Hello friends,

I’m thrilled to announce that Ballad Hunter, my latest album, is officially out and already making waves with over 30,000 streams since its release on October 25th! Available on all streaming platforms, Ballad Hunter is a tribute to the raw, unfiltered sounds of early 20th-century American music, weaving together blues, country, Appalachian folk, and mountain gospel.  For those who want to take it home, you can download it on my webpage, Apple Music, and Amazon.

From the opening track, "Where I’m Bound," you’re in for a journey. This mountain gospel tune brings the spirit of the Carter Family to life, inviting you to an Appalachian landscape of old. I recorded this song with a resonance that’s meant to transport you right to a cabin front porch, sitting under the vast Appalachian sky.

"Lazarus" is one of the album’s grittiest tracks, inspired by Blind Willie Johnson’s street sermons. Here, my resonator guitar rings out like a call to the heavens, grounding the spiritual journey in raw blues and a deeply American soul. This track was particularly close to my heart, a way to channel the energy of old-time preachers who didn’t just tell stories but made you *feel* them.

One of the most personal songs on this album is "Queen of the Pines," a soulful Appalachian ballad. With finger-picking and harmonies that lean toward the melancholic, this song is a journey into nostalgia and longing—a tribute to people, places, and conversations that shaped me and remind us of what we’re in danger of losing in a society that grows more divided by the day.

For something a bit haunting, there’s "Hard Was the Ground, Cold Was the Clay." This instrumental is inspired by the prison songs that Lomax recorded in fields across the South. I wanted to capture the harshness and dignity of those who came before us, laboring under hard conditions. With just a few hand claps, slide guitar, and some moanful humming, this track is as sparse and gritty as the world it’s inspired by.

Ballad Hunter closes with "On Wings of My Own," a resonator gospel hallelujah that celebrates hope and redemption. This one’s meant to lift you up and bring some light, taking you from the shadows into a new beginning. It’s a tribute to finding strength in resilience, a message that feels as relevant now as it ever did.

This album is my tribute to John Lomax, a pioneer who preserved thousands of American blues, folk, and roots songs. His dedication saved an incredible legacy that could have easily been lost, and with Ballad Hunter, I wanted to honor his work by breathing new life into the sounds and stories he helped safeguard. If you’re a fan of traditional blues, country, and folk, I hope Ballad Hunter will speak to you as much as it did to me while creating it. This album is my tribute to the voices that have shaped my life and my music—a collection of stories that bridge the gap between past and present, with a little modern spin.

And there’s one more bit of news I’m proud to share! Starting December 26th, I’ll be the new host for Son House Blues Night at the Record Archive in Rochester, taking over from the wonderful Genesee Johnny, who’s retiring after many great years. Johnny and I will be co-hosting on December 21st as part of the handover. If you’re around, come celebrate with us—it would be great to see some familiar faces.

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone, and I hope to see you soon!

Son