Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for April 3rd, 2026. Click the artist or album links to find out more. The artist’s names link to their websites and the CD title links go to either Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or the artist’s site for ordering or downloading. A + sign means although not a featured release, it’s a notable album that’s still worth checking out. Also, this page will be updated as I find out about other new releases so check back again.
Paul Cauthen
Book of Paul (Velvet Rose Records)
A singer-songwriter with a well-documented distaste for playing by anyone else’s rules, the East Texas native spent two decades clawing his way through the country underground, embodying the independent spirit with a monolithic Big Velvet vocal. Fusing classic-country grit, gospel power, and a rhinestoned rock edge, four previous albums proclaimed his singular style with a booming baritone and near-biblical swagger. Cauthen’s fifth album, Book of Paul, takes him further down his path of utterly authentic country music; fearless, proud, and with two middle fingers in the air. Co-writing 12 of 13 tracks, the troubadour confesses to his wild side and wrestles with the sin. He spares no detail – and makes no compromise. (from press release)
Charley Crockett
Age of the Ram (Lone Star Rider Records)
Charley Crockett has always been a prolific artist, stretching the limits of his imaginative approach to country, which toes the line between tradition and the lofty. Recently, though, he has been releasing distinct, genre-altering releases, starting with 2025’s Lonesome Drifter and Dollar A Day, which arrived a few short months later. These two subsequent releases, both co-produced by Shooter Jennings, build the story Crockett is calling “The Sagebrush Trilogy.” Each of these albums that make up the trilogy has had a specific sound to it, and Age of the Ram is no different. The grand finale, consisting of 20 songs, puts Crockett’s vivid storytelling through a dream-like lens, tinting his sonic world with an ethereal hue that makes the portraits he paints all the more vibrant. There is a clear, cinematic nature to this LP that is immediately noticeable, a consistency that ties up the story of its predecessors in an exploratory, satisfying way. The Sagebrush Trilogy has come to a close, and Crockett is leaving us with an enthralling listen of cosmic proportions. (edited from Glide Magazine review)
Also new this week…
Zachary Baker – Dark Horse (VNGNZ Records)
Asher Brinson – Midnight Hurricane (Brinson Records)
The Builders and the Butchers – No Tomorrow (Badman Recording Co.) +
The Droptines – Drought Flower (Big Loud Texas)
Elizabeth and The Catapult – Responsible Friend (Compass Records) +
Seth James – Motormouth (Qualified Records)
Thomm Jutz – Ring-A-Bellin’ (self release) +
Joe Pernice & Pernice Brothers – Sunny, I Was Wrong (New West Records)
The Riflebirds of Portland – April (Regional Records)
Joe Troop – Joe Troop & The Truth Machine (EP) (self release)
Coming out soon… Benjamin Tod, Gurf Morlix, The Milk Carton Kids, Yarn, Dirk Powell, Dan Penn, Ringo Starr, The Deslondes, Dale Watson, Bill Kirchen, Joshua Ray Walker, Josiah and the Bonnevilles, Whitehorse, India Ramey, Caleb Caudle, Florence Dore, Charlie Marie, Tift Merritt and more!
