As the American summer sun casts long shadows, Ray LaMontagne welcomes listeners on a reflective journey with his latest single, “Long Way Home,” which serves as a prelude to his highly anticipated ninth studio album of the same name, which will be released on August 16.

“Long Way Home” is the album’s second single, released under LaMontagne’s new label, Liula Records. The music is a sad, bittersweet homage to the past, with LaMontagne’s distinctive raspy voice weaving through memories and meditations on days gone by. The song’s words, “Summertime, summertime / Said goodbye at the garden wall / From the house I can hear my momma callin’,” convey universal nostalgia, a yearning for youth’s simple and innocent days.

The single follows the success of “Step Into Your Power,” which marked a significant milestone in LaMontagne’s career as his fastest-moving track in the last decade. The preceding track achieved meteoric success at the radio, accompanied by a stop-motion music video animated by LaMontagne’s son, Tobias.

“Long Way Home” has a poignant contemplation on the path of life. LaMontagne, inspired by a live performance of Townes Van Zandt he saw at 21, recalls a passage from Van Zandt’s “To Live Is To Fly” that has stayed with him for three decades: “When here you been is good and gone, all you keep is the getting there.” This phrase captures the heart of the album, as LaMontagne honors the twisting path of life’s experiences, both victories and trials.

The new album promises to be a rich tapestry of LaMontagne’s growth as an artist and person. With production by Seth Kauffman, known for his work with Angel Olsen and Lana Del Rey, and backing vocals from The Secret Sisters on the album’s first three tracks, “Long Way Home” is set to be a modern folk and Americana music classic.

In support of the album, LaMontagne has planned a series of solo headlining U.S. tour dates beginning September 17, with The Secret Sisters as support. Ray LaMontagne’s next tour with Gregory Alan Isakov will provide fans with a unique opportunity to witness his intimate and thoughtful music in person.

As we await the whole album, “Long Way Home” demonstrates LaMontagne’s continuing brilliance and ability to portray the human experience through music. It serves as a reminder that the journey, with all of its ebbs and flows, shapes us, and that sometimes taking the long way home is the most gratifying path of all.

Famed rock musician Andrew Farriss, best known as the keyboardist and primary composer for INXS, is breaking new ground with his single “Something Stronger.” This exciting song is a taster of his forthcoming album, “The Prospector,” which is expected to have a wealth of musical masterpieces and is scheduled for release in the beginning of 2025.

An upbeat hymn, “Something Stronger” captures the spirit of carefree youth and the dogged pursuit of one’s dreams. As he reflects on his adolescent years, filled with “cheap whisky burnin’ down our teenage throats” and the excitement of being “a back street racer” at the age of seventeen, Farriss’s lyrics capture the essence of rebellion. A song about embracing one’s inner fire, wanting to test one’s limits, and searching for something stronger and longer-lasting.

The official music video for the song embodies the carefree spirit and unbridled enthusiasm of young people, and the song itself has already gone viral. The video, shot at Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar in Tamworth, is a visual extravaganza that goes well with the storyline of the song, including broad roads, fast automobiles, and an unyielding desire for adventure.

The fact that Farriss dabbled with country music shows how versatile he is. With “The Prospector,” he continues his exploration of country music’s storytelling legacy, delving into themes of seeking life’s riches while inspiring others to discover the true treasures. Fans old and new may look forward to hearing an album that pays homage to Farriss’s extensive musical background while also including modern elements.

Looking forward to the release of “The Prospector,” Andrew Farriss extends an invitation to embark on this musical journey with him. He gives fans a taste of the storyline that will enthral them with “Something Stronger,” which is a single full of passion, grit, and the ageless appeal of discovering something stronger in life. Keep an ear out for further details on the album and tour dates and prepare as Andrew Farriss is getting set to transport us to thrilling new worlds through his music.

A unique voice has been lost to the country music and literature worlds. On June 26, 2024, at the age of 79½, the cigar-chomping, irreverent troubadour, and author Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman passed away. To say that Kinky Friedman was a multi-life figure who was famous for his quick wit and bold Texas chutzpah is an understatement, but it is where we will begin.

The Friedman family relocated from Chicago to Houston not long after Friedman’s 1944 birth to run Echo Hill Ranch, a summer camp that Kinky would call home for the rest of his life. He had an innate curiosity for the unknown and a thirst for adventure throughout his youth. He went to University of Texas at Austin to study psychology, then joined the Peace Corps and went to Borneo, where he had an experience that would change his perspective on life and his art.

After forming Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys in Nashville in the early 1970s, Friedman’s music career took off. Many have likened his band—a country group with a social conscience—to the twisted offspring of Bob Wills and Lenny Bruce. His fearless and innovative 1973 album “Sold American” cemented his reputation as an outlaw country artist.

He championed irreverence and lampooned Southern small-mindedness in his daring and sarcastic songs. Also, they mirrored the man’s complicated character; they were amazing. Fans and fellow musicians alike were won over by Kinky’s music for its combination of heart and comedy. Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan were among his closest companions, and he was a friend of presidents and icons as well as a composer par excellence.

“Musicians can run this state better than politicians. We won’t get a lot done in the mornings, but we’ll work late and be honest.”

Kinky was talented in more than just music, though. He contributed to Texas Monthly as a columnist and wrote detective novels in his spare time. His political career was just as eventful as his musical and literary ones. With his eccentric and funny campaign slogans, he captured the interest of many in 2006 when he conducted a longshot campaign for governor of Texas, with the campaign slogan “Why The Hell Not?”

For all the people whose lives Kinky Friedman impacted, his loss is a cause for contemplation. Not only will his music and writings live on, but so will the joy he spread via his infectious sense of humor. Despite experiencing immense suffering and grievance in recent years, his wit and determination persisted right up until the end.

We honour Kinky Friedman’s lasting impact on country music, literature, and the lives of his fans and acquaintances even as we grieve his passing. People will keep reading his books, singing his songs, and cherishing his memories. According to his close friend Kent Perkins, “in a peaceful corner of paradise there is a large, comfortable chair, a well-lit floor lamp, a collection of biographies, and a couple of elderly dogs tail-wagging to the subtle aroma of cigar smoke”.

The world lost some of its vibrancy when Kinky Friedman trod on a rainbow. His uniqueness and the joy he brought to others via his music will live on in the hearts of listeners for years to come.

The life of Kinky Friedman was a vibrant tapestry adorned with melodies, lyrics, and an unwavering zeal for living. While we say our goodbyes to the Kinkster, may his legacy continue on throughout country music and beyond via the songs and recollections that we cherish.