Since Arkansas native JD Clayton released his critically acclaimed debut, Long Way From Home, the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has been honing his soulful delivery the old-school way: by playing shows on the road. “When I made my first album, I’d never been on the road, but after touring so much over the past few years, my band is extremely dialed-in,” says Clayton, whose tour has taken him from small rock clubs and country dance halls to major festival stages like Bonnaroo. “I wanted to record some music that showcased what’s special about each of my bandmates, and I knew the best way to do that was to produce it myself.”
Today, Clayton released a new single—his first as a newly signed Rounder Records artist—culled from his self-produced studio sessions, Dance Another Dance. A mid-tempo strummer that highlights Clayton’s unique melodies and simultaneously exacting yet laid-back vocals, Dance Another Dance kicks into another gear when its first chorus arrives. If Clayton has built his career on a blend of Southern rock and country music, Dance Another Dance adds a new flavor to the mix, reminiscent of what might have been cooked up in a Rolling Stones or Faces rehearsal in the late 1960s. Crunchy guitars break up just as Clayton’s words get gritty, and the slinky rhythm section of his ace touring band drives the song forward without rushing a beat. It’s a perfect glimpse into how the group’s collective influences subtly merge, creating a sound both familiar and refreshingly new.
The lyrics of Dance Another Dance tell a true story of lost love reclaimed, observed firsthand by Clayton. “In my early Nashville years, I worked for a trucking logistics company up in the L&C Tower on the 15th floor,” he recalls. “I had a cousin who worked for the company too, and she was in love with the office manager. All the guys would tease the manager about the romance and try to get him to take my cousin out on a date.” When the manager never made his move, Clayton’s cousin got fed up and moved to Colorado. Realizing he’d made a colossal mistake, the manager jumped on the next plane to the Rocky Mountains to right his wrongs and win her back. “A couple of years later, I sang the first dance at their wedding,” Clayton shares with a smile. “I wrote Dance Another Dance for them. Sometimes, you just need to ask for a second chance, and hopefully, the person you love will give it to you.”
Fans can stream or purchase Dance Another Dance today at this link, check out Clayton and his band playing their new tune in the studio here, and be sure to listen to Clayton’s previously released single High Hopes & Low Expectations right here. Keep an eye on JD Clayton’s socials for upcoming releases. For more information, visit jdclaytonofficial.com.
Clayton just kicked off his tour with a sold-out show in Little Rock and will hit the stage tonight in beautiful Telluride, Colorado, before heading through the Midwest and Southeast in the coming weeks. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at jdclaytonofficial.com/tour.
Catch JD Clayton On Tour:
September 6 - Reflection Plaza - Telluride, CO
September 12 - Carol’s Pub - Chicago, IL
September 13 - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO
September 14 - Hi-Fi Indy - Indianapolis, IN
September 20 - Pretentious Beer Co. - Knoxville, TN
September 27 - Zydeco - Birmingham, AL
September 28 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
October 3 - Mercury Lounge - Tulsa, OK
October 5 - Andy’s Bar - Denton, TX
October 9 - Barleycorn’s - Wichita, KS
October 11 - Globe Hall - Denver, CO
October 12 - Oskar Blues - Colorado Springs, CO
October 16 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
October 17 - Pearl Street Warehouse - Washington, DC
October 18 - Club Café - Pittsburgh, PA
October 19 - The Foundry - Philadelphia, PA
October 24 - The Burl - Lexington, KY
November 8 - Golden Light Cantina - Amarillo, TX
December 6 - Exit/In - Nashville, TN
More About JD Clayton:
A native of Arkansas, JD Clayton delivers a timeless brand of country-rock that’s unmistakably shaped by his surroundings: down-to-earth, unhurried, and imbued with a carefree ease that’s irresistibly infectious. After spending several years grinding it out in Nashville—and launching a career that’s included tours with Dwight Yoakam, Old Crow Medicine Show, Parker McCollum, and more, along with major festival appearances like Bonnaroo and Born & Raised—the Fort Smith-bred singer-songwriter immersed himself in creating an adventurous new album, which led to his signing with Rounder Records. With equal parts soulful introspection and vibrant storytelling, Blue Sky Sundays transports listeners into a world that moves to its own exhilarating rhythm, ultimately revealing an artist of hard-won character and singular authenticity. The follow-up to his critically praised 2023 debut Long Way From Home, Blue Sky Sundays sees Clayton taking the reins as producer, working with his touring band to capture the vitality and grit of his live performances. While Long Way From Home centers on a blend of country and folk, Blue Sky Sundays leans more heavily into Clayton’s roots-rock influences (e.g., The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival). Clayton is currently on the road for his first-ever headlining tour, Blue Sky Sundays Tour. For more info, visit www.JDClaytonofficial.com.
