Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for October 31st, 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.
Greensky Bluegrass
XXV (Big Blue Zoo Records)
The members of what would eventually become Greensky Bluegrass played their first show together. In the quarter century since, the quintet has become internationally known for their musically intricate shows, including 20 appearances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. To celebrate their anniversary, the band assembled a baker’s dozen of their favorite songs, along with 10 of their best musical pals, all appearing on XXV, a career retrospective that shares the spotlight with some of the best pickers alive. Guests on the album include Sam Bush, Lindsay Lou, Billy Strings, Holly Bowling, Nathaniel Rateliff, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Jason Hann, Aoife O’Donovan and Ivan Neville. (edited from Americana Highways review)
Jeremy Pinnell
Decades (SofaBurn Records)
Merle Haggard. Concrete Blonde. Tom Petty. AC/DC. Those artists were on repeat, mixing with the gospel hymns he sang in church, influencing the ever-evolving songwriting that would eventually take him far beyond Kentucky. Four albums later, Pinnell digs deep into those hook-heavy beginnings with Decades. It’s the most melodic album of his acclaimed career, produced by Shooter Jennings and influenced by the radio-friendly choruses he heard as a teenager. “I love hooks,” Pinnell says unapologetically. “I love big, melodic songs that talk about serious things. That’s what I wanted to do with Decades: share intimate observations about myself and others in a hooky, positive way. I wanted it to be personal, but I also wanted it to be fun.” (from Bandcamp bio)
Also new this week…
Eric Bolander – Old Tattoo (independent)
Julien Foster – Ghosts of Honkytonks Past (independent) +
The Mammals – Touch Grass Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (Humble Abode Music) +
Cory Morrow – The Letting Go (Write On Records)
Alexa Rose – Atmosphere (independent)
Secret Emchy Society – Queen of Assholes (Yay! Agenda Records)
Nick Shoulders – Refugia Blues (independent)
Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives – Space Junk (Snakefarm Music Group) +
Kurt Lee Wheeler – Lathemtown (Lathemtown Poets Society Records & Tapes)
Vi Wickam – The Thanksgiving Album (independent)
Coming out soon … Willie Nelson, Terry Klein, Luke Bell, Colter Wall, Miss Emily, The Lucky Losers, Orville Peck, Afton Wolfe, The Infamous Stringdusters, Keegan McInroe, Lucinda Williams and more!
