After much deliberation over the mystery act atop Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s 2025 bill, festival promoters Planet Bluegrass have put the rumors to rest, announcing the details behind the first-ever Toy Factory Project performance at this year’s Festivarian gathering. Helmed by Marshall Tucker Band drummer and co-founder Paul T. Riddle, the Toy Factory Project is a band created in memory of fellow Marshall Tucker Band co-founder Toy Caldwell and his legendary songs. Joining Riddle is a band of giants, ready to celebrate the southern rock legacy of Caldwell and MTB: Marcus King (Marcus King Band) on guitar and vocals, Oteil Burbridge (Dead and Company, Allman Brothers Band) on bass, Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke) on guitar and vocals, Josh Shilling (Mountain Heart, Wynona Judd) on keys and vocals, and Billy Contreras (Lionel Hampton, George Jones, Zach Bryan, Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck) on fiddle.

Telluride Bluegrass attendees will be treated to some of Marshall Tucker Band’s great crossover hits like "Can't You See," "Heard It In a Love Song," "Searching For a Rainbow," and "This Old Cowboy," to name a few, and can surely expect a special guest or two for the first-ever set on Saturday, June 21st, for the further exploration of Toy Caldwell’s legendary blending of rock and roll, country, bluegrass, and blues on stage in Telluride’s world-famous Town Park. Check out a preview of Toy Factory Project right here.

 Saturday evening’s Toy Factory Project performance rounds out an already-stellar Telluride Bluegrass Festival lineup over the course of June 19-22 in Telluride, Colorado:

Thursday, June 19:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

Thee Sacred Souls

I’m With Her: Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, & Aoife O’Donovan

The Travelin’ McCourys

Mountain Grass Unit

Olive Klug

Chris Thile

Friday, June 20:

Greensky Bluegrass

Lake Street Dive

Dan Tyminski Band

Punch Brothers

Tim O’Brien Band

Rainbow Girls

Water Tower

DUG

Saturday, June 21:

Toy Factory Project

Sam Bush Band

Telluride Troubadour

Kasey Chambers

Yonder Mountain String Band

Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sánchez Trio

Caleb Kauder and Reeb Willms

Still House String Band

Telluride Band Contest Finals

Sunday, June 22:

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Zach Top

Telluride House Band

Rebirth Brass Band

Ken Pomeroy

New Dangerfield

Authentic Unlimited

Tickets and camping passes are still available in limited quantities for Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2025 and can be found right here. For more information, please visit bluegrass.com.

About Telluride Bluegrass Festival: Founded in 1974 and occurring annually during the summer solstice, Telluride Bluegrass has been inviting music fans to the historic mining town in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado for 4 days of adventurous acoustic music in the stunning Telluride box canyon for 50 years.

Since its early years, the unique genre of “Telluride Bluegrass” has embraced a diverse family of artists including Sam Bush, Robert Plant, Mumford & Sons, Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones, Janelle Monáe, Greensky Bluegrass, Emmylou Harris, and many of the world’s most virtuosic acoustic instrumentalists – the majority of whom have returned to the festival for 25+ years. With music on the main stage, intimate workshop performances at Elks Park, late-night indoor NightGrass concerts, and pickin’ in campgrounds and condos ‘til dawn, Telluride Bluegrass is the “granddaddy of the modern festival circuit” (Relix). Telluride Bluegrass is presented and produced by Planet Bluegrass.

About Planet Bluegrass: For over 30 years, Planet Bluegrass has been redefining the musical festival by creating exceptional experiences that protect the planet through environmental leadership and a strong community.

Fiercely and decidedly independent, their three festivals make a unique musical mark: each takes place in breathtaking natural Colorado environments, each features the world’s finest musicians and songwriters, and each embraces a “Leave No Trace” ethic that defines Planet Bluegrass as a leader in Sustainable Festivation. Planet Bluegrass presents Telluride Bluegrass, Rockygrass, and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, bucket list musical gatherings for artists and fans alike. Planet Bluegrass is invested in the next generation of songwriters and musicians as evidenced by Rockygrass Academy and Song School.

“We all fell under the spell of a guttural melancholy love song,” says Australia-raised, Nashville-based songwriter and guitarist, Jedd Hughes. In this instance, the “we” in question was comprised of Hughes and his writing partners, the great Sarah Buxton and Rodney Crowell, and the trio were penning a tune that would end up recorded multiple times over the next decade, “Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly.” “I had always wanted to record this for myself after multiple recordings by others,” says Hughes, most notably Crowell’s own version from 2023’s The Chicago Sessions and a fan-favorite duet from the hit television series Nashville. So, when it came time to get into the studio to record Hughes’s latest album, the heartachingly beautiful “Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly” was a no-brainer for the long-favored session musician making a no-rules album of original material.

A reverb-drenched piano sets the scene before Hughes delivers the song’s opening line over his fingerstyle guitar arrangement: “I should have moved on long ago / Why I still want you, I don’t know.” The monotone cadence of the verse reinforces the melancholy realization of the song’s narrator, wrapped in a simple but strong rhythm section performance. The melody lifts into a quietly soaring pre-chorus before giving way to the ultimate realization of the refrain: “Loving you is the only way to fly.” Hughes delivers a Jeff Tweedy-inspired acoustic guitar solo before the final verse, adding a subtle dissonance to the gorgeous arrangement.

“Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly” is the latest single from Hughes’s upcoming album, Night Shades—out May 2nd on Truly Handmade Records. A testament to not settling for anything less than his truest form of self-expression, Night Shades finds Hughes’s technicolor musical world blossoming into its fullest potential. Combining mesmerizingly deep and inspiring songwriting with heartbreakingly beautiful guitar playing, carrying listeners to a multitude of unique sonic landscapes, full of witty yet introspective lyrics and lilting, poignant tales of life—not unlike some of his lauded songwriter collaborators, the aforementioned Rodney Crowell, Jim Lauderdale, and Guy Clark, to name a few.

Fans can listen to “Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly” today on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube. Be sure to check out Hughes’s previously-released single, “Stay, Don’t Be Cruel,” here and pre-order or pre-save Night Shades ahead of its May release right here. Recently nominated by the Academy of Country Music for the Electric Guitarist of the Year award, Hughes will take the stage at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on May 4th to celebrate the release of Night Shades and will be hitting the road as a member of Vince Gill’s band throughout 2025. For more information on Night Shades, Jedd Hughes’s tour dates, guitar courses, and more, please visit jeddhughes.com.

Night Shades Tracklist:

Meet Me In the Dark

Underground

Night Shades

Stay, Don’t Be Cruel

Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly

Nothing’s Gonna Bring Me Down

Kill My Blues

Day After Day

Riff Raff

Aftermath

About Jedd Hughes: Hughes is an artist and sonic painter of the highest order, with a sensual grace on the fretboard rarely seen. His ability to combine mesmerizingly deep and inspiring songwriting with heartbreakingly beautiful guitar playing carries listeners to a multitude of unique landscapes, full of witty yet introspective lyrics and lilting, poignant tales of life. When Hughes has a guitar in his hands and is in front of a microphone, hearts find wings for those lucky enough to hear him weave his magic.

A heady list of musical giants spanning generations and artistic styles have long-since counted him as a trusted collaborator and inspiration, including Patty Loveless, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Sarah Jarosz, Ryan Bingham, the late Guy Clark, Jim Lauderdale, Brandy Clark, and more. His recent work has found him being one of the most talked about and revered guitarists in the world, and this is all beyond merited, according to the many magazine features and heaps of endless critical acclaim. With his new album, Night Shades—due out on May 2nd on Truly Handmade Records, a division of Guy Clark records formed by his children to honor his legacy—a landmark follow-up chapter unfolds for an artist's artist who continues to awe and mystify the rest of us.

About Truly Handmade Records: Truly Handmade Records is a division of Guy Clark LLC. The company was formed by Guy’s grandchildren, Dylan and Ellie, to amplify and honor the legacy, cultivate and manage the intellectual property of Guy and Susanna Clark, and to support songwriters who live in the spirit of Guy Clark. Guy Clark LLC is managed by a board of directors, which includes Dylan Clark, longtime friends Rodney Crowell and Verlon Thompson, record label executive Scott Robinson, and biographer and producer Tamara Saviano. Saviano is the president and creative manager of Guy Clark, LLC and Truly Handmade Records. Truly Handmade Records inaugural artists include Sam Baker, Jedd Hughes, Lindi Ortega, Jack Barksdale and Mike Delevante.

Ah, the murder ballad. From “Tom Dooly” to “Stagger Lee” to “Pretty Polly” to more modern takes like “Caleb Meyer,” the category has permeated folk music the world over with its dark narratives and moral high grounds. Grammy-winning quintet The SteelDrivers are no strangers to the genre, their catalog full of songs like “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” and “Shallow Grave,” garnering tens of millions of streams and becoming fan favorites at live shows. But the band’s latest single, “The River Knows,” might be the most quintessentially SteelDrivers murder ballad yet.

“I wrote this with Daniel Ethridge and Tom Douglas,” recalls SteelDrivers singer and fiddler Tammy Rogers. “I had the title and most of the storyline in mind,” she recalls, “But Tom’s lyrical contributions really took it to another level, and Daniel’s melodic sense and understanding of what makes a great SteelDrivers song combined to make it very special.” A driving rhythm and sharp fiddle play lead into guitarist Matt Dame’s delivery of the setup verse: “She covered up his anger with a little rouge and Maybelline / It turned into a nightmare from a perfect dream.” Follow the link below to find out how the story plays out.

“The River Knows” is the latest single from The SteelDrivers’ upcoming album, Outrun—their first album with new label partner, the iconic Sun Records. Out May 23rd, Outrun features the classic, blues-infused bluegrass sound the band has been known for for two decades now, freewheeling and fun, rich with stories and singalongs alike. Beyond the ever-evolving musical nature of The SteelDrivers, this seamless ebb and flow between intricate bluegrass and the hardscrabble blues, another key element of Outrun is this underlying tribute to late founding member Mike Henderson. And though Henderson passed away in 2023, his memory and presence is still profoundly felt by the group, onstage and in the studio.

Fans can stream or purchase “The River Knows” today at this link, check out The SteelDrivers’ previously-released single, “Outrun,” here, and pre-order or pre-save Outrun ahead of its May release on Sun Records right here.

In addition to rolling out their new album, The SteelDrivers are celebrating quite the milestone this year with the announcement of The SteelDrivers 20th Anniversary Tour. “Tough times never last, but tough people do,” says SteelDrivers bassist, Mark Fleming. “To be celebrating our 20th anniversary, still touring and releasing a new project on Sun Records, is proof of the SteelDrivers' resilient personnel and catalog of original material we have produced.” “We have been planning and looking forward to this 20th anniversary tour for about a year and half,” adds Rogers. “Time sure flies by when you’re doing what you love. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this achievement and share some new music with all our Steelheads!”

A full list of tour dates can be found below or at thesteeldrivers.com.

Catch the SteelDrivers on their 20th Anniversary Tour:

April 24 - Wilkesboro, NC - Merlefest

May 8 - Tyler, TX - Stanley’s BBQ

May 9 - Ft. Worth, TX - Billy Bob’s

May 10 - New Braunfels, TX - Gruene Hall

May 15 - Bloomington, IL - Bloomington PAC

May 16 - Columbia, MO - Blue Note

May 17 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

May 25 - Cumberland, MD - DelFest

May 30 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns

May 31 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns

June 1 - Pelham, TN - The Caverns

June 14 - Lexington, KY - Festival of the Bluegrass

June 21 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern

June 22 - Winchester, CA - Balloon and Wine Festival

June 28 - Owensboro, KY - ROMP

July 4 - Garrettsville, OH - Grassfire Festival

July 9 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile

July 10 - Portland, OR - Topaz Farm

July 11 - Bellingham, WA - Tune In Festival

July 26 - Reno, NV - Robert Z Hawkins Ampitheatre

August 8 - Homer, NY - Center for the Arts

August 9 - Clayton, NY - Clayton Opera House

August 10 - Schenectady, NY - Music Haven Central Park

August 15 - Manchester, VT - Green Mtn Bluegrass and Roots Festival

August 16 - Mason, NH - The Range

August 22 - Bellvue, CO - Mishawaka Ampitheatre

August 23 - Bellvue, CO - Mishawaka Ampitheatre

August 30 - Piketon, OH - SamJam

September 4 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

September 5 - Pontiac, MI - Flagstar Strand Theatre

September 6 - Shipshewana, IN - Blue Gat Theatre

September 19 - Lexington, KY - Lexington Opera House

September 20 - Lexington, KY - Lexington Opera House

October 3 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall

October 4 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall

October 17 - Manteo, NC - OBX Bluegrass Festival

October 18 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmere

October 19 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmere

October 22 - Park City, UT - Egyptian Theatre

October 23 - Park City, UT - Egyptian Theatre

October 24 - Park City, UT - Egyptian Theatre

October 25 - Park City, UT - Egyptian Theatre

“I always knew I wanted my first solo album to be bluegrass,” says songwriter, singer, and prolific bassist Shelby Means, who’s spent the majority of her career careening down highways on tour with world-class string bands like Della Mae and the Grammy-winning Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. “I never left bluegrass,” she continues. “I certainly have explored other styles, but I kept dreaming of my time in Nashville and how I love to host jam sessions and invite my friends and neighbors.” With her upcoming self-titled solo debut, Means hosts a friends and neighbors jam session for the ages.

With Della Mae, Golden Highway, Sally & George, and her countless other projects and gigs, Means has ended up meeting—and establishing connections and relationships with—just about everyone in bluegrass music; and they’re all invited to her soiree. Bryan Sutton (who plays guitar on Shelby Means) produced an album for Della Mae; producer Maya de Vitry happened to produce Means’ husband Joel Timmons’ album (he’s also in de Vitry’s band); Jerry Douglas produced for Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway on both Crooked Tree and City of Gold; Means’ brother, Jacob, plays mandolin on a couple selections; Golden Highway’s Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Kyle Tuttle, and Molly Tuttle herself each make appearances; there’s also Sam Grisman, Ronnie McCoury, Billy Strings, Michael Cleveland, Tim O’Brien, and more. Plus, stalwart friends from her Nashville years—folks like Rachel Baiman, Kelsey Waldon, and Billy Contreras—are all over the self-titled debut.

Of course, all of the camaraderie is made possible by Means’s dynamic material—bluegrass bangers, heartful lyrics, and hilarious romps—and her bright, confident, and decidedly country voice, but there’s also a particular set of skills and fluences at play in gathering such a crowd; a striking professionalism developed over the course of her accomplished career. “Shelby holds sway over whatever band she’s in. When she has an idea, I listen,” says Jerry Douglas. “She knows what she wants, and she’s good at explaining it, so we can do a lot more playing than talking.”

Out today, Holler. shared an early look at the latest single from Shelby Means, the lilting, cheeky “Farm Girl” writing, “...the playfully subversive front porch sing-along feels like a breath of fresh bluegrass air blowing in.” Originally written by Means’ husband, Joel Timmons, and Mack Leaphart, “Farm Girl” got a plot twist for this release. “When I was looking for songs to put on my record, I decided to sing lead and make it a farm girl fantasy,” says Means, whose side of the story comes from growing up in Wyoming, working on a ranch, driving a tractor, and branding cattle. Tapping some of her oldest gal pals in Nashville, Means turned the chorus into a call and response with old friends Kelsey Waldon and Rachel Baiman. Bryan Sutton (guitar), Ron Block (banjo), Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Sam Bush (mandolin), and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle) round out the band for this knee-slapping, toe-tapping romp through the pasture.

Fans can stream or purchase “Farm Girl” today at this link, check out Means’s previously-released singles, “Streets of Boulder” and “Million Reasons,” at their respective links, and pre-order Shelby Means ahead of its May 30th release right here. To pre-save the album on Spotify, click here. For everything else, please visit shelbyleemeans.com.

Catch Shelby Means On The Road:

April 19 - Awendaw Green - Awendaw, SC

April 30 - Ford Amphitheater - Colorado Springs, CO #

May 3 - Red Rocks Amphitheater - Morrison, CO #

May 16 - Royal Albert Hall - London, UK #

May 23 - WMOT Finally Friday at 3rd and Lindsley - Nashville, TN

June 4 - Gas Hill Drinking Room - Winston Salem, NC

June 6 - Midwood Guitar Studio - Charlotte, NC

June 7 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC *

June 25 - 5Spot - Nashville, TN

July 4 - Soundcheck Summer Music Series - Pinedale, WY

July 25 - RockyGrass - Lyons, CO #

Aug. 22 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC ^

* With Maya de Vitry

^ With Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

# With Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

This August, for the first time since the inaugural year of the wildly unique music festival, Park City Song Summit, the blending of live performances, open-ended panel discussions, and mountain-air wellness activities will take place in the heart of the city where it was born. On August 14-16, 2025, Song Summit patrons will flock to Park City’s City Park to attend what founder Ben Anderson—who SPIN just named one of the 25 Most Influential People In Music—calls a “festival love letter to the power of song.” Park City Song Summit, along with founding sponsor Stand Together Music and presenting sponsor A New Earth Project, has sparked many national conversations about wellness and recovery in the music industry and well beyond.

In addition to performances from artists like Goose and Marcus King, special collaborations abound in the Song Summit 2025 lineup. Greensky Bluegrass will take the stage with usually-solo pianist, Holly Bowling, Dawes will be joined by their friend Duane Betts, and a special Terrapin Family Band performance is set to take place with Eric Krasno, Adam MacDougall, Jennifer Hartswick, and Nicki Bluhm. The full Song Summit 2025 music lineup can be found below.

Song Summit Labs will return in 2025, covering such topics as “Dance Music and Activism,” “The Havana-New Orleans Connection,” and “The American Rock 'n' Roll Band in 2025.” For the uninitiated, Song Summit Labs allow fans to participate in discussions that dissect, illuminate, and interrogate the art of music and songwriting while being an inclusive space to talk about mental health, representation, social equity, recovery, and more of the every day, inner workings of musicians and songwriters we know and love. In the new home of Song Summit, Labs will take place indoors at the Jim Santy Auditorium at the Park City Library. A full list of Labs can also be found below.

As in years past, late-night Main Street shows take patrons out of the park and onto Park City’s legendary Main Street. These are separately ticketed performances, and this year’s Main Street venue is The Marquis. Kicking things off on Thursday night will be an evening with Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel followed by Marcus King + Eric Krasno. Friday night, Cimafunk and Pedrito Martinez will bring the funk to Main Street with a celebration of Cuban/Latin music, and Saturday night will feature the extraordinary dance/house music queen, LP Giobbi, to close out this year’s festival.

Park City Song Summit works closely with the Song Summit Foundation, created to uplift musicians of all ages and their communities. By fostering wellness and empowering communities through music, the Song Summit Foundation is shaping a future where artists and audiences alike can thrive, connect, and heal through the universal language of song. Read more about its mission right here.

Summit Passes, individual tickets, and VIP Packages for Park City Song Summit are available now at this link. For everything else, please visit parkcitysongsummit.com.

“Eventually, life starts to knock you around. You have to be ready to fight with a smile.” Tony Kamel's grandmother Dolores gave him that advice a few years ago during a rocky period for their family, and its wisdom suffuses his sophomore solo release, We’re All Gonna Live, out now on Blue Corn Music. Variations of the lyric “we’re all gonna die” appear in many of the album’s ten tracks, but make no mistake: this is not a bummer of a listen—quite the opposite actually. The former frontman of GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass group, Wood & Wire, Kamel knows how to get people up and moving, even with a decidedly smaller band than his last effort, Back Down Home.

We’re All Gonna Live was recorded live in one room in a few sessions at The Bunker, Bruce Robison’s all-analog studio in Lockhart, Texas, and produced jointly by Kamel and Robison. Its arrangements are sparse, but mighty, giving a little bit of extra life to Kamel’s already technicolor storytelling. “Each tune on We’re All Gonna Live is essentially a story about an inevitable struggle of one kind or another, but I tried to focus on the positive parts of those struggles,” says Kamel. The overwhelming theme of the ten-song arc is good times for the bad times. Kamel may be looking mortality in the eye, but that’s not about to stop him, or us, from having a good time and making it count while we’re here.

Fans can stream or purchase We’re All Gonna Live in its entirety today at this link. Along with his regularly scheduled tour dates, Kamel will be playing two special album release shows in Houston (May 2) and Austin (May 16). A full list of tour dates can be found below or at tonykamelmusic.com/tour.

We’re All Gonna Live Tracklist:

Makin’ It Work

Damn Good Ride

Sue

Some Ole Day

Little Bitty Town

All Around This World

A Father and A Daughter

Old Dangerfield

Lying Through My Teeth

We’re All Gonna Live

Catch Tony Kamel On Tour:

April 22 - Fredericksburg, TX - The Saloon

April 24 - Dale, TX - Old Settlers Music Festival

April 25 - Mckinney, TX - The Rook

May 2 - Houston, TX - Record Release Party at Danelectros

May 3 - Waco, TX - Pinewood Block Party

May 16 - Austin, TX - Record Release Party at Continental Club

May 18 - New Braunfels, TX - The Redbird Listening Room

May 27 - Fredericksburg, TX - The Saloon

May 31 - Chicago, IL - SPACE

June 18 - Nashville, TN - TBA

June 21 - Chicago, IL - Winnetka Music Festival

June 28 - San Antonio, TX - Lonesome Rose

There is exactly one accordion player in the world whose legacy could inspire a group of fans like The Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams, Taj Majal, Steve Earle, and more for a 100th birthday all-star tribute: The King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. Bursting onto the scene in 1955 with his first hit, “Eh, 'tite Fille,” Chenier blended blues and R&B, and Afro-Cuban rhythms with Louisiana Creole music setting dancefloors and AM receivers alight from the deep South, across the pond, and beyond until his passing in 1987. This June, Louisiana-based Valcour Records will help celebrate the genre-pioneering Louisiana musician’s centennial with the release of A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, a 14-track romp through Chenier’s legendary catalog with performances from the aforementioned icons and many more. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winning producer and member of Los Lobos, Steve Berlin, and Joel Savoy, Valcour Records Founder and member of the “First Family of Cajun Music,” A Tribute to the King is due out on June 27th.

Today, Valcour released the first single from A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, “Release Me,” featuring Americana legend Lucinda Williams, Hall of Fame Swamp Pop musician Tommy McClain, and the “Zydeco Boss” himself, Keith Frank, on accordion. Showcasing Chenier’s love for soulful rhythm and blues, “Release Me” was initially recorded in his zydeco style in 1969, slowing the tempo down just enough for dance partners to get in close with each other. This version is a sultry duet between Williams and McClain, sticking closely to Chenier’s original feel—which was adapted from Eddie Miller and His Oklahomans’ 1950 version, “Release Me (And Let Me Love Again).”

In order to keep this track leaning more into Chenier territory and less like the country original, “Release Me” single producer C.C. Adcock kept things as Louisiana as it gets. “We started by using a crack Lafayette all-star band and a slinky Swamp Pop ‘triplet-feel’ sound that placed it undoubtedly sounding like it was coming from deep inside a vintage South Louisiana dancehall,” says Adcock. “The dovetailing of Keith Frank's Clifton inspired accordion, Steve Riley's bluesy fiddle and Dickie Landry's fragile but soulful saxophone solo set the bayou scene. I swear I could see Lu and Tommy couple-skating hand in hand at an Opelousas, LA roller rink, circa 1966... Maybe Clifton's even there in the corner, working the snack bar!” The resulting recording sets an unmistakable tone for the rest of A Tribute to the King of Zydeco: This is a real-deal tribute for a real-deal legend.

Fans can stream or purchase “Release Me” today at this link and pre-order A Tribute to the King of Zydeco ahead of its June 27th release right here.

In addition to the announcement of A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, Valcour Records recently joined the Chenier family estate and the University of Louisiana Lafayette to form the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the King of Zydeco in 2025, the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship honors Clifton Chenier's legacy at the College of the Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The scholarship fund will offer annual financial assistance to students studying Traditional Music, specifically Zydeco accordion, at UL Lafayette. All proceeds from A Tribute to the King of Zydeco will go directly toward funding this new scholarship. To learn more about the scholarship or to donate, please visit this link.

On Friday, May 2, a very special Clifton Chenier Centennial show will be held at the Fais Do-Do stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Featuring the “Dockside Allstars,” the house band from A Tribute to the King—including Roddie Romero, Eric Adcock, Derek Huston, Lee Allen Zeno, Jermaine Prejean, and Sherelle Chenier Mouton—as well as special guests C.J. Chenier, Sonny Landreth, Marcia Ball, and Curley Taylor, the 5:50 pm set may also include a surprise guest performance or two.

Tribute to the King Tracklist:

“Zydeco Sont Pas Salés” - The Rolling Stones and Steve Riley

“Easy Easy Baby” - Charley Crockett and Nathan Williams, Sr.

“Hey ‘Tite Fille” - Taj Mahal and Keith Frank

“Release Me” - Lucinda Williams, Tommy McClain, and Keith Frank

“Just Like A Woman” - Steve Earle and Anthony Dopsie

“I'm On The Wonder” - Jon Cleary and Curley Taylor

“My Soul” - Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Nicholas, and Steve Riley

“Hot Rod” - David Hidalgo and CJ Chenier

“Tout Le Temps En Temps” - Shannon McNally, Keith Frank, and Molly Tuttle

“Ay Ai Ai” - Ruben Ramos with Los Texmaniacs and Augie Meyers

“I May Be Wrong” - Marcia Ball and Geno Delafose

“I'm Coming Home” - CJ Chenier and Sonny Landreth

“You Used To Call Me” - John Hiatt and Roddie Romero

“Why Did You Go Last Night” - Kam Franklin, A. J. Haynes, and Roddie Romero

Album produced by Steve Berlin and Joel Savoy with Executive Producer John Leopold. “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés” and “Release Me” produced by C.C. Adcock.

About Valcour Records: Louisiane. Musique. Culture. Founded in 2006, Valcour Records is an independent Louisiana music label based in Eunice. We partner with musicians, artists, and artisans to bring you music and cultural content you won’t find anywhere else. Showcasing on the world stage the extraordinary talents born from the rich and diverse cultures of Louisiana.  

A Tribute to the King of Zydeco is funded through the generous support of Lafayette Travel, Rex Foundation, Gia Maione Prima Foundation, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Jeffrey & Lester Price, Steve Zieff & Elaine Leitner, Ray Flores/Pink Trailer Productions, Love of People, and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

Nearly a decade ago, when sent photocopies of her late, wayfaring grandfather’s poetry and short stories, singer-songwriter Leslie Jordan knew that the treasure trove would eventually make its way into her musical story. He wrote short stanzas of evocative poetry, short stories of provocative men and women, and long journal entries about his love affair with alcohol and his brother's wife, Sylvia. With pages of typewritten entries, Jordan pieced together the story and set it to song with her beautifully melancholy Americana and roots sensibilities. Today, she released the stunning collection, dubbed The Agonist.

For the former member of Grammy-Nominated duo All Sons & Daughters, using the long-lost collection of his work as inspiration for songwriting was not only a way to connect the thread of their familial creativity but also to complete the journey of her lost and lonely grandfather. Jordan found a universal truth in the process. “All lives deserve redemption, even the messiest,” she says. “This is my attempt to create light from dark.” Produced by Kenneth Pattengale (The Milk Carton Kids, Joy Williams, Willie Watson) at Far Cry Studios in Los Angeles, The Agonist features guest appearances from The Milk Carton Kids, Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek, Watkins Family Hour), and Brittney Spencer as well as a host of the loosely-gathered Americana genre's finest musicians.

Fans can stream or purchase The Agonist today at this link. If you’re in Nashville, don’t miss Jordan’s album release show on April 30th at Analog at Hutton Hotel. Purchase tickets here.

With its acoustic arrangements and top-shelf flatpicking, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Mason Via’s upcoming album, simply titled Mason Via, was inspired by the music he heard as a child in Appalachia, raised in two mountain towns that straddled the Virginia/North Carolina border. One parent lived in Danbury, North Carolina, and the other lived in Patrick County, Virginia. Via spent time in both homes, absorbing the musical traditions of an area that hosted fiddlers' conventions, banjo competitions, and campfire jams. Mason Via is a grand return to his bluegrass-centric roots, gaining a new perspective on his Appalachian musical upbringing after touring the country a few times.

Over the last half-decade, Via has ridden a wave of successes—a long stint as the youngest member of the Grammy-nominated Old Crow Medicine Show, and a songwriter on Molly Tuttle’s Grammy-winning album City of Gold and Del McCoury Band’s Grammy-nominated album Almost Proud—all while making the time to write and record his debut album New Horizons which was championed by the likes of NPR and Oxford American. But Via’s latest output comes from a time before it all kicked off for him.

Out now via Mountain Fever Records, fans can stream or purchase Mason Via in its entirety right here. Via’s tour continues tomorrow for a special album release show in Gainesville, Florida. A list of tour dates can be found below or at masonvia.com.

Catch Mason Via On Tour:

April 26 - Gainesville, FL - Heartwood Soundstage (Album Release Show)

May 1 - Atlanta, GA - Red Light Cafe

May 7 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company

May 9 - Nashville, TN - The Basement

May 10 - Black Mountain, NC - LEAF Retreat 2025

May 16 - Galax, VA - Rex Theater

May 17 - Fayetteville, WV - Mitchapalooza

May 18 - Millboro, VA - Sunnyside

May 30 - Panama City Beach, FL - Gulf Coast Jam

June 5 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant^

June 6 - Bloomington, IN - Buskirk-Chumley Theater^

June 7 - Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater^

June 8 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park^

June 10 - Madison, WI - Capitol Theater^

June 11 - Goshen, IN - Sauder Concert Hall^

June 13 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall^

June 14 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitzgerald Theater^

June 15 - Iowa City, IA - The Englert Theatre^

June 17 - Kansas City, MO - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts^

June 21 - Hillsboro, VA - Solstice In the Gap

July 3 - Sheboygan, WI - Levitt Amp Sheboygan Music Series

July 11 - Sebastopol, CA - Hopmonk Tavern

July 12 - Novato, CA - Hopmonk Tavern

July 13-17 - Bolinas, CA - West Marin Fiddle Camp 2025

July 18 - Tullahoma, TN - George Dickel Distillery

July 19 - Nashville, IN - Hard Truth Hills Distillery

July 25-27 - Lyons, CO - RockyGrass Festival

August 9 - Caroga Lake, NY - Saundersfest 2025

Sept. 19-20 - Chattanooga, TN - IBMA Bluegrass Live!

^with I’m With Her

For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit masonvia.com.