Here are some albums that we’re looking forward to hearing in the back half of 2025…
Americana Radio by J. Isaiah Evans and the Boss Tweed (11 July)
Evans and the Boss Tweed make a raucous entrance with their debut album. Evans pairs his booming voice with his fierce guitar for ten tracks of what he calls “Garageicana Rock-N-Roll,” with Hammond organist Matthew Vasquez and drummer Spud Crowley rounding out the trio’s sound. One thing’s certain: this isn’t your grandparents’ organ trio…
Forward by The Swell Season (11 July)
The Swell Season – Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová – make their eagerly-awaited return. The group picks up right where they left off 16 years ago with an album that is melodic and emotionally charged.
Who Wants to Talk About Love by Jade Bird (18 July)
Jade Bird brings together infectious pop hooks and airy indie-folk textures, all elevated by her unmistakably compelling voice. Her latest album is a fearless deep dive into love, loss, and family legacy, turning painful truths into songs of striking clarity and emotional release.
If You Never Go Away by BettySoo (18 July)
It’s been more than a decade since Austin’s BettySoo has released an album. And while the sought after vocalist hasn’t exactly been idle all that time, her new album brings her back into the spotlight with a collection of songs both melancholy and endearing.
In the Heart of the Mountain by Ben Nichols (25 July)
Lucero’s Ben Nichols leans into his country and folk side with a stripped-down solo album. The arrangements are sparse – mostly acoustic guitar with fiddle and the occasional electric and pedal steel guitars – putting the vivid richness of Nichol’s songwriting front and center.
Crown of Roses by Patty Griffin (25 July)
After six years, Patty Griffin returns with a rich blend of folk and Americana that is delivered with her signature depth and grace. Her lyrics carry an emotional punch, exemplified by the lead-off single’s hard-won wisdom: “It don’t mean a thing if you can’t feel your heart… it isn’t the end you’re just back at the start.”
Snipe Hunter by Tyler Childers (25 July)
Teaming with producer Rick Rubin, Tyler Childers’ Snipe Hunter bristles with sharp country storytelling that is unflinching honest and sincere. The album pairs Rubin’s stripped-back touch with Childers’ vivid, plainspoken lyrics, resulting in a collection that feels both unvarnished and resonant.
We’re Only Human by Hayes Carll (8 Aug)
Hayes Carll gets deeply introspective on his latest album, offering raw reflections on self-forgiveness, grace, and staying grounded in a chaotic world. Blending grit, tenderness, and his trademark wit, he delivers a starkly personal reminder of our shared humanity.
Tennessee Lightning by Ashley Monroe (8 Aug)
Ashley Monroe marks a triumphant return to music after her cancer battle, delivering an expansive 17-track journey that spans country, pop, and touches of soul. Rich with heartfelt storytelling, it celebrates Monroe’s renewed creative spirit and the full breadth of her talent and vision.
Texas Headhunters by Texas Headhunters (22 Aug)
The Texas Headhunters’ debut brings together three Texas guitar-slingers—Jesse Dayton, Ian Moore, and Johnny Moeller—who combine their strengths into a cohesive, hard-driving sound. It bristles with the burning intensity you’d expect, delivering fierce, no-frills playing that captures the spirit of roadhouse blues and southern rock.
Billionaire by Kathleen Edwards (22 Aug)
Kathleen Edwards proves once again why she’s a songwriter’s songwriter, delivering thoughtful, piercing songs with unflinching honesty. Her voice is as penetrating as her lyrics, creating an album of sharp observation and raw emotional clarity.
Sweet Misery by Will Hoge (22 Aug)
After the quiet acoustic turn of his last album, Will Hoge’s Sweet Misery eases back into a relaxed, electric rock and roll sound. It recalls the vibe of his early work, delivering classic, unpretentious songs with a raw, unfussy rock edge.
Fade Away Blue by Pete Droge (22 Aug)
Pete Droge returns with a moving personal album exploring his own family history, from his journey to find his birth mother—leading to connections with long-lost relatives—to reflections on the adoptive parents who shaped his life. The songs are delivered with Droge’s signature warmth and introspection, full of quiet reflection and heartfelt emotion.
Hard Headed Woman by Margo Price (29 Aug)
Margo Price’s latest albums finds her as fearless as ever, a point she makes right from the start with the uncompromising first single, “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down.” Recorded in Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, it bridges country music’s storied past with a fiercely authentic present.
Clams Casino by Brian Dunne (5 Sept)
Brian Dunne’s forthcoming album pairs sharply observed, self-aware lyrics with uplifting, hard-hitting indie rock inspired by classic ’70s sounds. Self-produced in his Brooklyn home, it’s a vivid, unflinching look at savoring small luxuries and confronting hard truths in a world where the deck feels permanently stacked.
In the Hour of Dust by Grant-Lee Phillips (5 Sept)
Grant-Lee Phillips’ new album is an introspective, deeply sensitive exploration that moves gracefully between personal reflection and societal observation, all shaped by his cinematic musical soundscapes. Always attuned to the world’s turbulence, he searches not for easy answers but for meaningful direction in complicated times.
Now Then by Robbie Fulks (9 Sept)
Robbie Fulks’ new album finds the consummate storyteller in top form, blending whip-smart songwriting with immaculate performances that draw on bluegrass, old-school standards, and a touch of rock and roll. These songs offer a reflective, intimate portrait filled with memories, anxieties, and wry humor. Says Fulks about the album, “Listening back to it now, I’d say it reveals my present psychological profile to be 70% pensive, 20% droll, and 10% angry.”
I Believe in You, My Honeydew by Josh Ritter (12 Sept)
Josh Ritter’s forthcoming album confirms his place as one of his generation’s best songwriters, pairing sharp critiques of the world’s failures with an infectious, unbridled joy. When he sings “I hear a higher calling”, as he does on “Wild Ways,” it resonates with unshakable conviction.
inside man by Kirby Baby (12 Sept)
Kirby Brown reinvents himself on his new album, moving from rootsy Americana to a pensive and potent blend of indie folk rock. Alternating between quiet introspection and edgy intensity, he channels his own anxiety into songs like “in love with you for the last time”, “hell when you come around”, and “panic song.”
Til the Glitter End by KP Hawthorn (12 Sept)
KP Hawthorn’s new solo album is a compelling showcase anchored by her distinctive voice, both vocal and lyrical. Revisiting favorites from her previous work with The HawtThorns and CALICO the band alongside new material, she delivers a collection of songs rich with personality and impact.
Osborne by Trapper Schoepp (19 Sept)
Trapper Schoepp continues his musical journey with the same irresistibly catchy songwriting that is his calling card, this time exploring more serious themes of addiction, recovery, and their wider social impact. Drawing on his own experience, he delivers hook-filled rock with unflinching, life-affirming storytelling.
Wildflower by Malin Pettersen (19 Sept)
Malin Pettersen has spent the past few years on an expansive musical journey, including a stripped-down acoustic album and a sleek pop release. She channels that experience back into the Americana realm with her latest album, anchored, as always, by her infectious melodies and unmistakably effervescent voice.
Hard Road by Christone Kingfish Ingram (26 Sept)
Is it too soon to call the 26-year-old Kingfish Ingram vintage? He’s been delivering classic blues chops since he was barely a teenager and hasn’t lost stride since. Get ready for another album packed with his signature powerhouse style, fueled by searing vocals and scorching guitar.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.