Purity still exists in modern-day music. There’s the purity of real instruments – violin, acoustic guitar, upright bass, percussion, and even cello – coupled with homespun harmonies that seem to float effortlessly into the ether. Then, there’s the purity of songs written from the soul, filling a human void. None of that ever goes out of style.

Folk-Americana trio The Wildwoods, hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, continue to bring sonic beauty and simplicity to today’s increasingly complicated and cluttered musical landscape. With Dear Meadowlark, the band’s fourth full-length album, set for official release on April 11, 2025, The Wildwoods once again blend the hallmarks of the folk-Americana sound with indie sensibilities inspired by heroes such as Nickel Creek and Gillian Welch, as well as genre mainstays like Bon Iver and Mumford & Sons.

At its core, Dear Meadowlark celebrates the emotional allure of familiarity and comfort. “The main lyrical theme of the album is the appreciation for our home state of Nebraska and the homesickness that can come with long periods spent on the road,” says Noah Gose.

Road warriors over the last few years, The Wildwoods show no signs of slowing down. A string of dates across 24 cities has been announced in advance of the new album, with many more to follow. Several of these dates are in support of acclaimed indie folk/Americana band TopHouse.

The Wildwoods are Noah Gose (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar), his wife Chloe Gose (vocals, violin), and longtime friend Andrew Vaggalis (vocals, upright bass). Joining them on Dear Meadowlark are Harrison Eldorado (drums, percussion), Samuel Stanley (cello), and Benjamin Brodin (organ, steel guitar). The album was recorded in March 2024 at Hand Branch Studio in Omaha, Nebraska, and co-produced by The Wildwoods and Brodin, with Brodin also serving as engineer.

Among the 10 tracks on Dear Meadowlark, all written by Noah Gose, four standouts exemplify The Wildwoods’ deft ability to craft a warm, aural quilt that feels both new and nostalgic:

• "Sweet Niobrara" – A lilting, lightly foot-tapping ode to the village in Knox County, Nebraska, weaves picturesque lyrics with a spry, folky-bluegrass beat. This is also the lead single, set to release this Friday, October 25.
• "Poster Child" – Wrapped in gorgeous string arrangements, this track explores the restlessness of youth and the heavy expectations that come with adulthood.
• "Hideaway" – Brimming with folk-rock hints, this perceptive tune delves into the need to find an inner retreat after performing on life’s stage.
• "I Will Follow You to Willow" – Stunning melodies, harmonies, and touches of steel guitar accentuate this heartfelt love letter to Willow, a community in Dawson County, Nebraska.

These songs, along with the rest of Dear Meadowlark (including a bonus track, the previously released single “Postcards from Somewhere”), “showcase the timeless and classic sound of Americana/roots music working hand in hand with unique, genre-bending arrangements, culminating in a collection of tunes that simultaneously sound brand new while harkening back to an older time,” says Noah Gose.

That delicate balance between past, present, and future has established The Wildwoods as a potent force in the folk scene. The trio was a finalist in the 2024 Rocky Mountain Songwriter Contest in Red Lodge, Montana. In 2023, they achieved finalist status in two high-profile band competitions – FreshGrass Music Festival and VHS’s “Gems in the Rough.” Their songwriting has also earned recognition as semi-finalists in the International Songwriting Competition for tracks such as “Untitled” and “Way of Train.”

Closer to home, The Wildwoods consistently garner acclaim at the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards. In 2022, they were named “Best Band” by the Lincoln Journal Star’s Lincoln Choice Awards. Their previous full-length albums include Sweet Nostalgia (2017), Across a Midwest Sky (2019), and Foxfield Saint John (2023).

With Dear Meadowlark, The Wildwoods offer listeners and audiences a musical respite as pure as mountain air and as soul-restoring as quiet mornings on a front porch.