Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for August 22nd, 2025. 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.
East Nash Grass
All God’s Children (Mountain Fever Records)
After winning the 2024 IBMA Award for New Artist of the Year, touring internationally, and even making their co-headline debut at the Ryman Auditorium, All God’s Children feels like a joyful tribute to the many ways life gets good – and to bluegrass’s many salt-of-the-earth styles. With skillful traditional picking and a focus on diversity (both thematically and in the band’s tendency to share the spotlight at center stage), East Nash Grass deliver a truly spirit-satisfying album. Just don’t let its name fool you – this ain’t gospel. “I enjoyed that it’s a little bit of a misnomer,” says guitarist James Kee, with a touch of mischief in his voice. “We are a fairly traditional bluegrass band and we do some gospel music, but … anybody who knows us would know pretty immediately, it’s not a gospel album. I kind of liked that it would make somebody who doesn’t know our music take a second look.” (edited from Bluegrass Situation review)
Kathleen Edwards
Billionaire (Dualtone Music Group)
In 2002, the roots music world was abuzz when singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards released her debut, Failer. Granted, Edwards spent a decade away from music, but nothing she has released since has measured up to that album. Billionaire has just changed that. Her acute lyrical bent, honesty, and flair for hooks have returned. She is the sole songwriter on eight of these ten and the co-writer on two others. So, the words are all essentially hers. The title may be viewed somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Billionaires are typically scorned these days, but Edwards says we should all want to be accumulators of joy, life’s rich experiences, and great friendships. It’s the idea of being rich in a non-monetary sense. Yet, the themes of these songs do touch on politics, bitter memories, and breakups, subjects often found in singer-songwriter fare. Yet, Edwards is a compelling, oft-witty storyteller and adept painter of characters. We can celebrate that the Kathleen Edwards we fell in love with two decades ago is back, and she sounds even better than we might recall. (edited from Glide Magazine review)
Also new this week…
Asleep At The Wheel – Riding High In Texas (Bismeaux Records) +
Danny Burns – Southern Sky (Bonfire Recording Co.)
Jesse Dayton, Ian Moore & Johnny Moeller – Texas Headhunters (Hardcharger Records)
Daniel Donato – Horizons (Retrace Music) +
Pete Droge – Fade Away Blue (Puzzle Tree Records)
Kristen Ford – Pinto (Righteous Babe Records)
Jeremy Garrett – Storm Mountain (Americana Vibes)
Dean Johnson – I Hope We Can Still Be Friends (Saddle Creek Records) +
Will Hoge – Sweet Misery (independent)
Case Oats – Last Missouri Exit (Merge Records)
Tommy Prine – Love Circle (Oh Boy Records)
Jesse Welles – Devil’s Den (independent)
Coming out soon … Rodney Crowell, Margo Price, Anna Tival, Tift Merritt, Josh Ritter, Max Gomez, Forrest VanTuyl, Dallas Burrow, Becky Buller, KP Hawthorn, Jeff Tweedy, Nicholas Jamerson, Otis Gibbs, Dylan Earl, The Onlies, Robbie Fulks, The Third Mind, Maygen & The Birdwatcher, Clover County, Ruston Kelly, The Brothers Comatose, Brennen Leigh, Rhett Miller, Bernie Leadon and more!
