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.
The latest solo release from Jacob Sharp, of the band Mipso, features his friends The Bowerbirds. The single “Time” according to Jacob is “about wondering how things could have shook out differently if you had been a little more aware, a little more present. If you’d given things a little more time.”
Leyla McCalla – “Scaled to Survive”
Leyla McCalla’s upcoming album Sun Without the Heat (out April 12) sees the New Orleans musician being playful and full of joy while holding the pain and tension of transformation. This is clear on her song “Scaled to Survive” where she uses melodies and rhythms derived from various forms of Afro-diasporic music. “I like it when music feels urgent,” McCalla says, “but I also wanted the new album to be playful and fun. I wanted that levity to come through.”
Rebecca Frazier – “Make Hay While the Moon Shines”
For Rebecca Frazier’s first new single in 10 years, the Nashville-based singer, songwriter and flatpicking guitarist recruited some heavy hitters, starting with co-writers Jon Weisberger and Bob Minner, who helped pen the lively “Make Hay While the Moon Shines.” Then she stepped into the studio with legends Béla Fleck (banjo), Sam Bush (mandolin), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Barry Bales (bass), Josh Swift (dobro) and Shelby Means (harmony vocals).
Tami Neilson – “Sister’s Coming Home/Down at the Corner Beer Joint”
The new Tami Neilson track “Sister’s Coming Home / Down At The Corner Beer Joint” is part of the “Neilson sings Nelson” series where Tami covers Willie Nelson. The song features Nicky Diamonds on vocals as well as Neilson’s brothers. Tami says of recording with her family again: “After growing up in Canada, together touring in a family band for over a decade with our parents, this album marks the first time the three of us siblings have recorded music together in 25 years. ‘Sister’s Coming Home’ sure seemed like a fitting way to kick things off!”
