by Turnpike Troubadours steel guitar/accordion player Hammerin’ Hank Early, and a cover of Hank Jr.’s “The Blues Man.” Also appearing on the album will be Turnpike fiddle player Kyle Nix and Turnpike drummer Gabriel Pearson. Hank Early produced the record, and plays multiple instruments on it as well. “I can promise you, it sounds nothing like a Turnpike record,” Hank Early says. (read more)
Dori Freeman – Ten Thousand Roses – September 10th
From Galax, Virginia, Appalachian darling Dori Freeman burrowed deep in all of our hearts with her debut album in 2016, and hasn’t let up since, taking her modern notions of traditional mountain folks tunes and making them into something that is undeniably Dori. Over time her music has evolved from the ultra-sparse and a capella songs to more Americana sounds, and her new album Ten Thousand Roses promises to continue this journey.
Where her first three records were produced by Teddy Thompson, for this one, her drummer and husband Nicholas Falk steps into that position. They’re joined by Steve Martin Prize-winning banjoist Victor Furtado, Eli Wildman on acoustic guitar and mandolin, Sam Fribush on piano and keys, and others.
Charley Crockett – Music City USA – September 17th
Charley Crockett might be a worthy candidate for the most interesting man in country music. Not only is the dude wildly talented and entertaining, while he tours constantly and finds the time to make cinematic quality videos, he also keeps up a hare’s pace in the studio. Earlier this year he released the 3rd installment in his “Lil’ G.L.” series paying homage to the past greats by recording ten songs in tribute to James “Slim” Hand. And even with releasing two records in 2020 as well, you knew Crockett wasn’t done with releasing new music in 2021.
Charley Crockett will release his latest album called Music City USA on September 17th via his own Son of Davy record label, distributed by Thirty Tigers. Though it might be titled after the nickname of Nashville, the album was recorded at Soil of the South Productions in Valdosta, GA and produced by Mark Neill, who also produced 2020’s Welcome to Hard Times. The new album includes a whopping sixteen tracks, including a cover of the iconic country song “Skip A Rope.” (read more)
Carly Pearce – 29: Written in Stone – September 17th
Carly Pearce just continues to prove that she’s a bright spot in the mainstream of country, and is making us proud once again. The only problem with the EP she released earlier this year entitled 29 was just that: it was only an EP. The seven songs seemed to denote a new direction for Carly back to her country roots that are strong and true and have just been waiting for the right opportunity to poke out through the surface.
Well now after the initial success she’s doubling down on that approach by releasing a proper full-length album called 29: Written in Stone, due out on September 17th. “I realized, as much as ’29’ captured a moment, I wasn’t done with the story,” Carly Pearce says, and though the new album will include the seven songs we already heard on the EP, it will also include eight new ones. (read more)
Billy Strings – Renewal – September 24th
What’s for certain is that we’re living in the era of Billy Strings. What this young man and his band are doing right now when they step up to the microphones in municipalities all across the country is other-worldly.
“After winning the Grammy, I went into the studio with newfound confidence. More than ever before, I trusted myself to experiment and push myself musically … I’ve learned, you’ve just got to let the song do its thing. So that’s what I try to do—write songs and let them come out however they do.”
Billy Strings has a writing credit on 13 of Renewal’s 16 songs, and he worked with his road band ion banjoist Billy Failing, bassist Royal Masat, and Jarrod Walker on mandolin. He also brought in guests John Mailander on fiddle, and Spencer Cullum Jr. on pedal steel. Though the foundation will still be bluegrass, folks who’ve followed Billy Strings for a while know elements of rock, heavy metal, and psychedelic music will work their way into the mix. (read more)
Randy Travis – Storms of Life (35th Anniversary Edition) – September 24th
Along with remastering the original 10 tracks of the now Triple Platinum-selling record, the new edition would also come with three previously-unreleased tracks. Recorded in 1985 around the time of the rest of the Storms of Life album, the three unreleased songs slide perfectly into the original track list.
“These three unreleased, never before heard Randy Travis recordings are like rambling around in your basement and stumbling on an old photo album,” says Kyle Lehning. “An album full of pictures of old friends and family. Some still with us and some long gone. Upon opening the album, the memories rush back full force. The smells, the feel and the sounds all awakened and new again.” (read more)
Johnny Cash – At The Carousel Ballroom – September 24thThis is not your average archive release. On April 24th, 1968, Johnny Cash, new wife June Carter, and the Tennessee Three showed up in the heart and at the height of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury for a performance at The Carousel Ballroom operated by none other than The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. On site at the time was the reclusive and highly-regarded recording engineer Owsley “Bear” Stanley to capture the 28-song set.
Owsley Stanley is the guy responsible for many of The Grateful Dead’s most legendary live recordings. He also was the chemist that supplied LSD to The Grateful Dead, Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, The Beatles, and others, and financed the Dead through his LSD business. Jerry Garcia may have been known as “Captain Trips,” but Stanley was known as “The King of Acid.” He also was the Dead’s sound engineer for years, and orchestrated their legendary “Wall of Sound” that made them such a massive concert draw for decades. (read more)
Joshua Ray Walker – See You Next Time – October 8th
Saving Country Music’s reigning Song of the Year winner (“Voices”) is releasing what he’s now revealing is the third installment in an album trilogy that the Dallas, TX native has used to launch his career. “The whole idea with the trilogy was to use the honky-tonk as a setting where all these different characters could interact with each other,” says Walker. “In my mind, this album’s taking place on the night before the bar closes forever—the songs are just me taking snapshots of that world, and all the moments that happen in it.”
Like the previous two albums, See You Next Time was recorded at Audio Dallas Recording Studio with producer John Pedigo, along with musicians such as pedal-steel player Adam “Ditch” Kurtz, and rhythm guitarist Nathan Mongol Wells of Walker’s country punk side project, Ottoman Turks.
Side Pony – Lucky Break – October 8th
Alice Wallace is the singing and yodeling songwriter from the West Coast that has captured many in a trance with her solo career, and Caitlin Cannon caught us all off guard with the pluck and attitude of her last album The TrashCannon Album that earned the rare 9.5 rating here at Saving Country Music. Who saw them conjoining in Nashville and starting a super duo? That’s what we have with Side Pony, and we’re here for it.
Recorded at the East Nashville studio of producer/guitarist Doug Lancio known for working with Patty Griffin and John Hiatt, Side Pony features accompaniment from Chris Autry (Josh Turner) on bass, Bryan Owings (Emmylou Harris) on drums, and other notables.
Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers – Cockadoodledeux – October 8th
UPDATE: Moved to November 5th
Over a decade ago when Saving Country Music was running down the top country albums of the aughts, the 2003 album Cockadoodledon’t from Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers released by Bloodshot Records came in at an enterprising #3. That’s how powerful, important, and timeless that title was. Now frontman Col. JD Wilkes has partnered with Jello Biafra of Alternative Tentacles and Dead Kennedys fame to release a sequel 18 years in the making, and to mark the 25th Anniversary of the band called Cockadoodledeux.
JD Wilkes says the record will include the same spirit of the first installment, but perhaps not as much wild variety as the original, which included punk, blues, and a bunch of other influences. But with this one, JD says it’s gonna be country. (read more)
Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren – October 29th
It’s been a long time coming for singer and songwriter Emily Scott Robinson, who won Saving Country Music’s Song of the Year in 2019 for “The Dress,” and was nominated for Album of the Year in 2019 as well, and for Song of the Year again in 2020 for the standalone single “The Time for Flowers.” Very highly regarded among the audience that knows her, hopefully that audience will be expanding dramatically after it was announced she has signed with Oh Boy Records originally founded by John Prine to release this new record.
“I think that the thread running through the album is those things that call to us, and how we can’t resist that call,” says Robinson. “It’s about the siren songs that come up through our lives. It is bigger and riskier and more expansive than my last collection. It feels like I wrote some songs that I’m going to grow into as I continue to perform them. They’re excavating some deeper stuff than I’ve touched on before, I think they will have a healing quality for people who listen.” (read more)
Hayes Carll – You Get It All – October 29th
Songwriter and native Texan Hayes Carll has always been one of those cats who’s sat right on the periphery of country music in that mutable, undefinable “Americana” space as someone similar to Townes Van Zant or Guy Clark who always put the songwriting first and worried about genre second. But Carll’s coming out and saying with his upcoming record called You Get It All on Dualtone that his country roots rise to the surface.
“I like to tug at heartstrings, find commonality with others, reflect on my own life, and sometimes I do it in a lighthearted way,” says Carll. “A lot of musical styles found their way onto this record, but my first and most formative influences came from country music. This is a country singer-songwriter record. It’s just unapologetically me.” (read more)
Cody Jinks – Mercy -November 12th
The 12-track album was culled down from 30 songs Jinks recorded in May with his backing band the Tonedeaf Hippies at the Sonic Ranch recording enclave in West Texas. As part of the release, Jinks has formed his own label called Late August Records with his longtime manager Arthur Penhallow Jr. at True Grit Management, as well as Malia Barrett. The completely independent label will not only facilitate Cody’s new releases, but the entire Cody Jinks catalog has been brought under the Late August Records umbrella.
As an independent artist, Cody Jinks has amassed massive numbers, including over 2 billion song streams, including a Certified Gold single in “Hippies and Cowboy,” and a Platinum single in “Loud & Heavy.” (read more)
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raise The Roof – November 19th
The 2007 album pairing up Led Zepplin frontman Robert Plant with singer and bluegrass maestro Alison Krauss called Raising Sand also pulled off the improbable, landing all sorts of accolades, including the all-genre Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2009, and six Grammy trophies overall.
Ever since the success of Raising Sand, there’s been talk of a follow up, and apparently they tried to record one at some point with producer Daniel Lanois that never fully materialized. But apparently Robert and Alison’s mutual love for the song “Quattro (World Drifts In)” by Calexico inspired new sessions, with a new album is on the way. To be called Raise the Roof, the new album was produced by T-Bone Burnett, and features songs by Merle Haggard, Allen Toussaint, the Everly Brothers, and an original tune from the duo called “High and Lonesome.” (read more)
OTHER CONFIRMED RELEASES
September 1 – Jon Wolfe – Dos Corazones
September 3
Sean Devine – Here For It All
Megan and Shane – Daughter of Country
David Ferguson – Nashville No More
The Burner Band – Signs and Wonders
Robert Jon and the Wreck – Shine a Light On Me Brother
Lauren Alaina – Sitting Pretty on Top of the World
September 10th
Kashena Sampson – Time Machine
Kacey Musgraves – Star-Crossed
Dori Freeman – Ten Thousand Roses
Michael Monroe Goodman – When The Rain Came
RC and the Ambers – Big Country
Riddy Arman – Self-Titled
Herrick – Sunderland Road
Jonathan Paull Gertler – No Fear
Heartless Bastards – A Beautiful Life
Jon Randall – Jon Randall
Joe Stamm Band – Midwest Town
Borderline Music Co. – Precious Souls
Home in This World: Woody Guthrie’s Dust Bowl Ballads (Various Artists)
Foy Vance – Signs of Life
Matthew Fowler – The Grief We Gave Our Mother
Banty Holler – Journeyman Songs
September 16th – H. Self- Broken Lives On
September 17th
Ray Scott – Cover The Earth
Barney Bentall and Geoffrey Kelly – RanchWriters (Instrumental)
Gregory Ackerman – Still Waiting Still
D.D. Verni and the Cadillac Band – Let’s Rattle
Carly Pearce – 29: Written in Stone
Caitlin Jemma – True Meaning
CJ Garton – Tales from the West
Kirby Brown – Break Into Blossom
Evan Bartels – Lonesome
John McCutcheon – Bucket List
Caleb Lee Hutchinson – Slot Machine Syndrome EP
Anna Egge – Between Us
Charley Crockett – Music City USA
Various Artists – Country Faith Bluegrass
Bren Holmes- Everything You Never Wanted
Teea Goans – All Over The Map
Alexa Rose – Headwaters
Scotty McCreery – Same Truck
Gordie MacKeeman – Folk for Little Folk
The Delevantes – A Thousand Turns
A Tale of Two – Self-Titled
The Northern Belle – The Woman In Me
Swamptooth – B-Flat Earth
Bruce T. Carroll – First Bird To Sing
September 24th
Jackson Melnick – Abilene
Billy Strings – Renewal
Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name
Tony Kamel (Wood & Wire) – Back Down Home
Leigh Nash – The Tide Vol. 1
Taylor McCall – Black Powder Soul
Johnny Cash – At The Carousel Ballroom
Larry Fleet – Stack of Records
Chris Roberts – Lost & Found EP
Maya Francis – A Pink Soft Mess
September 28 – James Carothers – Whatcha Got Left
September 29 – Electric Blue Yonder – Mourning Sounds
October 1st
Misty River – Promises
Asleep At The Wheel – Half A Hundred Years
Dar Williams – I’ll Meet You Here
Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Kyle McKearney – Down-Home
The Accidentals – Vessel
Jeremy Pinnell – Goodbye LA
Miko Marks – Race Records
Caitlin Rose – Own Side Now (10th Anniversary Reissue)
October 8th
The Wild Feathers – Alvarado
Natalie Hemby – Pins and Needles
Joshua Ray Walker – See You Next Time
Thomas Csorba – From The Jordan EP
Lauren Premo – Golden Loam
Kim Cheshire – Looks Like Heaven
Noah Gundersen – A Pillar of Salt
Nathan Evans Fox – Wasted Love
Katie Frank – Small Town Minds
Reba McEntire – Revived, Remixed, Revisited
Noel McKay – Blue, Blue, Blue
Ray Stevens – Ain’t Nothin’ Funny Anymore
Side Pony (Alice Wallace and Caitlin Cannon) – Lucky Break
Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows Vol. 2 (John Prine Tribute)
Cody Johnson – Human: The Double Album
October 15th
TK & The Holy Know-Nothings – The Incredible Heat Machine
Abby Bryant and the Echoes – Not You Little Girl
Tommy Womack – I Thought It Was Fine
Ryan Hurd – Pelago
Erin Enderlin – Barroom Mirrors
The Royal Hounds – A Whole Lot of Nothin’
Toby Keith – Peso in My Pocket
Pokey LaFarge – In The Blossom of Their Shade
Zac Brown Band – The Comeback
Lilly Hiatt – Lately
Tom O’Connor – Night Owl
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Georgia Blue (Covers Album)
Allie Dunn – Good As Gone EP
Bellamy Brothers – Covers From The Brothers
Sarah McQuaid – The St Buryan Sessions
Cara – Grounded
Si Kahn – Been A Long Time (Reissue)
October 22nd
Jackson + Sellers (Jade Jackson and Aubrie Sellers) – Breaking Point
Braison Cyrus – Javalina
Moot Davis – Seven Cities of Gold
Sam Turner and the Cactus Cats – Rodeo Hound
Reed Southall Band – For The Birds
Creed Fisher – Whiskey and the Dog
My Morning Jacket – Self-Titled
Ian Jones – Evergreens
Pistol Annies – Hell of a Holiday
Red Sammy – Vultures
Hank Erwin – The Copper Album
The Kentucky Headhunters – That’s a Fact Jack!
Norman Blake – Day By Day
Dillon Carmichael – Son of A
Rigby Summer – Geography
Phil Gammage – From Nowhere to Somewhere
Read Southall Band – For The Birds
October 29th
Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren
Brandy Zdan – Falcon
Handsome Jack – Get Humble
Southbound 75 – Tales from the Black Swamp
Hayes Carll – You Get It All
Mick Mullin – Mullin’ It Over
Susto – Time in the Sun
Travis Feutz – Country Music Forever
Natalie Jane Hill – Solely
Eddie Montgomery – Ain’t Closing Me Down
Will Carter – How Ya Know
October 30th – Bobby Allison and Gerry Spehar – Delta Man
October 31st – Midnight Backhand – Fortune Teller
November 2nd – Nicholas Edward Williams – Folk Songs for Old Times’ Sake
November 5th
Margo Cilker – Pohorylle
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats – The Future
STASH – Walk The Walk
Mose Wilson – Self-Titled
Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers – Cockadoodledeux (Moved from October 8th)
Deana Carter – Did I Shave My Legs For This? 25th Anniversary Edition
Charles Wesley Godwin – How The Mighty Fall
Steve Goodman – The Best of Steve Goodman
Zachary Lucky – Songs For Hard Times
Houndmouth – Good For You
The Steel Wheels – Everyone A Song Vol. 2
Tim Kelly – Ride Through The Rain
Matt Ward – If I Was in Dallas Tonight
David Nail – Bootheel 2021
T. Buckley – Frame By Frame
November 12th
Cody Jinks – Mercy
Caned By Nod (Cody Jinks Metal Project) – None The Wiser
Jr. Gone Wild – Still Got The Jacket
Josh Grider – Long Way From Las Cruces
Sam Outlaw – Popular Mechanics
Kiely Connell – Camulet Queen
Taylor Hungerford – Western Symphony
Sharna Burcher – Backwards Town
November 12 – The Haze and Dacey Collective – Letters from Gilead
November 13th – Robert Eskridge – Heroes At Home
November 19th
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raise The Roof
Single Girl, Married Girl – Three Generations of Leaving
Abe Partridge – Live in the UK
Adam Hattaway & The Haunters – Rooster
Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP
Sam Tio – 1897
November 25th – Hez Goode – Humansville
November 26
Santa Poco – Cowboy Songs
Malcolm MacWatt – Settler
December 3rd
The Mother Hips – Glowing Lantern
Jason Boland and the Stragglers – The Light Saw Me
firekid – Muscle Shoals Metaphysical
December 10th
Loney Hutchins – Buried Loot, Demos from the House of Cash and Outlaw Era, ‘73-‘78
Oliver Myles Mashburn – Jaws of Oblivion
Ken Pomeroy – Christmas Lights in April
Ben Guihan – Mise-en-scène
Those Poor Bastards – Old Time Suffering
December 17th
Joe Vickers – Waiting on a Muse
December 24th
Barry Waldrep and Friends Celebrate Tony Rice
December 28th
Cory Kent – 21
THE RUMOR MILL
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers have signed to Thirty Tigers. New album expected in early 2022 (read more).
49 Winchester has signed with New West Records, and will also have new music on the way (read more).
IV and the Strange Band (Hank3’s son) were supposed to release an EP on April 20th, but have delayed due to “new opportunities’ coming up. Be on the lookout for something from him soon (read more).
Charles Wesley Godwin seemed to hint on social media that he finished recording a new album on October 8th, 2020. Don’t be surprised if we finally hear something about it very soon.
Muscadine Bloodline has released a new song “Dyin’ for a Livin’,” and don’t be surprised if we don’t hear about a new album coming soon.
The Pistol Annies have been dropping multiple hints that something new might be on the way, perhaps a tour, or perhaps a new album.
The Wreckers (Michelle Branch, Jessica Harp) have been hinting they have a new record on the way.
William Clark Green on 3/9: “Back to the studio this weekend. Time to get you all some new music.”
Sunny Sweeney says she’s got a new original studio album coming in 2021.
Joe Nichols has been saying he’s got a new traditional country record on the way. He recently released a new single called “Home Run.” It’s not exactly traditional country.
Jessi Colter has a new album on the way produced by Margo Price. They were in the studio together in May 2019.
August 31, 2021 @ 10:05 am
It won’t be released this year, but Courtney Patton recently posted that she has booked studio time in December for recording her next album. She’s played a few songs from it on Wade’s World and she played a new song at BBR called “This Was Never Meant to Last” that was just fantastic.
August 31, 2021 @ 11:05 am
Down Under:
Abbie Ferris – Ready Or Not – EP – 09/03
Darlinghurst – Darlinghurst – Album – 09/24
Natalie Henry – White Heat – Album – 09/17
Angus Gill – The Scrapbook – Album – 09/24
Hayley Jensen – Breakin’ Hearts – Album – 10/22
The Bloomvilles – The Bloomvilles – Album – 09/03
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes – As Long As It’s Not Us – Album – 09/17
August 31, 2021 @ 11:06 am
Luke Combs has stated that his 3rd album will be out this fall.
It’s odd because his current single off his sophomore album is still climbing the charts (at # 15 ). Quite possible that we get a new album from him without a lead single. Would be the first time in mainstream history, correct me if I’m wrong?
August 31, 2021 @ 11:07 am
FWIW, Josh Turner announced this morning he has a Christmas album coming out Oct. 8
August 31, 2021 @ 11:37 am
Gospel, Christmas, and Covers …. c’mon Turner, we want new music
September 1, 2021 @ 4:42 am
Well, he was long overdue to produce a Gospel and Christmas album. I am still shocked that he never produced a Christmas album during his heyday.
Hopefully, he is using these albums to fulfill his record deal. He needs to go independent. Nashville has forsaken him. Deep South wasn’t awful but you could tell the album was a product of compromise from bean counters trying to force hackneyed trends on him.
August 31, 2021 @ 11:59 am
Good to see Joe Stamm Band on the list at the bottom. The pride of the Midwest!
August 31, 2021 @ 5:22 pm
From what I understand he’s opening for and playing the after party for Blackberry Smoke Saturday in Aurora if it ends up being outdoors then indoors later, not sure? Saw him open for Sunny Sweeney at the Law Office Pub like his tunes a lot. Should be a great show and looking forward to a new album. He’s the goods.
August 31, 2021 @ 6:06 pm
I saw him open for Sunny at that show too. We really should coordinate these. I can’t make the Blackberry show. I saw Wade there a while back. Solid place. I think this one is outdoors though. I was impressed with Stamm’s tunes. Really liked the one about John Prine.
August 31, 2021 @ 12:35 pm
Hope Jon Randall gets some love for his album. Always thought he was a great vocalist. His “Baby Won’t You COme Home” is still in m y youtube rotation.
August 31, 2021 @ 2:49 pm
Ryan Hurd – October 15th. On a related note, I keep checking back to see if you’ve given him the Saving Country Music treatment yet, so would love to hear your analysis on him at some point! Personally, I’m a fan, and, in particular, really like his songwriting, both stuff he’s kept for himself and songs cut by other artists (Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Lady A, etc.). Though he covers well-worn themes (he has about a billion songs about summer), I still find he does so in (mostly) creative and fresh ways that (again, mostly) avoid cliche and seem personal. I think he probably gets a fair amount of coverage due to his more famous wife (and, to be honest, it’s nice to see it go in that direction for a change!), but, imo, is an artist who merits consideration on his own. I’d put up To a T, Michigan for the Winter, and Diamonds or Twine against any songs in the pop country genre…If I had to guess as to fair critiques, they’d be: veers into non-country often and could stand some thematic diversity (see above re: songs about summer). Would love to hear your thoughts at some point!
August 31, 2021 @ 2:59 pm
Thanks for the heads up. Looks like it was just announced in the last day or two.
I honestly have not heard enough to have an opinion on Ryan Hurd. I usually wait for full-length albums to make a solid determination on an artist, so the new album will be my first opportunity. But as you can see, it’s an extremely busy release season, so I can’t guarantee anything. But I will at least give it a listen.
August 31, 2021 @ 3:17 pm
Terrific response Trig
August 31, 2021 @ 4:32 pm
Nothing to hear there, Trig.
August 31, 2021 @ 4:06 pm
“Jessi Colter has a new album on the way produced by Margo Price. They were in the studio together in May 2019. ”
because that margo price has her greasy paws involved, i cannot in good conscience get this. i support Trigger in their twitter war all the way.
fashtag Teamtrigger
August 31, 2021 @ 4:48 pm
I’m loving the three tracks Natalie Hemby has released so far.
August 31, 2021 @ 5:42 pm
Trig,
Bobby Bones is getting cancelled by the CMAs and ACMs. Can’t wait for your article
August 31, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
Can I suggest you add Riddy Arman’s new Self Titled album to the others due out on September 10th? What I’ve heard from it so far sounds great. Think Colter Wall but from a female perspective.
August 31, 2021 @ 7:17 pm
Thanks for the heads up. She’s been added.
September 17, 2021 @ 2:54 pm
I really enjoyed that album, very good. And I agree there is something about that made me think of Colter. I hope Trigger can get the opportunity to review it
August 31, 2021 @ 7:22 pm
Would love to get another album from Charles Wesley Godwin
August 31, 2021 @ 8:45 pm
Any news from the Cody Johnson camp? He’s been saying he has a “double” album coming soon, but no news yet. And yes, I used that term loosely, especially when looking at a double album like Trace Adkins recent 25 song release. Cody hinted it’d be about 18 tracks
September 1, 2021 @ 2:36 pm
Yeah, he’s already released 7 of the tracks, and the album is to be released in October. Also two more ‘singles’ expected before then.
September 1, 2021 @ 3:07 pm
From what he said earlier when the project was announced, he said October and he would release 2 singles from each side of the album every month leading up to the album. If he were to stick to that pattern I expect that he would either release 2 standalone singles this coming Friday OR release the album preorder alone with 2 new songs this coming Friday.
My expectations are low because most 2021 albums have been underwhelming.
September 2, 2021 @ 7:46 am
Awesome — this will really help with my insomnia. Looking forward to 16 mid-tempo love ballads.
September 1, 2021 @ 3:05 am
Thanks Trigger for your work.
super busy end of the year!
excited about Pinnell and Scott Robinson
September 1, 2021 @ 4:59 am
Rumor Mill:
Shane Owens – Single: “Music Man”
James Lann – Single: “Damn Strait” / feat. Holly Tucker
Mala Oreen – Awake – Album – 11/05 (Single: “Offspring”)
Olivia Lane – Heart Change – Album – 09/17 (Single: “Lois Lane”)
Claire Wright – Miss California – EP – 09/24 (Single: “Having It All”)
Sam Cary – Ungodly Hours – EP – 09/17 (Single: “People Watching”)
Johnny Gates – East Music Row – Album – 09/17 (Single: “Over You”)
Matt Jordan – Middle Of Everything – EP – 10/01 (Single: “Fifth Of July”)
Crystal Leigh – Trading Skylines – EP – 10/08 (Single: “Trading Skylines”)
Justin Clyde Williams – Empty Rooms – Album – 10/08 (Single: “No Demise”)
Brandon Hodde – Here’s To You – Album – 10/24 (Single: “Backroad” / Texas)
John King – Always Gonna Be You – Album – 10/08 (Single: “Ain’t Missing You)
Shelby Lee Lowe – Stubborn Heart – Album – 09/17 (Single: “Miss Tennessee”)
Gavin Powell – Jacksonville Sunrise – EP – 10/01 (Single: “Keep My Love Alive”)
Landon Heights – Landon Heights – EP – 09/24 (Single: “Drinkin’ Double” / Texas)
Balsam Range – Moxie & Mettle – Album – 09/17 (Single: “Highway Side” / Bluegrass)
Gregory Dwane – Gregory Dwane – Album – 10/08 (Single: “It’s Fucked Up” / feat. Amy Ray)
Creed Fisher – Whiskey & The Dog – Album – 10/22 (Single: “Jesus, Haggard & Jones” / Texas)
Sideline – Ups, Downs & No Name Towns – Album – 09/17 (Single: “Old Guitar Case / Bluegrass)
Xavier Joseph – Built With Love – Album – 09/10 (Single: “Built With Love” / feat. Kayleigh DeLozier / Texas)
Bela Fleck – My Bluegrass Heart – Album – 09/10 (Single: “Wheels Up” / feat. Molly Tuttle & Sierra Hull / Bluegrass)
Patrick Anthony – Somewhere I Belong – EP – 09/17 (Single: “Somewhere I Belong” / – feat. Cash Crawford / Canada)
&
Chris Jones & The Night Drivers – Make Each Second Last – Album – 10/15 (Single: “We Need To Hear From You” / Bluegrass)
Looking Forward: Bela Fleck with Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Chris Thile & Jerry Douglas as guests…
…Sam Cary because of her voice, Patrick Anthony (voice & the hymnic title track), Balsam Range (The Ghost is in the mood for some Bluegrass), Gregory Dwane because “It’s Fucked Up” is a great track & Creed Fisher (the ballads & “outlaw” tracks).
September 1, 2021 @ 7:02 pm
Looking forward to that new Balsam Range album! My kid and I have made “Santa Barbara” our summer theme song.
September 1, 2021 @ 5:20 am
Pretty busy list indeed.. But can Carly Pierce just go away? And thanks for adding Ray Scott
September 1, 2021 @ 3:09 pm
Wow! Women supporting women.
September 1, 2021 @ 5:58 am
Reckless Kelly just announced they are releasing demos of songs they were recording on 9/11.
September 1, 2021 @ 6:03 am
Taylor McCall’s LP Black Powder Soul is due out 9/24!
September 1, 2021 @ 7:47 am
Natalie Hemby’s releasing a new album?!
That’s awesome to see!
September 1, 2021 @ 9:40 am
Nikki Lane has been playing new songs live, and at the Chicago show it sounded like the album was recorded just waiting to be released sometime next year.
September 1, 2021 @ 11:51 am
Was Going to mention this as well. No release date that I can find but heard some new stuff when she opened for Stapleton and Elle King a month ago.
September 1, 2021 @ 5:21 pm
I heard,,, that a freshly formed Ben Davenport Band consisting of Legit Pals & Brothers will soon begin sandin’ on 3 Albums worth of Art in preparation for creating their next full-length (13 tracks) project at the Shangri-La this Fall. Release date is scheduled for March 2nd, 2000 & 22.
September 1, 2021 @ 7:29 pm
Don’t forget about Alex Williams
September 1, 2021 @ 8:54 pm
Seriously? You put Kacey Musgraves new album in the general list for the 9/10 release date, but you spotlight two little known artists instead of the her? I know you don’t love her but that is the most anticipated album release of the year…period.
September 1, 2021 @ 9:04 pm
When I started Saving Country Music 13 years ago, it was to draw attention to the artists who don’t get the big awards, who aren’t signed to major labels, and who don’t have 50+ features written about their album before it is released. No offense to the Kacey Musgraves album. I look forward to listening to it and will likely review it. But nobody needs me to tell them she’s releasing a record. Artists like Dori Freeman, Emily Scott Robinson, and Side Pony, they’re the ones that run the risk of being overlooked.
September 2, 2021 @ 9:56 am
Glad to see Leigh Nash has a new project on the way.
If anyone from this site wants to check her out, they should listen to her “The State I’m In”. It’s perhaps my favorite album of 2015 (and my phone apparently has 84 from that year). Unfortunately, much of the coverage she got at the time was limited to her fans from Sixpence days, so it got little traction. She was working on a follow up Country/Traditional project, but it got burned when that crowd-funding site went belly up a few years back.
September 2, 2021 @ 10:23 am
Another good country/jam-grass band to keep an eye out for is Feed the Dog out of Wisconsin. The scene there is electric. Saw them open up for the Infamous Stringdusters in the middle of nowhere. (Also new album out 9/10)
September 4, 2021 @ 6:46 am
More:
Cody Johnson – Human: The Double Album – 18 Tracks – Release Date: 10/08
Duet with Willie Nelson (“Sad Song & Waltzes”)
Larry Cann – The Road, Family & Home – Album – Release Date: 10/01 (Australia)
(Former pro ?) Rodeo rider turned country singer/songwriter in the tradition of the cowboy singers with his new album & the single “Country Cries”.
Brandon McDermott Band – Across The Causeway – Album – Release Date: 09/10 (Texas)
The single “43rd & R” is a midtempo tune & new on the Texas Top 100 this week (#100)
&
Lance Rogers – Lance Rogers – Album – Release Date: 09/10 (Kentucky)
Great tracks already on Youtube or Spotify: “Was I Always Killing You?”, “Flyin’ On Momma’s Feet” & “Outside The Lines”.
Sounds like the perfect soundtrack for indian summer/fall season & sounds like a winner!
September 4, 2021 @ 8:45 am
Jason Boland & The Stragglers will drop “The Light Saw Me” on December 3rd. He announced it from the stage last night.
September 6, 2021 @ 1:26 am
I was wondering about that, because my Spotify Release Radar featured some JB versions of classic songs over the last weeks. Good to hear!
September 5, 2021 @ 1:12 pm
Hadn’t seen a pre-order yet and luckily so, that Sam Outlaw single he released gave me pause. It’s pretty terrible, though his clip of playing it at the Opry wasn’t nearly as bad.
September 11, 2021 @ 5:58 am
October 1 – Tired Of This Town (album) by Colin Aerts!
October 2, 2021 @ 4:08 am
I think you forgot to put Asleep at the Wheel on the list. Came out yesterday if I’m not mistaken. I know it’s on your radar because it was on the SCM playlist!
October 2, 2021 @ 7:49 am
I’m seeing…
Asleep At The Wheel – Half A Hundred Years
…right there under the October 1st release date.
Perhaps you need to scroll down where the specific dates are listed.
November 17, 2021 @ 6:07 pm
Trig,
Not sure if you have any idea about this, but:
Did Asleep at the Wheel ever release a version of Shotgun Boogie? I have an old cd burned 20 years ago with Shotgun Boogie on it. Asleep at the Wheel is listed as the artist and it sounds like them, but I can’t find it anywhere else. Thanks.
November 17, 2021 @ 6:17 pm
I would say if it quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. I don’t have any specific recollection of them recording “Shotgun Boogie,” but it makes sense they would. I’m also not super well versed on the in’s and out’s of the entirety of the Asleep at the Wheel catalog, so I might not be the best source for info.
October 2, 2021 @ 8:28 am
A few album recommendations that the readership of SCM should appreciate…
Hannah Jackson – New Morning (out Sept 24, don’t judge the album by its cover!). Two highlights are “It’s Just Life” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr0R6QsMsCw
and “Don’t say sorry” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLexodPbOnk
Sterling Drake – Roll the Dice (out Oct 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhfe-epV2C4
November 17, 2021 @ 5:25 pm
Jesse Dayton, Beaumonster. Album and book, came out on the 5th of November I believe. I follow a bunch of sites, it’s been overlooked for some reason.
November 17, 2021 @ 5:38 pm
I pull info from a bunch of places to compile this list. And if an album has anything remotely to do with country and roots, it goes on here. If it’s not on here, it’s because a curious lack of effort has been expended to get the word out. You send me an email, I see it on social media, a reader reaches out, publicist or label reaches out, it gets on the list. I also check other release radar lists both public and private. I didn’t hear about the new Jesse Dayton until the day of the release. It’s on my radar now. I can’t review everything, but I do like to at least give stuff a mention so it’s on people’s radar.
November 17, 2021 @ 6:01 pm
I started following release calendars this year and you always have a lot of great stuff on yours that others miss. I understand it’s impossible to catch everything. There’s just so much music out there now, it’s insane. It’s almost too much. Keep up the good work.
November 17, 2021 @ 6:16 pm
We definitely reached the “too much” point this fall. There’s always been more albums than time to review them, but we went well past the point of critical mass as everyone released the albums they recorded during quarantine at once.