Hear the Best New Folk Music with Fresh Cuts Friday
Ready for some of the best new music we’ve heard this week? It’s a great list as you’ll see below — and as you’ll hear when you join me for my ‘Fresh Cuts’ radio hour! Listen every Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern, 11 a.m. Pacific via the 24/7 stream on our website, app, or your smart speaker.
Or, just click on the Fresh Cuts stream whenever it’s convenient for you.
In the meantime, check out some of the best new music we’ve been listening to this week.
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Jake Xerxes Fussell, “Close My Eyes”
Jake Xerxes Fussell latest is a cover of “Close My Eyes” originally by Arthur Russell’s. He shares, “Like many of us record listeners I became enchanted with Arthur Russell’s posthumously released home, demo & archival recordings a number of years ago. I love playing old country waltzes, so naturally this one stuck with me and kept finding its way into my live set over & over again. Somebody at a bar in Cleveland said “You should record that one” so I did. I hope you enjoy it.”
Shannon McNally, “It’s Gonna Be A Long Night”
With her dry delivery up against a groovy beat, Shannon McNally shines on her new song “It’s Gonna Be A Long Night.” Of the song, she says “Things that only happen to musicians doing “working man’s gigs” and the swirling chaos of alcohol, late nights, bar personnel, and neurodivergent bandmates. Mike McCarthy produced the session, going for that 1970’s I-40 trucker song sound. This story I’ve told on stage for years about the American highway system and how to know where you are if you wake up at a major intersection and don’t know. Five piece band. Adam Wright co-writer.”
Mandolinist Andy Leftwich offers up his new energetic recording of the tune “Highland Rim.” “I’ve always loved the intensity of a fast paced instrumental,” Leftwich offers, “and we hold nothing back on this one. Named after a raceway close to home where I grew up, I thought this one perfectly described the rush that you get from going fast! I wanted a song on this new project where we can go absolutely bananas, and I feel like we captured it on this one!”
Muireann Bradley, “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright”
18-year-old Irish musician Muireann Bradley shares a stunning rendition of Dylan’s classic “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.” Muireann says, “I grew up listening to Bob Dylan, and while I love the stuff from when he turned electric, I really love the early acoustic records – The Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan is my favourite, I just love the finger picking on that album. “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” has always been one of my favourite songs… I learned the song a couple of years ago and always had it in pretty good shape because I played it a lot at home. The first time I received an encore on stage I couldn’t think of what to play, then I thought I’ll play “Don’t Think Twice”, it went down really well and it’s been in my live set ever since.”
