good news about good noise
September 17, 2026
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
Just last night, the Americana Honors & Awards were ... well, honored & awarded in Nashville. While we are by no means guided by the organization's work, we do recognize that they put on quite a show with their yearly Americanafest, and that their award recognitions aren't as off as, say, the Grammys. You can stream the whole thing (for now) at NPR's World Cafe site, and they usually clean it up for wider consumption at a later date. In addition to the Tom Petty tribute (noted below), there were moments in celebration of Todd Snider and Dolly Parton (who recorded an acceptance speech prior to her passing (of course)).
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Alright, it's been four years since Lydia Loveless' last LP. Signs are looking very positive for (in her words) something something about something coming soon. You can hear five seconds of something at her Instagram page. Just press repeat and it's almost like a new song!
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The world needs more supergroups! Bumperstickers should be issued. Grateful Web shares information about Toy Factory Project, a welcome collaboration between folks like Marcus King, Blackberry Smoke's Charlie Starr, Oteil Burbridge, and more. The outfit formed in tribute to Toy Caldwell, founder of Marshall Tucker Band. Check out their tour info, as well as a performance video. Can a record be far behind?
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On the New Pornographers' substack, AC Newman quotes Jonathan Richman: We have to learn to play with nothing. Our guitars are broken and it's raining. For Newman's band, the challenges began with difficulty obtaining visas for the Canadian members of New Pornographers, and unspooled from there, to include Covid, rehearsals at a studio in the hills above Santa Fe that feels like a Breaking Bad theme park, and simply rolling with the punches to carry out the US leg of their tour.
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Tom Petty is one of those adjacent artists that influenced many of the folks we represent, but who don't appear on our ROUTES-cast playlists. Petty & the Heartbreakers are receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at this week's Americana Honors & Awards program, and the remaining members are scheduled to reunite for a special performance. Petty's estate has also just announced a boxed set of his early work, mostly between the end of Mudcrutch and the first recordings with the Heartbreakers. You can read more in Grateful Web's writeup.
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^Is it time for a new album from Whitey Morgan & the 78s? No, it's way past time. Saving Country Music reminds readers that it's been a full eight (8) years since 2018's Hard Times and White Lines. Looks like they still haven't improved the appeal of their jacket art, but we look forward to hearing what's in the wings, beginning with next Friday's debut single.
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Beck doesn't need our help. While we don't include him in our blog, we admire a bunch of what he's done, especially on Sea Change. His new Ride Lonesome project rings many of those same bells. New Music Express chats with Beck about his first original record in seven years, what he terms a heartbreak record.
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Okay, more Alabama Shakes stuff. Brittany Howard and Heath Fogg discover that some radio stations continue to have physical libraries. When asked by KCRW to pick a couple of their personal favorites we'd love for them to go deep, but they settle on something pretty familiar. Nevertheless, Howard sets the stage for a Shakes/Sade collab, so it's with it in the end.
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These can be crazy days at A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster, our enduringly updated record release calendar. This week's adds included a deluxe edition of Wednesday's 2025 Bleeds LP. This one will feature remixes and demos (Dead Oceans, Sep 18). Keeping folk music safe for sensitive ears, Shovel Dance Collective have returned with their third album. Expect Everything In Readiness on or about October 23, courtesy of the tak:til imprint. We are shameless fans of holiday music, and are pleased to see Sufjan Stevens announce Worst Christmas Ever! The collection distills the songwriter's prodigious seasonal output, adding a new song as well (Asthmatic Kitty, Nov 6). A touring member of bands for Jimbo Mathus and Shinyribs, Llana Shaefer has announced her debut solo project. Strolling Bones has set aside November 13 for the release of Full Circle. Finally, see above for more info on the first Whitey Morgan & the 78s collection in several years. If all goes as planned, Hell On the Highway will arrive on digital shelves on December 4.
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