BONUS TRACKS: RIP Sonny Rollins, Return of The Highwomen, and More Roots Music News
No Depression doesn't often get to cover jazz, but that deep canon falls well within the broad term of roots music. This week, jazz titan and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins passed away at the age of 95. The New Yorker, The Atlantic, POW Mag, and more shared excellent
Black News 
No Depression doesn't often get to cover jazz, but that deep canon falls well within the broad term of roots music. This week, jazz titan and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins passed away at the age of 95. The New Yorker, The Atlantic, POW Mag, and more shared excellent pieces about his life, work, and lasting influence.
Read a few tributes from roots musicians and watch some incredibly cool footage from other musical and historical institutions below. Additionally WKCR in New York will be programming a memorial broadcast for 48 hours. Listeners can read more here tune in here.
In fact, Chris Pierce announced his new album Songs for the Heavy Hearted, due out August 21, and featuring guest artists including Allison Russell, Steve Earle, Grey DeLisle and Garrison Starr. The thoughtful, conscientious singer-songwriter also penned an essay for the Summer 2021 "Voices" issue of No Depression, which is available in print here and digitally here by becoming a member.
Nearly 80 years old, Texas legend Ray Wylie Hubbard has announced another album in his storied career. Reel 2 Reel 4 Real is due out August 21 and lead single "Casette Mix Tape" is available now. Read two reviews from No Depression's archives from the 1990s — Crusades Of The Restless Knights and Live At The Cibolo Creek Country Club.
The Highwomen, the supergroup featuring Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires, surprise-released a live album today titled Live at The Gorge 2023. In a press release, the band wrote:
We weren’t planning on releasing a live album. But in preparing for our upcoming reunion we recently listened back to The Gorge, and whatever happened out there that night came rushing right back…the adrenaline, the near misses, the harmonies locking in at exactly the right second, and the sound of thousands of people singing like they meant every word with their whole chest. The recordings sound wild, emotional, electric, human and exactly how that night felt…We could really feel the connection, the community and that rare oneness where everybody carried each other for a little while. And maybe that matters right now because when the world feels like it’s coming apart at the seams, music still gives us a place to meet each other in the middle of it all, to sing too loud, cry in public, laugh at dumb shit, hold each other upright, and walk back out into the world feeling a little less alone a little more whole and a little more ready to keep fighting for each other. Just us, the crowd, the canyon, and whatever that feeling was. We sure hope you feel it.
Check out a video for "Redesigning Women" below and read ND's feature profile about the band from 2019 here.
Elsewhere on the internet, check out Karly Hartzman from Wednesday reviewing a new book about Gary Stuart over at Stereogum. The band's cover of "She's Actin' Single" has become a fan favorite.
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
Humbird - "Daughter of Empire" (from their forthcoming album, Morning When It Comes, due out September 25 via Nettwerk)
Mama's Broke - "The Nameless" (from their forthcoming album, Reunion, due out August 28 via Free Dirt Records/Forward Music Group)
The Tallest Man On Earth - "Colors"
John Gallagher Jr. - "Mitsuko"
NEW RELEASES - 5/29/26
Amani Burnham - Roots & Wings
DERVISH - The Great Irish Songbook Vol. 2: Poets & Storytellers
Béla Fleck and Renée Fleming - The Fiddle and the Drum
Nathan Evans Fox - Heirloom
John Gallagher Jr. - Almost Ok [EP]
Robin Ganz - Hypnos
Lone Piñon - Hot Carne Seca
Paul McCartney - The Boys of Dungeon Lane
Willie Nelson - Dream Chaser
Joey Quiñones - Inna Soul Steady Situation
David Serby - Broken Heart in a Honky Tonk
JP Soars - Gypsy Blue Revue
SUSTO - Susto Stringband (Volume 2)
Kurt Vile - Philadelphia's been good to me
Joshua Ray Walker - Ain't Dead Yet
Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan - Where the Willow and Dogwood Grow
COMING SOON - 6/5/26
Zoh Amba - Eyes Full
Caleb Caudle - Heavy Thrill
Deer Tick - Coin-O-Matic
Iris Dement - The Way I Should (30th Anniversary Reissue)
Sierra Ferrell - Live at Third Man Records
Futurebirds - Far Out Country
Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra - Night Blooms
Gina Leslie - I Love You Always No Matter What Happens
Charlie Marie - Signs
John R. Miller - The Great Unknowing
Of Montreal - aethermead
Old Crow Medicine Show - Union Made
Red Clay Strays - Grateful
Bella White - A Sign In The Weather
