Jobi Riccio knows that while a quiet heart-to-heart can solve many problems, sometimes the heart needs a giant, all-caps billboard, especially when the world around that massive sign gets louder by the day. As each new track on her new album Face the Feeling (due May 15th via Yep Roc Records) unveils, Riccio faces another inescapable emotion as if it were a billboard screaming into view as she hurtles down the highway. And rather than turn away from their challenge, Riccio faces those uncomfortable moments with the thrill of self-discovery, reveling in growth and change as facts of life.

"Massive Negroni" is a spirited, genre-bending celebration of vintage aesthetics and modern wit. Sweet Megg, the chameleon of the New York jazz scene, delivers an album that is as intoxicating and bitter-sweet as its namesake. Moving effortlessly between sultry Parisian swing, dusty Americana, and classic Broadway-style showmanship, Megg proves that she is far more than a "traditionalist" — she is a storyteller with a wicked sense of humor.

Whenever Emily Nenni is onstage, she welcomes everybody to the dancefloor. The California-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter wants the honkytonk to be a place of escape, where fans can shed their troubles for a few hours and feel safe and free. “I’m always watching the dancefloor and making sure everybody’s being respectful.” Or, as she sings on the supremely funky title track to her new album Movin’ Shoes, “Here’s where you dress for you and dance the way that you want to.”

The elegant Kristina Train has a voice for the ages - and a resume to match. Hand-picked by Herbie Hancock to join his band, being on Bruce Springsteen’s permanent playlist, and collaborating with Dr. Dre are just a few of the highlights.

Most all within the sphere of my reach has a reverence for classic soul music. Not upper-cased to designate any genre distinction, but closer to the ground… the small “s” signifying what truly changes and crosses the course of our blood. We’ve sought solace and direction as if a spinning disc were a communion rail before which we surrender; as if at the bent knee of our parents. It’s a ritual that has remained fortifying and alive – because the music itself has: refusing challenges to its legacy and relevance by evolving as we do. Otis Redding, being but one sharp example, continues to sound like a living human being leaping from a pair of speakers because, in a very real way, he is one: his voice still reaching out with what poet William Carlos Williams called “the American grain” – and all the turbulence that continues to push it up and out of the barren ground; speaking from the past, but always in the present tense.

Long After the Fire is the debut collaborative album from Vicki Peterson (The Bangles) and John Cowsill (The Cowsills, The Beach Boys), released via Label 51 Recordings. This heartfelt Americana collection pays tribute to John's late brothers, Barry and Bill Cowsill, featuring songs they wrote and cherished. Blending elements of country, folk, and pop-rock, the album showcases the duo's seamless harmonies and deep musical connection. Standout tracks like "Fool Is the Last One to Know," "When Hearts Collide," and "A Thousand Times" highlight the emotional depth and nostalgic resonance of the collection.

“Pokey LaFarge is a musician, songwriter, bandleader, entertainer, innovator and preservationist, whose well-rounded arsenal of talents has placed him at the forefront of American music. His music transcends the confines of genre, continually challenging the notion that tradition-bearers fail to push musical boundaries. LaFarge returns with a new solo EP Travelin’ With Pokey LaFarge: Voice And Guitar Vol. I on his newly formed label Boxer Boy Records. The six-song EP was produced by LaFarge and recorded and mixed by Colin Lester Fleming at The Great Northern Sound Society in Parsonsfield, ME.”

"Troubadours of the Swingin’ Doors" is the debut album from Natchet Taylor Band, set for release on February 6, 2026. The record brings together the band’s Texas roots and Barcelona-based lineup, blending country, blues, and honky-tonk with a raw, live-band feel.

Multifaceted genres and room-filling interpretations - "Miles Of Time" - the new album by guitarist, producer and composer Carl Carlton and singer and actress Melanie Wiegmann. A cross-generational groove that presents loud, quiet, thoughtful and cheerfully colorful perspectives on life. As Wilhelm Busch once said: "The sum of our lives are the hours when we love" and that is precisely the consensus of Melanie & Carl. The love for each other, the love for music and the love for what they create together.

Clover County is the stage name of A.G. Schiano, a 24-year-old singer-songwriter based in Athens, Georgia, known for her self-described "bootgaze" genre that blends folk, Americana, and alternative sounds. She released her debut EP, Porch Lights, in late 2024, followed by her debut album, Finer Things, in September 2025, featuring intimate, autobiographical songwriting.

The Dreamin' Kind finds the Nashville transplant strapping on an electric guitar and embracing his longtime love of larger-than-life rock and roll. With its chugging power chords, 1970s-sized riffs, and richly layered arrangements, The Dreamin' Kind is fuelled not only by sheer amplification, but by the soul-baring songwriting that's become Slim's calling card, too.

With two well-received albums under his belt, UK Northern country artist Rob Wheeler announces his latest record Leave Tomorrow, which will be released on 6th June 2025. These songs were written during a four-month stint in Nashville, Tennessee, a collaborative effort with a multitude of acclaimed musicians, among them Grammy-nominated songwriters Jeff Trott, Steve Dorff and Frank Liddell. Having grown up in a small town in England’s grey North West, becoming obsessed with The Beatles and learning the songs of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and The Eagles on guitar as a means of escape, Leave Tomorrow is a full-circle moment for Rob Wheeler, bringing his worlds of UK and American music together.

American Aquarium's Live at Red Rocks captures the North Carolina heartland rockers at their most potent, harnessing the raw, sweeping energy of the legendary Colorado amphitheater. This album is a testament to their powerful live presence, featuring roaring anthems and poignant storytelling delivered with a gritty, earnest intensity that resonates under the open sky. Frontman BJ Barham's weathered vocals and the band's tight, driving sound translate the grandeur of the venue into an intimate, communal experience for the listener. It's a career-defining document that solidifies their status as modern road warriors, forever chasing the horizon with fist-pumping conviction.

Accomplished blues man Darren Watson returns with a new release this month, a complete album of John Hiatt songs reinterpreted – Darren Watson Sings John Hiatt. Watson has been pushing out quality material for the best part of 40 years, beginning in the 80s as frontman of Chicago Smoke Shop (which supported the Robert Cray Band, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds), and continuing since the early 2000s as a solo artist with six albums released to great acclaim, including a bunch of NZ Music Award nominations.

The Devil Makes Three has always thrived in the spaces between genres, where the grit of folk, the soul of blues, and the rebellious spirit of punk collide. Their music doesn’t just follow the American storytelling tradition—it redefines it. Whether evoking the deep melancholy of Delta blues or the frenetic energy of punk, their sound is raw, powerful, and unmistakably their own. For over two decades, this genre- defying trio has carved out a place in the American roots scene, delivering high-energy performances that leave audiences captivated and wanting more. They've released seven studio albums and three live recordings, with their latest, Spirits, marking a return to their stripped-down roots.