Super Busy Release Day on March 24th. Here’s Your Guide

There may not be a better example of how cluttered and crazy release days have become over the last couple of years than what’s happening on March 24th. A total of 22 albums that have been pre-screened and selected to be considered for review by Saving Country Music are all being released on the same day.

And that’s not all the albums being released. There are further albums from the greater country and roots world that didn’t pass pre-screening for a host of reasons, not to mention the releases swirling out there that for whatever reason have not made it onto SCMs radar yet, but probably will in the coming days.

It really illustrates the challenge for listeners, journalists, critics, and the industry have to deal with just to keep up with it all, let alone dig down to find something that you may enjoy, or that will speak to you deeply. But in a effort to help you navigate such a busy day, find a guide below of (most) all of March 24th’s pending releases.

Album Releases – March 24th

Jesse Daniel – My Kind of Country: Live at the Catalyst

Recorded in front of a sold out crowd at Santa Cruz, CA’s biggest live music venue, it’s the same place Neil Young & Crazy Horse recorded Touch The Night – Santa Cruz 1984. For Jesse Daniel, it was a full circle moment, since he used to work as a stage hand and security at the venue, hoping some day he could take the main stage. His career started off playing the upstairs bar of the venue as he battled addiction to get on the right track.

“The Catalyst was kind of as big as it gets in my world,” explains Daniel. “I grew up there, going to shows, playing shows on their smaller stages. To headline the main stage, let alone sell it out and make a record there, is a huge accomplishment for me and I’m forever grateful to my Santa Cruz County friends, fans and family for supporting what we do.”

Luke Combs – Gettin’ Old

The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year will lend to the country music album track arms race with this 18-track album that he hopes will maintain him as one of the dominant names in mainstream country. It is the sequel to his last album Growin’ Up, which had the scene of a bark on the front cover, and “Growin’ Up” on his hat.

“This album is about the stage of life I’m in right now,” says Combs. “One that I’m sure a lot of us are in, have been through, or will go through. It’s about coming of age, loving where life is now but at the same time missing how it used to be, continuing to fall for the one you love and loving them no matter what, living in the moment but still wondering how much time you have left, family, friends, being thankful, and leaving a legacy. Me and so many others have poured their hearts and souls into this record, and I hope you love it as much as we do.”

Chancey Williams – One Of These Days

A true rodeo cowboy who’s competed as a saddle bronc rider for years, Chancey Williams holds the unique distinction of being the only guy since Chris LeDoux to both ride and perform in the biggest rodeo competition of them all—Cheyenne’s Frontier Days. Chancey brings his real-world experiences to both lively songs and sentimental ballads that show off a sincere passion for country and Western while satiating a range of emotions for the audience. Think Aaron Watson, but perhaps a bit more on the narrow path of country music sonically.

“This is the first full album we’ve put out in almost three years, so we’re really excited about it,” Williams says. “Trent Willmon, my producer, also made his mark on a ton of this album, co-writing eight of the tracks with me. Bobby Pinson, who everybody in town knows, of course, wrote a couple of songs with Trent and I, including ‘Only the Good Ones.’ I think this album probably says the most about who I am and the kinds of songs I am writing today.”

Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire

Releasing on Smithsonian Folkways and produced by Ted Hutt, Traveling Wildfire is said to be the former Carolina Chocolate Drop’s most personal album to date, and focuses more on original songwriting as opposed to primarily interpreting old tunes like many of his previous projects.

“Traveling Wildfire is not only a statement of my personal travel experiences but also a metaphor for rebirth in the wake of destruction. It reminded me that the album is in its own way a statement about emerging from the depths of uncertainty to find a new relevance during this unprecedented moment in modern history. At the same time, the image of the traveling wildfire reminded me of how music and stories can travel from generation to generation bringing important lessons from the past into the present and the future.”

Nickel Creek – Celebrants

Nickel Creek: Better together than apart. That’s for sure. They certainly can’t be blamed for wanting to take some time for themselves when they announced back in 2006 that they’d be going on an indefinite hiatus. What a wild ride they’d endured; starting off in a pizza joint when the oldest member of the trio was only twelve, to getting swept up in the whole bluegrass craze that ushered in the 2000’s on the heels of O’ Brother and Alison Krauss producing a Grammy-nominated album for them.

They reunited again in 2014, but then shortly went their separate ways. Now Chris Thile, and Sean and Sara Watkins are back for their first album in nine years. “This is a record about embracing the friction inherent in real human connection,” they say. “We begin the record yearning for and pursuing harmonious connection. We end the record having realized that truly harmonious connection can only be achieved through the dissonance that we’ve spent our entire adult lives trying to avoid.”

Carly Pearce – 29: Written In Stone (Live From Music City)

The studio version of this album went on to become a landmark release of modern mainstream country music, and helped ensconce Carly Pearce as a premier country music woman. The album helped her bag both nominations and wins for multiple CMA and ACM Awards, as well as an invite to become a Grand Ole Opry member among other accolades. It was written about her divorce from fellow performer Michael Ray.

Produced by Pearce alongside David Clauss, this live album was recorded during an intimate concert event at Marathon Music Works in Nashville, featuring special guests Lee Brice (“I Hope You’re Happy Now”), The Isaacs (“Easy Going”), Matthew West (“Truth Be Told”), Jenee Fleenor (“29”) and Ashley McBryde(“Never Wanted To Be That Girl”).

Two Runner – Modern Cowboy

Paige Anderson has been a marvel of California country and bluegrass since she was a prodigy musician playing in her family band Anderson Family Bluegrass. She recently landed in a two-piece project with fiddle player and singer Emilie Rose that has already been touring across the country, and recently landed a slot at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival along with other big festival slots this upcoming summer.

Two Runner also won the Gems on VHS “Gems in the Rough” contest in 2022, with over 800 hopefuls sending in videos, and Two Runner coming out on top. Their debut album features original songs recorded live at Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, TN in a mix of styles that include bluegrass, old-time, folk, and country.

Ellie Turner – When The Trouble’s All Done

The high, innocent, and authentic voice of Dallas native Ellie Turner will immediately captivate audiences and draw them into her debut album produced live to tape and recorded in one room by producer Jack Schneider at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. She is reminiscent of Caroline Spence with her folk-inspired sound.

“I wanted it real and imperfect,” says Ellie Turner. “I wanted it honest. I wanted it stripped down to the core and essence of whatever it was … We would play the song live until we felt like the most honest version of the song had been performed and captured. The imperfections and unexpected little moments of each performance are where the magic of the record lives. I wanted it to feel as if I was in someone’s living room and was handed a guitar to play.”

Andrew Gabbard – Cedar City Sweetheart

Andrew Gabbard is the guitarist and vocalist for Cincinnati-based Thee Shams and the critically acclaimed Buffalo Killers—both rock projects as opposed to country. But Cedar City Sweetheart is definitely a classic country-inspired album. Think of The Byrds making Sweetheart of the Rodeo. “I love when a rock band makes a country album,” Gabbard says.

The album has a very cosmic country vibe, but “cosmic” in the 60s and 70s sense where it was still very much inspired by the country of the time. “My mom has always been a big country music fan. She’s been asking me to make a record like this for a long time,” Gabbard says, who wrote the songs over a number of years. “I can remember a specific moment from writing each one of these tunes. They’re simple songs that came naturally to me.”

Gloria Anderson – Households EP

Gloria Anderson puts on a clinic of how to instill a song with the deepest of country music roots, but still serve it up with an immediacy that makes it reverberative and ferocious to a modern crowd. Originally from Texas where she came up playing around San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country, Gloria made her debut at Luckenbach at the tender age of 17. She’s now in Nashville trying to make a name for herself. 

Anderson’s single “Wildwood Baby” has already landed on the Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist, and this EP looks to be the first entry into what Gloria and her fans hope to be an auspicious start to her career.

The Burner Band – Age of the Liar

The Burner Band may sound like a collective from Memphis, or Nashville, or Austin, but primary members Lewis Burner (guitar) and Ian Blackburn (bass) happen to make their beds in Leeds, England, though you’d never guess it from listening to them. Studied and astute, their first album Signs and Wonders reminded you a lot of The Stray Cats or Everly Brothers, or maybe more modern acts like JD McPherson or The Cactus Blossoms. Nothing was lost in the cross-Atlantic transfer with these cats.

With their new album Age of the Liar, they lean a bit more into their country and string band influences, at least that’s what you hear in early singles like “Dark and Lonesome Street” and “Hot Dog King.” Leader Lewis Burner (guitar/banjo/harmonica/vocals) also performs as a solo artist. He’s joined by Ian Blackburn (double bass/vocals), Lewis Beresford (snare drum), Steven Hicken Jr. (pedal steel), and Chris Wallum (electric guitar).

Other Releases:

Wilder Woods – Fever / Sky – Solo project of Bear Rinehart from the Grammy-nominated band NeedToBreathe. Soulful Americana indicative of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.

Jessie Wilson – How ‘Bout We Find Out EP – Debut EP from this Alabama native that finds a smart balance between traditional country twang to fit her authentic Southern accent, and sensible country pop.

Darling West – Cosmos – Nordicana band (Norweigan-based Americana). Their fifth studio album is a bit less acoustic, and more electric cosmic West Coast-inspired.

Caroline Rose – The Art of Forgetting – Rose is an artist who always keeps you on your toes. She started in acoustic folk, then moved into mod and surf rock instilled with humor. The Art of Forgetting finds her more in an indie rock space, but pigeon hole at your own peril.

Boys Club for Girls – Self-Titled – Superb two-part harmonies from Amie Miriello and Vanessa Olivarez complimenting quality country/Americana songs.

April Verch & Cody Walters – Passages and Partings – Old-time tunes that also include Pharis and Jason Romero.

Tipps and Obermiller – Love (and other mysteries) – Folky and rootsy husband-and-wife duo.

Jay Carlis – Alive in the Radio Age – Singer/songwriter guitar-driven Americana.

Jenna Torres – Heaven & Hurt – Adult contemporary country.

Steve Dawson – Eyes Closed, Dreaming – Canadian-born, Nashville based guitar maestro.

Michael Jonathan – Garden of Silence – Folk album written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh.