A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (August 13, 2026)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

August 13, 2026

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Hey, what's new? If you're looking for a literal answer, check out our compulsively updated new release calendar, A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster. Over the past week, we've added new announcements from folks like the Yawpers, whose Teething should reach us on or about September 4 (DTTW). After almost calling it quits, Uncle Lucius are in it to win it. They'll unleash Open Eyes Broken Heart on September 25 (Boo Clap). What we really want is a Gourds project. That said, we're pleased to see Kev Russell's Shinyribs looking to October 9 for the appearance of his Real Alligator (Spaceflight). Nothing wrong with a new Joan Shelley record, even if it's a deluxe edition of something we've already got. Over and Even + Demos includes ... well, demos of songs from those sessions (No Quarter, Oct 16). Finally, we can always count on Caroline Rose for boundary-challenging stuff. See, f'rinstance, Gentling the Horse At Walt Whitman Mall, set for an October 23 release (SUCK). 

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^ Our updates lately have paid frequent attention to the forthcoming record by Nate Amos and This Is Lorelei. NME has shared a good, long profile of Mr Amos. Among other info, the piece notes that next month's The Singer In My Band, gets closer to roots music than Amos has before. We expect this to be one of the more impactful indie-roots releases for the year. 

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This is neat. In conjunction with this week's release of her Bluegrass Women album, Lindsay Lou is releasing a four-part documentary about the creation of the record, which celebrates the female contribution to the history of bluegrass music. Part 1 is on her YouTube page. 

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We love Waylon Payne's recent Wayward LP, and have always felt he would be able to write a great memoir. Short of that happening, we're here for Americana UK's conversation with the songwriter, wherein he talks about the family business, playing with Willie Nelson's beard, and being taken in by a drag queen. 

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We've been sharing new Chaparelle singles as they're released, eager for the duo of Zella Day and Jesse Woods to declare their plan for a full-length. While we're biding our time, Grateful Web tells of Bleeding Hearts, a documentary about the act that will be debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. 

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Here's a concerning update to the store we shared a few weeks ago about the suspension of activity at Levon Helm Studios. It's being alleged that Amy Helm's reported mismanagement might have included a degree of financial impropriety. Stereogum has more info. Unless it's disappeared behind their cruel and imposing paywall. You might want to check if Pitchfork's account is available. Otherwise you'll just have to search for yourself. 

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Thee Sacred Souls are presently on tour with LA Lom and the Womack Sisters. Glide Magazine catches up with the bass player, Sal Salmano, to chat about how the tour came together. 

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Eric Bachman was at Wuxtry Records in Athens, Georgia. A new video reveals his haul following a  crate diving session.  It should be noted that Bachman's Crooked Fingers produced Swet Deth in February. 

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Last week we bemoaned the shuttering of Brooklyn Vegan, among our most valued music blogs. Andrew Sacher, one of the site's longtime writers, has introduced Unhappy Place, a Substack where he'll be publishing his reflections on new music for the time being. You might considering subscribing as a strategy for upping your flow of email. Yesterday's post highlighted a handful of great new alt.country tracks!

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Saving Country Music unveils info about Hello Honky Tonk, a new collection by Kaitlin Butts. It certainly didn't hurt her cause that Butts carried a key role in the video for the unrivaled Song Of the Summer, Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas". 

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