September 25th, 2026 is a Super Busy Release Day. Here’s Your Guide

Well here we go again. After two action packed release weeks in August, there no rest for the weary when it comes to country and roots fans who like to stay on top of the best albums coming out each week. September 25th also has a lot of great albums coming out that you should be aware of. As always, you can also follow the current Release Radar updated in real time to stay informed about the releases each week.
Ian Noe – Canyon Falls Trailer Band

After re-emerging to play some shows recently, and releasing a tribute to Blaze Foley called “Jukebox Blues” in March, Ian Noe has announced the release of a new 16-song concept album called Canyon Falls Trailer Band. It was produced by Andrija Tokic at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, with contributions from Russ Pahl on guitar, Charlie McCoy on harmonica, and Billy Contreras on fiddle.
The concept behind the album is said to be a fictional band called the “Canyon Falls Trailer Band” who play a one-off showcase trying to earn industry approval. The band showcases a mix of country and folk rock, and their performance becomes the stuff of legend, even if the ultimate fate of the band goes unknown in the fictional realm. (read more)
Dallas Burrow – Modern Day Vagabond

Singer, songwriter, and underdog Dallas Burrow has always been one on the outside of the popular cliques in music, and has always had to prove himself and earn every bit of attention and credibility he’s received. Over time though, he’s accrued these very things from fans and fellow musicians alike in large sums to the point where he’s now one of the more respected performers in Central Texas.
Modern Day Vagabond, the album will be released on September 25th via Forty Below Records. It was produced by Red Dirt legend Mike McClure, and multi Grammy-winning producer/engineer Adam Odor at Yellow Dog Studios in Texas. It includes musical contributions from McClure and Odor, Kullen Fox from Charley Crockett’s Blue Drifters on organ, along with Mark Tokach and Larry Chaney on guitar, and Cameron Martin on drums. (read more)
Wade Bowen – The Version of Me You Get

The Texas music mainstay is ready to write a new chapter in his career with his latest album out via Thirty Tigers. Co-produced by Bowen himself alongside longtime friend Sean McConnell, he’s impressed with the album’s early singles like “Turpentine” that made it on the SCM Top 25 Playlist. But the album almost didn’t get released at all.
“I didn’t really know what I was looking for when I first made this record. When it was finished, life picked up, and other plans came together. The timing never quite lined up, and it just sat there,” says Wade Bowen. “It wasn’t until recently that I pulled it back out. Honestly, it felt more relevant than it did back then. The last few years – personally and career-wise – made the songs land in a different way. Like I was hearing them for the first time. There’s a lot on this record – love, struggle, redemption, vulnerability. I’m glad it finally found its time.”
Mac Cornish – Wayfaring Woman

For years Mac Cornish was one of the most cherished voices and performers in the California and West Coast country and folk scenes, making friends and opening shows for the folks touring through the region and leaving them impressed. She now splits time between Nashville, but her unique perspective on country music with those Laurel Cove influences remain, and makes it onto her new album, Wayfaring Woman.
The album was recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville with the great producer Andrija Tokic, utilizing much of the talent in Music City like steel guitar players Dennis Crouch and Russ Pahl. She’s shared the stage with the likes of Emily Nenni, Kelsey Waldon, and Silverada. Ahead of the album, she released numerous singles, including “Lover of Mine” and “Wayfaring Woman.”
Aaron Watson – The S.O.Bees Volume 1

You might’ve heard Aaron Watson before. But you’ve never heard him like this. Sure, he can come with a more traditional-leaning sound. But here he leans way back to 50 or 60 years in the past. Sure, he’s had a couple of more humerous songs in his career to go along with the more touching ones. But these are the ones that go straight for your funny bone. It’s called The S.O.Bees, and it’s a compilations of sorts of some of the most offbeat songs Watson has ever written, but never released on an album until now.
“The S.O.Bees sounds very different from anything I’ve ever done before. It’s very vintage and inspired by the mid-’60s to mid-’70s era of country music,” says Watson. “These are songs I’ve written over the last 25 years that just never made it onto any of my other records, but they’re songs I’ve always loved and believed in and I’m thrilled they finally have a home!”
Dylan Gossett – Ramblin’

Dylan Gossett is the Austin, TX version of the earnest singer/songwriter who has seen an explosion in popularity from his heartfelt songs that make meaningful connections with listeners thirsty for something more. Gosset has put a lot of miles on the road opening for the likes of George Strait and Zach Top, to The Lumineers and Noah Kahan, speaking to the wide range of appeal of his music across country and contemporary folk.
Gossett now delivers his sophomore album Ramblin’ via Big Loud Texas. “Where ‘Westward’ is all about this change of life I went through and the craziness of traveling out West and life flipping upside down, ‘Ramblin’’ is about coming back home and having real relationships when I was off the road,” says Gossett. “Relationships with friends, with significant others, with family, with faith. I’m grounding myself in this music.”
Mike Thomas – Echoes

In 2024 when Mike Thomas released his song “Hell or High Water” in the aftermath of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, it was just one songwriter’s hope of having some sort of effect or relief. These kinds of songs often proceed calamities and current events, and unfortunately, often pass with little fanfare. But “Hell or High Water” touched a nerve, making it onto the Saving Country Music Top 25 playlist, and finding a place deep in many people’s hearts. It’s since racked up 1.5 million streams on Spotify alone.
Inspired once again by the resilience in the aftermath of catastrophe, Mike Thomas has assembled the album Echoes—a concept album that attempts to finish telling the story that “Hell or High Water” starts. Dealing with grief, addiction, faith, and redemption, it comes on the heels of the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene.
More Releases:
Kenny Chesney – Silver Sands Marina – The King of Beach Country is back. You can expect this to be a Kenny Chesney album, meaning a lot of mild radio country songs. But Chesney is always good for a quality song or two as well.
Lauren Watkins – If I’m Being Honest – Her proclamation that Bro-Country should return notwithstanding, Watkins is a mainstream artists that also tends to keep it more country.
Wheeler Walker Jr. – Pullin’ Out – The foul-mouthed comedic country artist’s supposed “final” record, though he pulled this retirement trick before.
Uncle Lucius – Open Eyes, Broken Heart (Americana) – A true concept record, this is the band’s most purposeful effort since their official reunification after the pandemic.
Mary Gauthier – Reckoning (Americana) – A Mary Gauthier album is always something worth exploring.
Pony Bradshaw – Through A Glass Darkly (Americana)
Noel McKay – Songs About Bad People
Jack Biilmann – Move The Mountains (Americana)
RJ Chesney – A Southern Man (Americana)
Joy Oladokun – Hope Is a Heavy Thing (Americana)
Michael Rudd – Midnight at Dawn (Americana)
Bill Scorzari – Sidereal Days (Day 2) (Americana)
Landon Smith – Don’t Mind Me (Contemporary folk)
Jude Brothers – Dogwood Maiden Voyage (folk)
Logan Mac – Live at the Print Shop
The Bluegrass Album Band – The Bluegrass Album (bluegrass, reissue)
The Star Room Boys – Why Do Lonely Men and Women Want to Break Each Other’s Hearts (reissue)
(9-24) The Heists – Break & Mend (folk, bluegrass)
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September 24, 2026 @ 9:15 am
Big fan of Dallas Burrow’s early stuff
September 24, 2026 @ 9:57 am
Damn it I’m barely caught up from the last super-release day
September 25, 2026 @ 8:40 pm
Two things I listened to today besides IAN NOE(!!!!):
Shelby Lee Lowe finally released another album. If you like the Keith Whitley kind of timeless country (or at least the time was kind that he released it the very end of his career, not the weird 70s production shit he started with)- this is your man. I’ve been a fan for years and this album does not disappoint.
Pokey Lafarge (not exactly country or rockabilly or any one thing, kind of a weirdo rockabilly-ish slash Roots Americana thing) released a really good album called Rent Money (I think today?). It has the best line I think I’ve ever heard in a song:
The good Lord giveth,
The landlord taketh away
Also maybe a week or so ago Jack Browning released a phenomenal album. He’s a UK country artist who also does visual art about classic country so I went ahead and ordered a physical copy because there’s probably good graphics and art. I was totally blown away by how good and varied the songwriting was
September 24, 2026 @ 10:20 am
Think there’s new Pony Bradshaw as well
September 24, 2026 @ 11:12 am
Didn’t Pony just release “Ode to Humidity” a couple of weeks ago?
September 25, 2026 @ 8:41 pm
Yeah he’s doing something like a trio of albums so this is the second one in the series.
September 24, 2026 @ 11:29 am
Really excited for the Wade Bowen album. I’m of the opinion that his songwriting is on par with all of great writers the media salivates over. He doesn’t get that same kind of praise and coverage and that is a freaking travesty.
A flawless discography and I can’t even think of one bad song from his career. That is truly remarkable.
September 25, 2026 @ 6:12 am
Listening to The Version of Me You Get this morning and…much like Flyin, it’s not as good as Solid Ground or Somewhere Between the Secret and the Truth. Still a good album. He drops an F bomb randomly in the middle of one song, which was, to say the least, unexpected. I’m not sure where that came from and don’t really care for its inclusion. As usual from Wade Bowen, the standout tracks are top tier songwriting. The other songs don’t stand out much. A fine addition to his discography but perhaps two perfect albums (and one could argue 3 including If We Ever Make it Home) is more than we get from 99.9% of artists, so I’m just grateful he’s still making good music.
September 24, 2026 @ 11:40 am
Dylan Gossett hell yeah!!!!!
September 24, 2026 @ 11:45 am
Uncle Lucius new album is definitely one I’m looking forward to!
September 24, 2026 @ 12:18 pm
Some exciting releases and I’m happy to see a re-release of that Star Room Boys album. Those guys put out a couple amazing albums then seemed to fall off the earth. Hope it’ll get those guys some new fans.
September 24, 2026 @ 1:14 pm
Hey Trig – have you heard any news on what Jinks is supposed to be releasing next Friday? All he posted was to expect new music. Do we know if it’s an album or a few songs?
September 24, 2026 @ 1:17 pm
My take on it was that it is likely just a song, but who knows. He surprised dropped TWO records on us a few years ago, so look alive! I don’t have any specific details, and even if I did, I never want to ruin a surprise for an artist.
September 24, 2026 @ 1:55 pm
Kid clearly doesn’t know what the word rambling means.
September 24, 2026 @ 5:07 pm
Super stoked for Ians album. Loved the songs ive heard so far.
September 24, 2026 @ 10:12 pm
Ians album is on YouTube music already and I’m doing everything in my power to not listen to it until I get home in another hour, where I can hear it on better speakers.
September 25, 2026 @ 2:17 pm
Just finished it and damn that whole album is fucking great. Really loved Jukebox Blues. Its definitely going to be on short list for AOTY
September 25, 2026 @ 3:51 pm
Jukebox Blues reminds me of the 2021 (I think) SCM Song Of The Year , Keily Connell’s Disappear. In fact she has several songs on that same album that are kind of similar to Jukebox Blues if you’re looking for more of that feel.
September 25, 2026 @ 9:25 pm
Okay I just listened to the two albums back to back and highly recommend doing that.
I(an Noe’s new one and Kiely Connell’s Calumet Queen, which was reviewed here and included a song of the year in I think 2021)
Boy I’m going to annoy the fuck out of my entire friend’s Circle because I have already evangelized about the Ian Noe album to like five friends and several strangers just today.
September 26, 2026 @ 8:10 am
Oh heck yeah thanks for the reccomendation!!!
September 24, 2026 @ 9:31 pm
Clutch released a new single. New album out late January.
September 24, 2026 @ 11:06 pm
Add Harper O’Neil’s EP Learning to Unlove You!
September 25, 2026 @ 1:01 am
Whitey Morgan also released the title track for his new album today
September 25, 2026 @ 8:41 am
Saw Whitey last week and he played a few cuts. He was awesome as always
September 25, 2026 @ 9:26 pm
Also Pug Johnson released another good Honky Tonk banger from an upcoming album. I went ahead and pre-ordered the whole thing because the first two singles are fucking amazing
September 25, 2026 @ 5:11 am
Hot damn, this Ian Noe album is fantastic.
September 25, 2026 @ 7:01 am
I just hit the fifth spin. Beautiful
September 25, 2026 @ 3:51 pm
Just came out of ordering it at the local record store
September 25, 2026 @ 6:50 am
Been listening to the Ian Noe’s album during lunchbreak and it’s great!!!
It sounds more country than ever before.It also feels more animated and bluegrassy at times, Wonderful!
September 27, 2026 @ 11:09 am
The bluegrassiness makes me think a little bit of Cole Chaney’s In The Shadow Of The Mountain at times.
September 25, 2026 @ 6:54 am
Hopefully, Watson’s new album is a return to form. His last few joints have been marginal.
September 25, 2026 @ 8:23 am
I thought A Horse Named Texas from early this year was very good. There are dozens of songs on that album, and not a one skip for me. That’s pretty impressive. Usually those long, long albums are just stuffed with filler.
September 26, 2026 @ 4:48 pm
I missed that release. Thanks for the recommendation.
September 25, 2026 @ 12:16 pm
He’s just another polished “boyfriend” by now, riding safe with overproduced, boring albums.
A shame, he used to have some grit back then.
Fortunately, life isn’t just an uphill battle—we get letdowns, too.
September 25, 2026 @ 7:15 am
The new Ian Noe is absolutely fantastic. AOTY material.
September 25, 2026 @ 2:18 pm
Without a doubt. On my second spin and man Ian is hitting his stride on this one.
September 25, 2026 @ 7:25 am
Ian Noe soothes my ears.
September 25, 2026 @ 8:13 am
I just started my second listen of Ians album. Gonna give it a few listens before i really critique it prob on a hopeful trigger review if he has the time. A few real slow songs that dont do it for me but i guess you got to give the couples dancing cheek to cheek something. Got to give a shoutout to a couple songs. Shes familiar is just pure country gold, now thats country music. Also kickin it in nashville is the last song and the perfect song for ending the album on. Just great. Excellent album, excellent priduction. Not all pure country but thats just fine. Ill be listening to this one for a while.
September 25, 2026 @ 10:55 am
Clearly not a one trick Pony Bradshaw, nice.
The Mac Cornish is great too, salad days…
September 25, 2026 @ 11:55 am
One incredible talent you missed: Noel McKay released “Songs About Bad People” today.
September 25, 2026 @ 10:05 pm
HOLY SHIT THIS IS AN ASTOUNDINGLY GOOD ALBUM WHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT>
He manages to channel that late 60’s “weird violent country’ trend that Psycho and the It’s Nothing To Me song are probably the best known examples of- but it’s all new stuff with totally appropriate production,. Ungodly good storytelling,
September 27, 2026 @ 9:14 am
I will pass this along to Noel! Thank you to you both!
September 27, 2026 @ 11:11 am
I’ve been extremely excited about several albums in the past month (Chasen Wayne, Orville Peck, Jack Browning, and Ian Noe) but if it weren’t such an incredible month for new releases I would be yelling that this is an album of the year candidate. Holy shit what an amazing bunch of songs. I haven’t stopped spending it back to back with the other ones I just mentioned
September 25, 2026 @ 5:12 pm
There is a pretty good article/ interview with Ian on people website for any that are interested. Ian talks about the inspirations and such for the new album. Pretty good stuff.
September 25, 2026 @ 9:28 pm
I seriously assumed there was a typo and that you were talking about something like the UK country music people magazine. But no, he was actually interviewed by people magazine. I am absolutely shocked that they cover anybody in independent country especially something this odd (as compared to mainstream music).
Man, good for this guy. He deserves all the praise and attention and I hope it really works for him
September 26, 2026 @ 3:39 am
I get your point but i dont consider Ian odd. I consider mainstream music odd.
September 25, 2026 @ 7:11 pm
Texas singer songwriter Israel Nash released a fantastic cover or tribute album today to the Byrd’s “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”. Completely reimagined the songs into kind of a psych rock haze but it really works. To me it sounds a bit like the bit like the War on Drugs.
September 25, 2026 @ 9:29 pm
My shitty YouTube algorithm fixed itself long enough to recommend a bunch of country content and I was wondering what this was going to turn out to be.
September 26, 2026 @ 11:39 am
Thanks for this list, Trigger.
I’d enjoy a “where are they when are they being released” column on albums that we have been waiting for. I know you have covered many based on subject – such as you mentioned Brad Paisley’s long awaited album in one of your columns on Brad.
What am I referring to, for example? Loretta Lynn’s long proclaimed “final” album with Cash Cabin Studio with John Carter Cash. And she recored enough for 10 more albums, it’s rumored. And she recorded Amy Winehouse “Rehab” and why oh why can’t we hear it?
I think there was a Merle Haggard album that was making the rumor rounds. I’m sure there are other legends and veterans that have teased albums and they have never appeared? And perhaps some insight to the labels and why they will not remaster old albums and re-release them? Again, as an example that I am aware of – MCA has replied to many an inquiring fan that Loretta Lynn’s albums from the 60s, 70s, and 80s will never be remastered and re-released. (a few have been put on cd, for the recored. Like maybe 5 of them.) They also claim there is nothing in “the vault.” Come on….30+ years on a label and there isn’t one unreleased track? Sure, Jan.
September 28, 2026 @ 10:35 am
I’ve read a heck of a lot about Merle, from articles to books, both obscure and mainstream. I remember that the albums he talked about included a tribute to Ernest Tubb (ready for release), a tribute to Stuart Hamblen (ready for release), a tribute to Marty Robbins (ready for release), and a cover album of rock songs ranging from ‘Everybody’s Talkin” by Fred Neil and ‘Carmelita’ by Warren Zevon to ‘I’m On Fire’ by Springsteen. A bonus song from I Am What I Am seems to be linked to that project: ‘It’s Gonna Be Me,’ which name-drops the Grateful Dead, Ringo Starr, Keith Richards, and others.
Merle also frequently mentioned a tribute to Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. A few songs appeared here and there, but who knows how many of them he actually recorded.
It’s frustrating to know about the vault of 400+ songs Theresa won’t open. I would rather listen to Merle’s throwaways than most of the new music out there.
September 28, 2026 @ 4:15 pm
The word “vault” is always a let down. I am sure Merle has hundreds of songs unreleased.
There is no way that MCA has nothing unreleased by Loretta.
The only one that probably will thrill fans after he/she is gone – Willie. I feel like his family will have a treasure chest of material to share even if his labels through the years won’t release anything from “the vault.”