Three new tracks in the bluegrass and folk world that will put a smile on your face

Sad Daddy – “Bootlegger”
-There are few traditions in the United States more timeless than bluegrass, but… alcohol might just be one of them. Running booze in the mountains gave us the great tradition of stock car racing and this song feels like it’s something that the Johnsons and Pettys would tap their toes to. The lyrics here are a perfect balance of the sacred and the profane, very much in the longstanding tradition of artists like Doc Watson and Bill Monroe. There’s something about the subtle banjo here that really works well. Sometimes bluegrass can be so upbeat and “in your face,” but this feels like a “sit on the back porch and pick a little” type of song and it works really well. For a warm summer day, a nice thirst quenching drink sounds promising, but “bootlegger, don’t you come ’round no more.” What a way to end it.

Charlie Pike – “Charles River”
-This is a wonderful tune that brings together storytelling folk and subtle harmonies in a way that jumps right to the top of my playlists. There’s an endearing style to the expressive lyrics, too, that puts a smile on my face. By the time I got to that first steel guitar riff, I was genuinely grinning from ear to ear. There’s a timelessness to this sound that makes me happy, yet this freshness (or rather brashness) that captures my attention on every listen. It also goes to show that not all heartache songs have to have a bluesy lament style to them; this is a bright and engaging tune with a deep, abiding, and timeless message that anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak will feel in their bones. What a gem.

Satellite Birdhouse – “Lady in the Moon”
-We just had the summer solstice here recently, so I took a bit of time to gaze up at the moon. This song would have been perfect for that night. I don’t know what it is about the style, but it really reminds me of something that John Denver would have written (or appreciated). Some of the production veers a bit more modern than Denver’s style, but it’s more so the energy and imagery of the writing that has that timeless folk vibe to it. The vocalist here has an approachable style to it that feels like a genuine expression of each meaningful lyrical line. For fans of more contemporary spins on classic folk music.