CANADIAN singer-songwriter retired to his living room to record , due in late February. Backed by The Hurtin’ Albertans, he tapped into the acoustic“There’s not a single electric instrument on the whole thing… In terms of having a vision, this is a record I’ve had in my sights for a while.” The album also pays tribute to his late friend and inspiration, Ian Tyson. Fellow countrymen are back that month too. Recorded in Mexico City, finds the quartet immersed in free-ranging mood – swinging bluegrass, country, earthy folk and beyond – on a set of songs involving family trees, grudges, insurance scams, bacon and burials. Meanwhile, Virginia’s promise their most musically adventurous outing yet with (). Having begun as an all-acoustic string band nearly 20 years ago, the quintet are now feeding psychedelia and jamrock into their Appalachian sound. And welcome back , whose ( was produced by Grammy-winning Dave Cobb at Nashville’s legendary RCA Studio A. The acclaimed Atlanta rockers celebrate the everyday joys of life across a set that encompasses country jams, rustic ballads and blustery rock’n’roll.
