While Calder Allen’s Dreamers Drifters and Hiders may only be his sophomore album, the fifth-generation Texan has been surrounded by a laundry list of legendary musicians his entire life. Shortly after packing up and moving home to Austin following a semester at the University of Montana, Allen brought a fresh batch of songs to his longtime family friend Charlie Sexton for a listen. Sexton agreed to produce Allen’s first album, connecting a huge circle for the both of them. The first time Allen was in a recording studio, it was at Arlyn Studios to watch his grandfather, Terry Allen, record his album Moby Dick, which Sexton was producing. Sexton became an integral part of Allen’s budding career, producing his first two albums, the second of which, Dreamers Drifters and Hiders is out now.
Another chief influence on Allen’s career, and in turn Dreamers Drifters and Hiders, is engineer/producer Jacob Sciba, among many others in the rising songwriter’s orbit. “The Austin music community is full of amazing musicians,” says Allen. “I was welcomed into that community and have had the most amazing mentors; most of whom are in my band; Billy Cassis, Conrad Choucroun, John Michael Schoepf, and Bukka Allen, my uncle.” Allen does not take any of this for granted; he soaks up every minute he can and continues to learn along his path. He explains, “If you are not learning and growing in this life you might as well be sitting in stagnant water.”
Fans can stream or purchase Dreamers Drifters and Hiders today at this link, and be sure to catch Allen on the road at any of the tour dates listed below supporting the likes of Miranda Lambert, Charles Wesley Godwin, Cody Jinks, and Red Clay Strays. Allen will perform his own headlining show at Austin’s 3Ten ACL Live tomorrow, May 4th, in conjunction with the release of his new album. Tickets are available here.
Dreamers Drifters and Hiders Tracklist:
The Conservationist
Floating Shoes
No Rush To Fly
Just Pray
High Rollers
Dreamers Drifters and Hiders
Ripple Through
Give Me A Memory
Skipping Stones
Leave It All Behind
Burned Bridge
Catch Calder Allen On Tour:
May 4 - Austin, TX - 3Ten
May 8 - Little Rock, AR - The Hall *
May 9 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom *
May 11 - Waco, TX - The Backyard *
May 13 - Amarillo, TX - Starlight Ranch Event Center *
May 26 - New Braunfels, TX - Whitewater Amphitheater ^
June 8 - McKinney, TX - Texas Music Revolution
June 27 - Fort Worth, TX - Billy Bobs -
June 28 - San Antonio, TX - Boeing Center at Tech Port -
Aug. 1 - Maryland Heights, MO - Saint Louis Music Park +
Aug. 3 - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre +
Sept. 19 - Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater +
Sept. 20 - Tuscaloosa, AL - Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater +
Oct. 11 - Ralston, NE - Ralston Arena +
Oct. 12 - Minneapolis, MN - Armory +
Oct. 18 - Kissimmee, FL - Country Thunder Festival
* Supporting Charles Wesley Godwin
^ Supporting Miranda Lambert
+ Supporting Cody Jinks
- Supporting Red Clay Strays
About Calder Allen: Calder Allen is a fifth-generation Texan, a tried and true Austinite. His family on his mom’s side settled in the state capital in the 1890s. His dad’s side settled in Lubbock, and with that combination, one can’t help but notice the deep-rooted Texan Earth from which he emerged. Calder has always written poems and stories, drawn and illustrated, but his true passion is music. He began taking it seriously after tearing his ACL for a second time in high school. He hasn’t looked back since. If Calder’s not writing or performing, chances are he’s knee-deep in the water fly fishing. Calder’s brother, Sled, introduced him to the fly fishing way of life at a very early age, and the passion stuck. Calder’s life philosophy is intertwined between the way he approaches music and fishing. “They both really calm me and make me pay extreme attention to whatever environment I am in. Allen approaches all of his songs the same way. He says, “When I write and make songs, I am doing it based on my experiences and the meaning they have for me. I want the listeners to decide how they feel personally about them and grab what they can as they relate to their own personal lives.” There are a few core tenants that Calder operates with. “I just want to create with intent. I want my songs to be pure, honest, and representative of who I am, what I believe, and what I would like the world to be,” he says. One of the lines from a song he always has in the back of his mind is from one of his grandpa’s songs “My ego ain’t my amigo,” it goes. “Put it out there and let it live,” Calder adds.
