NEWS

Check out this animated short for “Sometimes You’ve Got to Stop Chasing Rainbows” from ‘Day of the Doug’ out now!

Video by Collection Agency Films. Artwork by Jose Luis Gonzalez. Animated by Cameron Petri and Dano Johnson. Produced by Troy Campbell.

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Son Volt is on the road playing Trace from top to bottom, along with songs from Day of the Doug, and other favorites from over the years. Jay’s daughter, Ava, created this cool video. Check it out – hope to see you on the road!

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A tribute to Doug Sahm, Day of the Doug features 12 songs that span Sahm’s career as a solo artist as well as his work with Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados. The Intro and Outro tracks are phone messages that Doug left Jay over the years. The album is available in the Son Volt store as well as retail and digital outlets. For this standard release, the vinyl is black.

SON VOLT STORE

OTHER RETAILERS

Make sure to get your tickets for the tour dates! Annapolis, Woodstock, and Sellersville are sold out. Many of the other shows are approaching sell out.

In 2020, Son Volt planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Trace with a tour that played the album from top to bottom. The pandemic had other plans. Flash forward to 2023 and they are on the road with a setlist that features Trace from beginning to end, an homage to Doug Sahm and a celebration of 28 years of Son Volt. Tour dates can be found here. All dates are currently on sale.

TOUR DATES

We have four new t-shirt designs in the webstore – three for Day of the Doug and one for Trace.

Recorded during Son Volt’s 2019 Union tour, these live songs include selections from Son Volt’s Trace, Straightaways, Wide Swing Tremolo, Okemah & the Melody of Riot, The Search, Honky Tonk, Notes of Blue, and Union; covers of tracks from Uncle Tupelo and The Rolling Stones; plus a couple of songs from Jay’s side project, Gob Iron. 26 songs and over an hour and 40 minutes of music availiable on double-CD and high resolution download exclusively at Son Volt’s Store.

VISIT THE SON VOLT STORE

Son Volt has released the first single off of ‘Day of the Doug’ available at your favorite digital retailer. ‘Day of the Doug’ in its entirety will be released June 16th! Pre-Order vinyl, cd or digital direct from the Son Volt Store!

Son Volt’s Day of the Doug will be available exclusively at participating record stores starting April 22, 2023 as part of Record Store Day.

A tribute to Doug Sahm, Day of the Doug features 12 songs that span Sahm’s career as a solo artist as well as his work with Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados. The Intro and Outro tracks are phone messages that Doug left Jay over the years. Pressed on RSD-exclusive Opaque Green Vinyl. Only 1700 copies pressed! Find stores and more information here:

In 2020, Son Volt planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Trace with a tour that played the album from top to bottom. The pandemic had other plans. Flash forward to 2023 and they are on the road with a setlist that features Trace from beginning to end, an homage to Doug Sahm and a celebration of 28 years of Son Volt. Tour dates can be found on Son Volt’s web site.

Recorded during Son Volt’s 2019 Union tour, these live songs include selections from Son Volt’s Trace, Straightaways, Wide Swing Tremolo, Okemah & the Melody of Riot, The Search, Honky Tonk, Notes of Blue, and Union; covers of tracks from Uncle Tupelo and The Rolling Stones; plus a couple of songs from Jay’s side project, Gob Iron. 26 songs and over an hour and 40 minutes of music availiable on double-CD and high resolution download exclusively at Son Volt’s Store.

Son Volt’s Day of the Doug will be available exclusively at participating record stores starting 4/22/23 as part of Record Store Day. Find stores and more information at RecordStoreDay.com.

A tribute to Doug Sahm, Day of the Doug features 12 songs that span Sahm’s career as a solo artist as well as his work with Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados. The Intro and Outro tracks are phone messages that Doug left Jay over the years. Pressed on RSD-exclusive Opaque Green Vinyl.

Son Volt has released 2 From the Vaults CDs via the Son Volt store. Volume One features demo recordings of 12 songs including “Cherokee St”, “Hearts and Minds,” and “Medication”. Volume Two features cover songs including “Tomorrow Never Knows” (The Beatles), “White Freightliner Blues” (Townes Van Zandt), and “Child of the Moon” (The Rolling Stones). The Cds are exclusively available here and at shows!

This week’s Talkhouse episode features a pair of legends from the alt-country or country or No Depression or Americana worlds—you pick. It’s Jay Farrar of Son Volt along with singer-songwriter (and many other things) Steve Earle.

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SThe Bluegrass Station has premiered the new single and lyric video for the third single off ‘Electro Melodier’.

“The song didn’t start out as an intentional homage thing, but in retrospect I see it as a nod to Springsteen’s ‘Born in the USA’ or Neil Young’s ‘Rockin in the Free World.’ Those songs established a thematic tradition. I’m just updating and asking similar questions. How can so much wrong happen in this country that’s held up as an example of what’s righteous? Is America the healthiest or happiest country? Democratic Darwinism is the brutal American reality……” — Jay Farrar

WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO

Son Volt’s tenth album, Electro Melodier, will be available on July 30. The first single “Reverie” is available today. The title, taken from the names of two vintage amplifiers from the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, also describes the album’s unique blend of folk, country, blues, soul and rock – an electric troubadour with melodies that hit and stick. Social protest songs like “Livin’ in the U.S.A.” and “The Globe,” the former about the promises of this nation gone wrong, the latter referencing the street protests accompanying the Black Lives Matter movement, exist side by side with odes to long-term relationships (specifically his 25-year marriage) in “Diamonds and Cigarettes” and “Lucky Ones.”

Once again accompanied by the current Son Volt line up – keyboardist/steel guitarist Mark Spencer, bassist Andrew Duplantis, guitarist Chris Frame and drummer Mark Patterson – Farrar takes a slight turn from 2019’s politically pointed Union to a series of songs that asks questions rather than demanding answers – think of “Livin’ in the U.S.A.” as Farrar’s version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” or Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power,” an anthem to unite the populace.

PRE-ORDER

The band will begin to start playing dates in August 2021. There will be some dates throughout the rest of 2021 and continue through 2022. Please check the tour page for more info.

TOUR DATES

You can pre-order Electro Melodier through the Son Volt store. We are also offering a version of the album on transparent red vinyl (only 800 pressed), as well as new t-shirts and a hat. More new merchandise to come!

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To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Son Volt’s Trace, we are releasing a keepsake fine press book that includes lyrics and notes from Jay on the songs as well as a personal foreword by Jason Isbell and multiple original artworks by Phil Blank. Designed by Horse & Buggy Press (coincidentally moving into their 25th year anniversary as well), the 32-page 7×11 inch book is printed in full color on heavyweight, uncoated text paper. This limited edition of 1,500 copies features covers printed on a hand-fed, hand-cranked letterpress as well as a hand-sewn binding to create a rich, tactile artifact as intimate and imbued with emotion as the songs themselves. A printed bookmark completes the package. The books are available via the Son Volt store.

While we are trying our best to get these delivered by the holidays, please do not count on that. Books signed by Jay are $50. Unsigned books are $40. Specifications:

• Lyrics and notes by Jay Farrar
• Foreward by Jason Isbell
• 7 x 10 inches
• Full color 32 pages on heavyweight uncoated paper
• Limited to 1500 copies
• Hand-cranked letterpress with hand-sown binding
• Designed by Horse & Buggy Press
• Trace bookmark included
• Limited amount signed by Jay Farrar

PURCHASE

On Friday, July 31, 2020, Son Volt released 26Live via the Son Volt store. This release includes 26 live songs for download from the 2020 Union tour.

Also included in the album download will be a NEW SINGLE from Son Volt – “These Are The Times”. The download will be available in several formats.

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Son Volt’s live album, Live at the Orange Peel, was originally pressed on transparent orange vinyl for Record Store day. We pressed an additional 500 copies on black vinyl for our store and tour. Recorded live at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC on September 23, 2005, this double LP features 21 tracks, spanning Jay Farrar’s career with Son Volt and as a solo artist. Songs featured represent Trace, Straightaways, Wide Swing Tremolo, Sebastopol, and Okemah and the Melody of Riot.

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Due to the ongoing health crisis, Son Volt is postponing the dates scheduled for April/May 2020. We do not have specific information about the postponed dates just yet. We will let you know when we do. Everyone stay safe out there.

New video for “The 99” – thanks to The Boot for the premiere. And, thanks to Dave Schwartz of Fast Atmosphere for pulling this together.

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Out now for the first time on vinyl! Gob Iron (British for harmonica) ‘Death Songs for the Living,’ interpretations of classic American folk standards by Jay Farrar and Anders Parker (Varnaline) recorded in 2006. It is available in all formats in the Son Volt Store.

SON VOLT STORE

Son Volt’s latest, Union, is out now! Jay Farrar channels folk music’s enduring legacy of the troubadour on Union. “There are so many forces driving our country apart,” observes Farrar. “What can we do to bring our society back together?” Initially intended to be an entirely political statement, Union morphed into a combination of politically inspired material balanced by a cluster of new songs reflecting the power of love, time and music that sustains us. “While Rome Burns” emphasizes finding unity during times of turmoil while an album highlight, “Devil May Care,” offers the distraction we need, an effusive tribute to the fun of playing and creating music.

SON VOLT'S STORE   MORE STORES

Check out a new video for “Devil May Care,” a track off of Union, “Cruising along with breezy acoustic strumming, the carefree Americana tune soundtracks a montage of road scenes, featuring frontman Jay Farrar and his longstanding alt-country crew moving from gig to gig. The vintage-hued footage unfolds like a scrapbook of tour memories with shots of highway signs, stage time and laughs over backstage beers.” – Rolling Stone County

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We have several new t-shirts, hoodies, hats, stickers, posters and such available in the store. Head on over!

LISTEN HERE

Son Volt’s ‘Union’ will be released on Friday, March 29. Thanks to Garden & Gun Magazine for this premiere where you can stream the album in its entirety.

LISTEN HERE

Tickets are on sale for all Son Volt shows through June. Don’t wait to purchase. Most of these shows are headed toward sellout. This poster, designed by Jeremy Fetzer, will be available at shows as well as the online store.

TOUR DETAILS & TICKETS

Thanks to The Boot for premiering “Reality Winner” from ‘Union’ (out March 29).

As far as Farrar is concerned, Winner is a “merchant of truth” who is serving hard time for being a whistleblower. The story itself is one that has hardly garnered any attention; acknowledging the silence that surrounds Winner’s incarceration, Farrar realizes that this song probably won’t be the most popular — but that won’t keep him from speaking his mind.

“I felt like the idea for this song was to at least bring some awareness to her plight,” Farrar admits.

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Listen to a new track from Son Volt’s forthcoming Union, exclusively at Paste! Of the song Jay Farrar says “Lyrically the song touches on the ambivalence of watching one’s kids set out as adults—knowing the adventures and trials they will go through. Musically it’s all about the 12-string guitar (acoustic and electric) and that inspirational sound of The Byrds and Tom Petty.”

LISTEN HERE

PRE-ORDER VINYL / CD / DIGITAL

Son Volt’s ninth studio album, Union (Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers), will be released worldwide on March 29th.

Jay Farrar channels folk music’s enduring legacy of the troubadour on Union. “There are so many forces driving our country apart,” observes Farrar. “What can we do to bring our society back together?” Initially intended to be an entirely political statement, Union morphed into a combination of politically inspired material balanced by a cluster of new songs reflecting the power of love, time and music that sustains us. “While Rome Burns” emphasizes finding unity during times of turmoil while an album highlight, “Devil May Care,” offers the distraction we need, an effusive tribute to the fun of playing and creating music.

A unique aspect of Union is that eight of the thirteen songs were recorded at places associated with two figures in American history whom Farrar considers important – labor and community organizer Mary Harris “Mother Jones” and iconic folk hero Woody Guthrie. Three songs were tracked at the Mother Jones Museum in Mount Olive, IL and four others were recorded at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The legacy of Woody Guthrie helped to inform Union’s closing song “The Symbol” which was inspired by Guthrie’s classic “Deportee” (“Plane Wreck at Los Gatos”).

Union features long time band members Mark Spencer (piano, organ, acoustic slide, lap steel, backing vocals) Andrew DuPlantis (bass, backing vocals), returning member Chris Frame (guitar), as well as newest member Mark Patterson on drums and percussion.

Tracklist:

While Rome Burns
The 99
Devil May Care
Broadsides
Reality Winner
Union
The Reason

Lady Liberty
Holding Your Own
Truth To Power Blues
Rebel Girl
Slow Burn
The Symbol

In conjunction with the release of Union, Gob Iron’s Death Songs for the Living will be reissued on March 29. In addition to download and CD, the album will also be released for the first time on vinyl. In time for Record Store Day 2019, Gob Iron will release a 7-inch with two new original songs from Jay Farrar and Anders Parker.

Listen to a new track from Son Volt’s forthcoming Union, exclusively on Billboard! “I was raised around folk music and political commentary,” Farrar notes. “I’ve listened to Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan enough over the years, so it just felt like second nature. I felt it was my job, in a way.I’m a musician, what can I do to potentially help or change somebody’s thinking? What I can do is write, so I did.” New album out March 29 via Thirty Tigers.

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Originally released in 2005 (and never before on vinyl) during the Bush Administration, many of the songs speak to the political agitations of the time while also looking to the past with references to 1940's political folkie Woody Guthrie. The album's title is a nod to Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, OK.

PURCHASE:   DIGITAL   CD   VINYL

Mark Demming of AllMusic says 'Okemah and the Melody of Riot' is a compelling, strongly focused work that stands as Farrar's best music since Son Volt's debut album, 1994's 'Trace'. While Farrar's songwriting is still in his usual enigmatic mode on 'Okemah', there is a noticeably stronger lyrical focus here, especially on the (apparently) anti-Bush screeds "Jet Pilot" and "Ipecac" and the rabble-rousing opening cut, "Bandages & Scars"; Farrar obviously has something to say about the state of post-millennial America, and if the letter of the message is vague, the passion of his delivery speaks volumes."

'Okemah And The Melody Of Riot' is re-released August 31, 2018 in deluxe format with bonus content incuding unreleased studio recordings and live versions of album tracks available digitally, in double-cd, and limited double lp pressed on opaque red vinyl (only 2000 copies pressed)!

Son Volt’s “The Search” which has been out-of-print has been reissued on Deluxe, CD, digital and vinyl! This deluxe reissue mirrors the vinyl-only release of “On Chant and Strum” and features all 22 tracks on all formats. The double-LP is pressed on limited opaque sea foam green vinyl.

Also available is the Record Store Day release, the Ballymena EP on 10-inch vinyl and unludes unreleased tracks from ‘Notes of Blue’ and an alternate take from ‘American Central Dust’. Only 1500 pressed!

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Check out this in depth article with Jay from Relix Magazine which details track by track. Notes of Blue is out Friday, February 17!

“I’ve always wanted to do a recording that focused more on the blues. I’ve done a few blues-inspired songs over the years, but this recording was a chance to expand on it and, in particular, I wanted to explore the tunings and guitar voicings of Skip James and Mississippi Fred McDowell,” Jay Farrar explains, when detailing the origins of Son Volt’s new record, Notes of Blue.… READ MORE

Jay talks Uncle Tupelo, history, and blues guitar greats with No Depression.

“Jay Farrar is what you might call the archetypal journeyman. At age 50, he remains an architect of modern Americana as he continues to fuse the disparate genres of rock, roots, folk, blues and country into his musical amalgam.”

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For your listening pleasure – please share far and wide. Thanks, NPR Music, for streaming Notes of Blue.

Stream the yet-to-be released album in it’s entirety:

http://www.npr.org/…/51…/first-listen-son-volt-notes-of-blue

Pre-order Notes of Blue in Son Volt’s online store.…