MARK ERELLI RELEASES NEW LP LAY YOUR DARKNESS DOWN VIA SOUNDLY MUSIC

NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

"...an excellent offering by any measure, informed as always by the intelligence, instincts, and emotions that have served him so well in the past. For those familiar with his previous offerings, that won’t come as any surprise. But for those that have yet to acquaint themselves with his work, it’s an excellent place to begin." - American Songwriter 

“Losing his vision has opened Mark Erelli’s eyes” - The Boston Globe 

"With his warm, Tom Petty-inflected voice and honest songwriting, Erelli navigates this tricky new terrain with graceful contemplation and resilience." - No Depression

"...an introspective collection of narrative poems. It’s clear that Erelli put his heart into this album…While it may have been emotionally purgative for him, it could easily be an emotional balm for the listener to hear the messages contained in these songs." - Americana Highways

“…one of the best showcases of Erelli’s impressive range as a singer.” - Glide Magazine

"...a musical exploration about finding hope and optimism in the midst of despair." - Twangville

"Epic" - Americana-UK

“Equal parts rootsy Americana and old-school rock, it’s a record loaded with raw emotion and steadfast truthfulness." - Lonesome Highway

"Bristling with energy and authenticity…brimming with good will and good intentions despite dealing with some [of] the bleakest news he could possibly receive. His ability to transform those moments into something positive goes to the heart of an artist who knows that challenges create opportunities." - For Folk’s Sake

"Stirring" - Ghettoblaster Magazine

“With his soulful voice and provocative lyrics, Erelli balances the grittiness of rock music with the tenderness of folk and Americana.”  - Music Mecca

“…Erelli uses his considerable talent to create a tightly integrated project that could be considered a musical suite…exploring different aspects of his acceptance and healing processes.” - Wild Mercury Rhythm

LISTEN: LAY YOUR DARKNESS DOWN

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Mark Erelli has released his new album, Lay Your Darkness Down, today via Soundly Music. Erelli created the powerful LP in the wake of being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (“RP”) – a devastating, degenerative eye disease that leads to blindness.

Unmoored, he was compelled to make music, but going to a lowly-lit recording studio was not a safe option anymore. “Erelli has been at it for more than 25 years, but Lay Your Darkness Down represents a significant shift in how he makes a record,” said No Depression in a recent interview. “When he realized RP would undoubtedly affect the usual recording process – putting him in an unfamiliar space with lots of knobs and expensive gear – he reevaluated.” Instead, he began to experiment with a recording style inspired by ELO’s Jeff Lynne, who produced artists like Paul McCartney, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, mapping each instrument’s part and then recording them individually.

Eventually, he began to focus more on the emotional impact of what the songs were trying to tell him: Use adversity to fuel hope and creativity. Hold on to a child-like sense of wonder. Focus on the present moment before it flies by unwitnessed. Acknowledge and move past the fear of the toll RP might take on his roles as a husband and father.

Anxious and agitated when thinking of his impending loss of independence, Erelli recalled a conversation with Joe Henry, the famously philosophical singer-songwriter/record producer who told him that an artist’s job is not to avoid but rather to delve into the darkness - and, with this album, that is what he has done. Now, he's on a mission to increase awareness about  RP and blindness, and to relay how important music is in processing and healing trauma.

The tracks, though decorated with references to shadows, light, and obscured vision, are about resilience, love, and the human condition - a message of hope. “In an era where pessimism seems to prevail, it’s a reminder that optimism is still worth preserving and ought not be forsaken even if it sometimes seems as if there’s no reason left to persevere,” commented American Songwriter. “With Lay Your Darkness Down, Erelli shines a light on precepts and possibilities well worth considering. In so doing, he’s made an album that shores up the strength that’s needed to be sustained.”

WATCH: “YOU”

WATCH: “YOU’RE GONNA WANNA REMEMBER THIS 

Lay Your Darkness Down is a reconciliation of life’s trials and human frailties, adversity transformed into finely-embroidered rock n’ roll, burning with urgency. “These aren’t songs about blindness. They’re songs I could only write once I realized what I was losing,” Erelli explained to The Boston Globe. “My impending blindness opened my eyes, and I was able to write from that new viewpoint.”

The album is more than a collection of affirmations and optimism in the face of despair; it is a clarion call for anyone lost in the shadows. Yet Erelli doesn’t proclaim any easy answers for how to navigate the unknown. Instead, he squarely examines question after question, reveling in mysteries both great and small. He reminds us in the title track that our deepest challenges are more than a simple test of our endurance—they ultimately help us chart our course.

“In some strange way, my disease has provided me with the chance to truly live what I sing. Sharing my diagnosis is my way of laying down my own darkness,” he says. “By making my private struggles public, maybe it helps others to see that we all have a choice. We can be overwhelmed by the shadows, or use them to show where the light is coming from. As for me, no matter what happens, I’ll forever be looking for the light.”

Lay Your Darkness Down is available to stream and download  HERE, and CDs and vinyl are available to purchase HERE. Erelli will celebrate the release with a series of tour dates, see below for a full list of shows. Be sure to follow Mark Erelli at the links below for all the latest news and updates.

TOUR DATES

3/2 - Flying Goose Brew Pub - New London, NH

3/3 - The Music Hall Lounge - Portsmouth, NH

3/4 - Burnham Hall - Lincoln, VT

3/5 - Caffè Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY

3/8 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI

3/9 - The Bur Oak -Madison, WI

3/10 - CSPS Hall - Cedar Rapids, IA

3/11 - Stone Arch Brewpub - Appleton, WI

3/23 - Jamestown Arts Center - Jamestown, RI*

3/24 - Crystal Ballroom - Somerville, MA*

3/25 - The Parlor Room - Northampton, MA*

3/31 - Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2) - NY, NY*

4/1 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA*

4/2 - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA^

* with support from Jobi Riccio

^ co-bill with Elizabeth & the Catapult

CONNECT WITH MARK ERELLI:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

TWO BIRD STONE RELEASES DEBUT LP HANDS & KNEES VIA WONDERMORE RECORDS/SOUNDLY MUSIC

TWO BIRD STONE RELEASES DEBUT LP 

HANDS & KNEES  

VIA WONDERMORE RECORDS/SOUNDLY MUSIC 

LISTEN:  HANDS & KNEES 

As torchbearers of classic Americana, Two Bird Stone filled their debut album with rootsy instrumentals and timeless melodies - Newsweek 

Hands & Knees captures the nature of change...the result of two decades of  friendship and collaboration - Wide Open Country 

Endearing... both casually off-the-cuff and elegantly sophisticated…something not to be underestimated - American Songwriter 

Will surely get your feet tapping - Folk Radio UK 

 A heady mix of roots rock, bluegrass and traditional Irish melodies - Pretty In Noise 

 Folk richness - Americana-UK 

The magic isn’t only in the music, but in its members…there is a kinship in their creativeness that translates into the songwriting, a fact that is apparent when listening to their latest album - TrunkSpace 

 "Traditional instrumentation, contemplative lyrics, and an honest, folksy sound; all of the elements of classic Americana - Mother Church Pew  

There is no denying that their upcoming studio album will be something special - Chimeo 

A talented bunch who will no doubt find fans…around the world - York Calling 

Excellently blended vocal harmonies, steady banjo picking, and flowing strings...Two Bird Stone‘s debut album is a good beginning for something special - The Indy Review 

 North Carolina/Nashville-based Two Bird Stone is different in that it often sounds like a Celtic band that strayed a bit far from home. Perhaps that’s the meaning of the band’s moniker–as in killing two birds (bluegrass and Celtic) with a single projectile...Two Bird Stone isn't the first band to use this formula, but they do it very well - Off-Center Views 

Today, Two Bird Stone released their debut album, Hands & Knees, via Wondermore Records/Soundly Music. Each song on the endearing album showcases the band’s reverence for the traditional as they forge their own style of timeless Americana -  each song heart-wrenching and heartwarming at once. The band was founded by string master Liam Thomas Bailey and features some of Nashville’s and New York’s finest musicians. Hands & Knees was co-produced by Bailey and friend and frequent collaborator Dan Rowe, who also contributed keys and vocals to the album. “This record was all about development,” Bailey told Wide Open Country for the album’s premiere. “I provided the song material and the band piled on as they came into the project. We’ve all played for many other artists professionally. Collaborations are second nature for us, but the secret sauce is the fact that we’ve known and loved each other for over 20 years. I hope folks find our music reassuring. We sing songs about love, hope, the nature of change, and the beauty of the experience change will provide.” 

Their music, fueled by Bailey’s contemporary Americana songwriting and the group’s deep appreciation for the traditional fiddle music of Ireland, Scandinavia, and North America, pays tribute to the many swirling cultures that make up the American identity. Two Bird Stone also carefully incorporates traditional melodies and musical tendencies of cultures abroad to reflect the dimensions of this land’s powerful diversity. In lieu of the preservation of traditional material in any strict sense, however, Two Bird Stone likes to function as a lens through which an audience gets a fresh look at the culture of traditional tune sharing and the instruments upon which we would generally hear them played. 

 WATCH: “THE 99 ft. Sarah Siskind & Kenny Vaughan”  

WATCH: “WHEN SOMEBODY CAN SEE YOUR SOUL”  

WATCH: “IF YOU WANNA COME BACK” 

WATCH: “HANDS & KNEES ft. Sarah Siskind” 

WATCH: “SHOEBOX MONEY”  

Before spinning off to form Two Bird Stone, Bailey was a highly sought-after Nashville studio and road musician; he also worked in commercial post-production with bandmate, Chad Kelly (accordion), a two-time Emmy Award nominee who has composed original music for numerous award-winning and critically acclaimed films and documentaries. Bailey and bandmate Judd Fuller (bass, mandolin, background vocals) traveled the world together for 11 years as members of Nashville country star Rodney Atkins’ touring band. Fuller has also toured and performed with Peter Wolf from The J. Geils Band, Bo Diddley, Carly Simon, and more. New York-based percussionist, composer, and educator Rohin Khemani rounded out the lineup. Known as an extremely versatile and eclectic musician, his sound can be heard on a wide variety of projects weaving through the worlds of jazz, world music, rock, folk, and electronica. Khemani was a founding member of Red Baraat and co-leads the band Surface To Air with guitarist Jonathan Goldberger and bassist Jonti Siman. He has performed for audiences at some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Monterey Jazz Festival, and more. 

HANDS & KNEES TRACK LIST 

HANDS AND KNEES 

SHOEBOX MONEY 

ME AND MY FRIENDS 

WAKE ME UP 

WHEN SOMEBODY CAN SEE YOUR SOUL 

IF YOU WANNA COME BACK 

THE 99 

I ALREADY KNOW WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND 

NEEDLE AND THREAD 

DRIVE IT ’TIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF 

CONNECT WITH TWO BIRD STONE: 

Website || Facebook || Instagram || Spotify || YouTube 

MARK ERELLI PREMIERES “THE RIVER ALWAYS WINS” VIDEO

MARK ERELLI PREMIERES  “THE RIVER ALWAYS WINS”

VIDEO  VIA FOLK ALLEY

NEW LP BLINDSIDED  OUT NOW VIA SOUNDLY MUSIC 

 “...soars on the wings of jangly guitars, heartfelt vocals and soulful harmony lines...Yep, that's the sweet spot right there. And there's enough of it to make this album matter." - The Associated Press

“Erelli’s not going to blindside you. He’s going to give it to you straight.” - The Boston Globe

"...finds him trimming back the guest list and nodding to another icon, heartland hero Tom Petty, whose influence looms large over the song’s 12-string guitar jangle and straightforward vocal hooks." - Rolling Stone

"Comes out swinging" - The Boot

"...Blindsided may be his best yet" - Medium

“Blindsided is a bit of Americana alchemy, a concoction that can only be served up by someone who knows the rules inside and out — enough to break them when needed.” - No Depression

"For Erelli, music is a way to appreciate the world and the people in his life. And perhaps most acutely, the practice of music has taught Erelli the beauty of sublimation and reinforced the joy of helping others achieve their dreams, which, in turn, helps Erelli also achieve his." - American Songwriter 

"...a really wonderful record. Go for a walk… listen, become happy." - Maine Public Radio

"...echoes Tom Petty and John Prine" - PopMatters

"...a serious, talented artist, but he also understands his role as a storyteller and entertainer...Erelli pulls from lots of places and makes things his own." - Glide Magazine

"Blindsided is ballad heavy with a rocker cut here, a mid-tempo groove there, it is a nod to Mark Erelli’s diversity that the album showcases an ability to cross genre lines." - The Alternate Root

"You know those artists who release a great first record and then have enormous trouble following it up with anything as interesting? Yeah, that’s not Mark Erelli. Mark has consistently expanded his sound while also not chasing whatever wave seems to be cresting at any given moment. The result is a catalogue of depth and heart." - Red Line Roots

"Erelli's always been a brilliant songsmith, but here he finds a dynamic that melds the cerebral with the celebratory." - Country Standard Time

"Erelli has a way with words that really hits in the world we live in now…this album is very well done, and Erelli shows that as a songwriter, he is worthy of emulation.” - Americana Highways

"Mark Erelli has taken a new direction, delving deeper into his rockier side.  A roots-rockier side that has room for a few strings and a pile of melody." - Americana-UK

"...songs and songwriting of a quality rarely encountered. Mark Erelli’s Blindsided. Don’t tell me you didn’t see it coming. Most highly recommended." - Fervor Coulee

__________________________________________________________________________

WATCH: “THE RIVER ALWAYS WINS”

Boston-based singer/songcrafter Mark Erelli has unveiled a new music video for “The River Always Wins,” a track from his highly-acclaimed new album, Blindsided. "I wrote this song with Berklee College of Music professor and singer/songwriter Susan Cattaneo,” Erelli told Folk Alley, who premiered the video. “It started out simply enough, trying to describe the tension between a small town and a river. One needs the other, but the cycles of disaster and rebirth started to make us wonder if the reverse was true. When we decided to write it as if the river itself were the song’s protagonist, things got far more interesting. The central riff of the song is one of the favorite things I’ve ever written. I could play it for days.” Of the video, Folk Alley, who called Blindsided a “career-best,” said, “the song leans into a darkly edgy groove that feels like something Steve Earle would throw down, as Erelli runs through the ramblings of life as viewed from the crystal clear perspective of the river, itself.”

LISTEN: BLINDSIDED

The album, an unflinching examination of the distance between innocence and experience from “the middle” of life’s fantastic journey, is a step in a different sonic direction for the award-winning artist. “For Blindsided he has amped up with a superb band,” noted The Boston Globe in its premiere of the album. “Blindsided says just as much about who he is as it does about where he’s been. The secrets are embedded in the restraint of the 11-song set, a collection efficient yet varied, emotional yet exact,” said No Depression, who called Erelli “an expert craftsman.”

WATCH: “I CAN’T STAND MYSELF”

WATCH: “BLINDSIDED”

Blindsided was forged in a process of reckoning, of taking stock of the soul, and being pleasantly surprised. In it, Erelli contemplates the delicate tension between love and commitment, faith and family, disillusionment and hope. But this isn’t a confession from the therapist’s couch, it’s rock ’n roll, and Erelli is clearly taking his cues from heroes like Petty and Prine. Against the backdrop of Blindsided’s hungrier, hook-laden sound, with the inspired addition of a string quartet on half of the album, Erelli has never sounded more passionate or vital. Over the course of Blindsided’s 11 tracks, the message of each song is distilled to its purest form, as fearlessly honest in perspective as it is straightforward in its delivery. 

Erelli has forged a colorful career by making the art of “being everywhere all the time” seem effortless. It’s hard to think of another artist who seems equally at home serving as a sideman for GRAMMY-winning artists like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter, or producing albums for Lori McKenna, as he does writing and producing his own material, like last year’s “By Degrees,” on which he was joined by a host of voices including Rosanne Cash and Sheryl Crow. That song was nominated for “Song Of The Year” at the 2019 Americana Music Awards and served to reintroduce Erelli to a wider audience. And just in time, because Blindsided combines the exuberance of Erelli’s signature sound with the wisdom that comes with over 20 years of songwriting, capturing an artist at a point in his career where he is clearly digging deep and swinging for the fences. “In one of my favorite Tom Petty songs, he sings ‘it took a world of trouble, took a world of tears, it took a long time to get back here,’” Erelli says. “I think I know exactly how he felt.”

OUT TODAY: MARK ERELLI’S NEW LP "BLINDSIDED" VIA SOUNDLY MUSIC

“...soars on the wings of jangly guitars, heartfelt vocals and soulful harmony lines...Yep, that's the sweet spot right there. And there's enough of it to make this album matter." - The Associated Press

“Erelli’s not going to blindside you. He’s going to give it to you straight.” - The Boston Globe

"...finds him trimming back the guest list and nodding to another icon, heartland hero Tom Petty, whose influence looms large over the song’s 12-string guitar jangle and straightforward vocal hooks." - Rolling Stone

"Comes out swinging" - The Boot

“Blindsided is a bit of Americana alchemy, a concoction that can only be served up by someone who knows the rules inside and out — enough to break them when needed.” - No Depression

"For Erelli, music is a way to appreciate the world and the people in his life. And perhaps most acutely, the practice of music has taught Erelli the beauty of sublimation and reinforced the joy of helping others achieve their dreams, which, in turn, helps Erelli also achieve his." - American Songwriter 

"...a really wonderful record. Go for a walk… listen, become happy." - Maine Public Radio

"...echoes Tom Petty and John Prine" - PopMatters

"...a serious, talented artist, but he also understands his role as a storyteller and entertainer...Erelli pulls from lots of places and makes things his own." - Glide Magazine

"Blindsided is ballad heavy with a rocker cut here, a mid-tempo groove there, it is a nod to Mark Erelli’s diversity that the album showcases an ability to cross genre lines." - The Alternate Root

"You know those artists who release a great first record and then have enormous trouble following it up with anything as interesting? Yeah, that’s not Mark Erelli. Mark has consistently expanded his sound while also not chasing whatever wave seems to be cresting at any given moment. The result is a catalogue of depth and heart." - Red Line Roots

"Erelli has a way with words that really hits in the world we live in now…this album is very well done, and Erelli shows that as a songwriter, he is worthy of emulation.” - Americana Highways

"Mark Erelli has taken a new direction, delving deeper into his rockier side.  A roots-rockier side that has room for a few strings and a pile of melody." - Americana-UK

"...songs and songwriting of a quality rarely encountered. Mark Erelli’s Blindsided. Don’t tell me you didn’t see it coming. Most highly recommended." - Fervor Coulee

_______________________________________________________________________________

LISTEN: BLINDSIDED

Today, Boston-based singer/songcrafter Mark Erelli released his highly-acclaimed new album, Blindsided - an unflinching examination of the distance between innocence and experience from “the middle” of life’s fantastic journey. It’s also a step in a different sonic direction for the award-winning artist; “Erelli is…a foursquare acoustic songwriter in an age of digital audio workstations. For Blindsided he has amped up with a superb band,” noted The Boston Globe in its premiere of the album. “Blindsided says just as much about who he is as it does about where he’s been. The secrets are embedded in the restraint of the 11-song set, a collection efficient yet varied, emotional yet exact,” said No Depression, who called Erelli “an expert craftsman.”

To create the soundtrack that reflected this reinvigorated approach to songwriting, Erelli consulted his mental list of fellow musicians with whom he had forged connections in recent years, and realized they all lived in Nashville. So he made the trek to Music City, with best friend and multi-instrumentalist/producer Zachariah Hickman (Josh Ritter, Ray LaMontagne) in tow, curious to see what effect a change in geography, personnel, and context would produce. With the help of drummer Jamie Dick (Rhiannon Giddens, Our Native Daughters), guitarist Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter), Kai Welch (Molly Tuttle, Kacey Musgraves) on keys, producer Hickman on bass, and Dan Knobler (Lake Street Dive, Caroline Spence) recording and mixing, the result couldn’t have been more unanticipated.  

WATCH: “I CAN’T STAND MYSELF”

WATCH: “BLINDSIDED”

Blindsided was forged in a process of reckoning, of taking stock of the soul, and being pleasantly surprised. Mining the same gritty yet soulful territory as John Hiatt’s Bring The Family or Bonnie Raitt’s Nick Of Time, Erelli contemplates the delicate tension between love and commitment, faith and family, disillusionment and hope. But this isn’t a confession from the therapist’s couch, it’s rock ’n roll, and Erelli is clearly taking his cues from heroes like Petty and Prine. Against the backdrop of Blindsided’s hungrier, hook-laden sound, with the inspired addition of a string quartet on half of the album, Erelli has never sounded more passionate or vital. Over the course of Blindsided’s 11 tracks, the message of each song is distilled to its purest form, as fearlessly honest in perspective as it is straightforward in its delivery. 

Erelli has forged a colorful career by making the art of “being everywhere all the time” seem effortless. It’s hard to think of another artist who seems equally at home serving as a sideman for GRAMMY-winning artists like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter, or producing albums for Lori McKenna, as he does writing and producing his own material, like last year’s “By Degrees,” on which he was joined by a host of voices including Rosanne Cash and Sheryl Crow. That song was nominated for “Song Of The Year” at the 2019 Americana Music Awards, and served to reintroduce Erelli to a wider audience. And just in time, because Blindsided combines the exuberance of Erelli’s signature sound with the wisdom that comes with over 20 years of songwriting, capturing an artist at a point in his career where he is clearly digging deep and swinging for the fences. “In one of my favorite Tom Petty songs, he sings ‘it took a world of trouble, took a world of tears, it took a long time to get back here,’” Erelli says. “I think I know exactly how he felt.”  

Erelli will live stream an album release show on April 9th at 8:00 pm EDT from The Parlor Room in Northampton, Massachusetts, click HERE for more information. Be sure to follow him via the links below for updates.

CONNECT WITH MARK ERELLI:

Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Spotify || YouTube || Bandcamp

MARK ERELLI CONFRONTS PRIVILEGE IN NEW SINGLE “ROSE-COLORED REARVIEW”

Photo credit: Joe Navas

Boston-based master songcrafter Mark Erelli has released his new single “Rose-Colored Rearview,” a track from his forthcoming LP Blindsided, out March 27th via Soundly Music. “Nostalgia has a way of allowing us to gloss over certain parts of the past…Mark Erelli examines the ‘good old days’ through a different lens,” Wide Open Country said in its premiere of the song. “The song's final verse looks at how privilege plays a role in how you view days gone by.” "I wanted to land a bit of a lyrical gut-punch to finish the song, and just couldn't let go until I felt the last verse's visceral impact,” Erelli told Wide Open Country. “Though we certainly have a ways to go to improve things for all colors and creeds, I am fairly certain that longing for the 'good ol' days' is mainly another form of white privilege. I love how this track feels nostalgic and almost like a classic rock song you might have heard before -- until you pay attention to the lyrics.”

LISTEN: “ROSE-COLORED REARVIEW”

“Rose-Colored Rearview” follows the release of the title track via The Bluegrass Situation last month, and “A Little Kindness” via American Songwriter in January. “For Erelli, music is a way to appreciate the world and the people in his life,” American Songwriter remarked. “And perhaps most acutely, the practice of music has taught Erelli the beauty of sublimation and reinforced the joy of helping others achieve their dreams, which, in turn, helps Erelli also achieve his.” 

LISTEN: “BLINDSIDED”

LISTEN: “A LITTLE KINDNESS”

Blindsided, a step in a different sonic direction for Erelli, is an unflinching examination of the distance between innocence and experience. The album was forged in a process of reckoning, of taking stock of the soul, and being pleasantly surprised. Mining the same gritty yet soulful territory as John Hiatt’s Bring The Family or Bonnie Raitt’s Nick Of Time, Erelli contemplates the delicate tension between love and commitment, faith and family, disillusionment and hope. But this isn’t a confession from the therapist’s couch, it’s rock ’n roll, and Erelli is clearly taking his cues from heroes like Petty and Prine. To create the soundtrack that reflected this reinvigorated approach to songwriting, Erelli consulted his mental list of fellow musicians with whom he had forged connections in recent years, and realized they all lived in Nashville. So, he made the trek to the Music City, with best friend and multi-instrumentalist/producer Zachariah Hickman in tow, curious to see what effect a change in geography, personnel, and context would produce. With the help of drummer Jamie Dick (Rhiannon Giddens, Our Native Daughters), guitarist Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter), Kai Welch (Molly Tuttle, Kacey Musgraves) on keys, producer Hickman on bass, and Dan Knobler (Lake Street Dive, Caroline Spence) recording and mixing, the result couldn’t have been more unanticipated. Against the backdrop of Blindsided’s hungrier, hook-laden sound, with the inspired addition of a string quartet on half of the album, Erelli has never sounded more passionate or vital. Over the course of Blindsided’s 11 tracks, the message of each song is distilled to its purest form, as fearlessly honest in perspective as it is straightforward in its delivery.  

Erelli has forged a colorful career by making the art of “being everywhere all the time” seem effortless. It’s hard to think of another artist who seems equally at home serving as a sideman for GRAMMY-winning artists like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter, or producing albums for Lori McKenna, as he does writing and producing his own material, like last year’s “By Degrees,” on which he was joined by a host of voices including Rosanne Cash and Sheryl Crow. That song was nominated for “Song Of The Year” at the 2019 Americana Music Awards, and served to reintroduce Erelli to a wider audience. And just in time, because Blindsided combines the exuberance of Erelli’s signature sound with the wisdom that comes with over 20 years of songwriting, capturing an artist at a point in his career where he is clearly digging deep and swinging for the fences.  

TOUR DATES

3/6 - The Stone Church - Brattleboro, VT

3/7 - Narrows Center For The Arts -  Fall River, MA

3/20 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI

3/21 - The Kent Stage - Kent, OH

3/25 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

4/5 - G.A.R. Hall - Peninsula, OH

4/16 - The Basement - Nashville, TN

~

4/23 - Ripspique Lier, Lier, Belgium

4/24 - Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands

4/25 - SPOT Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

4/26 - Theater Junushoff, Wageningen, Netherlands

~

4/29 - Rogue Theatre - Grants Pass, OR

4/30 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR

5/1 - Historic Everett Theatre - Everett, WA

5/2 - McMenamins Elks Temple - Tacoma, WA
5/6 - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY

5/7 - Philadelphia Folksong Society - Philadelphia, PA

5/8 - The Parlor Room - Northampton, MA

5/9 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

5/12 - Woodbury Brewing Company - Woodbury, CT

5/13 - One Longfellow Square - Portland, ME

5/14 - Caffe Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY

5/15 - The Word Barn - Exeter, NH

5/17 - Cotuit Center for the Arts - Cotuit, MA 

5/19 - Hangin’ & Sangin @ Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY 

5/21 - The Kessler Theater - Dallas, TX

5/22 - The Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX 

MARK ERELLI UNVEILS NEW SINGLE "BLINDSIDED"

Today, Mark Erelli unveils “Blindsided,” the title track and latest single from his forthcoming LP, out march 27th via Soundly Music. “The word has negative connotations, but I thought it would be interesting to use it in the context of a love song,” the award-winning singer/songwriter told The Bluegrass Situation. “Sure, you can be blindsided by an attack or caught unprepared by stormy weather. But love also has a funny way of finding you when you least expect it, regardless of whether you’re looking for it or not. With its soaring vocal harmonies, majestic strings and the band firing on all cylinders, this track really embodies and hints at all the sonic elements to come on the album.”

LISTEN: “BLINDSIDED”

“Blindsided” follows the release of “A Little Kindness” via American Songwriter, which said: “For Erelli, music is a way to appreciate the world and the people in his life. And perhaps most acutely, the practice of music has taught Erelli the beauty of sublimation and reinforced the joy of helping others achieve their dreams, which, in turn, helps Erelli also achieve his.”  

LISTEN: “A LITTLE KINDNESS”

Erelli has forged a colorful career by making the art of “being everywhere all the time” seem effortless. It’s hard to think of another artist who seems equally at home serving as a sideman for GRAMMY-winning artists like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter, or producing albums for Lori McKenna, as he does writing and producing his own material, like last year’s “By Degrees,” on which he was joined by a host of voices including Rosanne Cash and Sheryl Crow. That song was nominated for “Song Of The Year” at the 2019 Americana Music Awards, and served to reintroduce Erelli to a wider audience. And just in time, because Blindsided combines the exuberance of Erelli’s signature sound with the wisdom that comes with over 20 years of songwriting, capturing an artist at a point in his career where he is clearly digging deep and swinging for the fences. 

Blindsided, a step in a different sonic direction for Erelli, is an unflinching examination of the distance between innocence and experience. The album was forged in a process of reckoning, of taking stock of the soul, and being pleasantly surprised. Mining the same gritty yet soulful territory as John Hiatt’s Bring The Family or Bonnie Raitt’s Nick Of Time, Erelli contemplates the delicate tension between love and commitment, faith and family, disillusionment and hope. But this isn’t a confession from the therapist’s couch, it’s rock ’n roll, and Erelli is clearly taking his cues from heroes like Petty and Prine. To create the soundtrack that reflected this reinvigorated approach to songwriting, Erelli consulted his mental list of fellow musicians with whom he had forged connections in recent years, and realized they all lived in Nashville. So, he made the trek to the Music City, with best friend and multi-instrumentalist/producer Zachariah Hickman in tow, curious to see what effect a change in geography, personnel, and context would produce. With the help of drummer Jamie Dick (Rhiannon Giddens, Our Native Daughters), guitarist Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter), Kai Welch (Molly Tuttle, Kacey Musgraves) on keys, producer Hickman on bass, and Dan Knobler (Lake Street Dive, Caroline Spence) recording and mixing, the result couldn’t have been more unanticipated. Against the backdrop of Blindsided’s hungrier, hook-laden sound, with the inspired addition of a string quartet on half of the album, Erelli has never sounded more passionate or vital. Over the course of Blindsided’s 11 tracks, the message of each song is distilled to its purest form, as fearlessly honest in perspective as it is straightforward in its delivery. 

TOUR DATES

2/28 - Port City Music Hall - Portland, ME

3/5 - Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation - Waltham, MA

3/6 - The Stone Church - Brattleboro, VT

3/7 - Narrows Center For The Arts -  Fall River, MA

3/20 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI

3/21 - The Kent Stage - Kent, OH

3/25 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

4/23 - Ripspique Lier, Lier, Belgium

4/24 - Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands

4/25 - SPOT Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

4/26 - Theater Junushoff, Wageningen, Netherlands

4/29 - Rogue Theatre - Grants Pass, OR

4/30 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR

5/1 - Historic Everett Theatre - Everett, WA

5/2 - McMenamins Elks Temple - Tacoma, WA

5/6 - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY

5/8 - The Parlor Room - Northampton, MA

5/9 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

5/12 - Woodbury Brewing Company - Woodbury, CT

5/13 - One Longfellow Square - Portland, ME

5/14 - Caffe Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY

5/15 - The Word Barn - Exeter, NH

5/17 - Cotuit Center for the Arts - Cotuit, MA 

5/19 - Hangin’ & Sangin @ Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, NY 

5/21 - The Kessler Theater - Dallas, TX

5/22 Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX 

MARK ERELLI ANNOUNCES NEW LP "BLINDSIDED" OUT MARCH 27 & RELEASES NEW SINGLE “A LITTLE KINDNESS”

Award-winning singer/songwriter Mark Erelli has released “A Little Kindness,” a track from his forthcoming LP Blindsided, due out March 27th via Soundly Music. “Boston-based musician Mark Erelli is known for both his songwriting acumen and his ability to bring that talent to co-writing sessions with other recordings artists,” American Songwriter said in its premiere. “For Erelli, music is a way to appreciate the world and the people in his life. And perhaps most acutely, the practice of music has taught Erelli the beauty of sublimation and reinforced the joy of helping others achieve their dreams, which, in turn, helps Erelli also achieve his.” "A Little Kindness" was penned in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting and Tom Petty's passing. “The night Tom Petty died, I was scrolling through social media looking to commiserate with fellow fans,” Erelli explains. “Singer/songwriter Joe Pug suggested that the best way to celebrate Petty’s legacy would be to stop mourning and go write a song. I know good advice when I see it, and wrote this song in one sitting.” 

LISTEN: “A LITTLE KINDNESS”

Erelli has forged a colorful career by making the art of “being everywhere all the time” seem effortless. It’s hard to think of another artist who seems equally at home serving as a sideman for GRAMMY-winning artists like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Josh Ritter, or producing albums for Lori McKenna, as he does writing and producing his own material, like last year’s “By Degrees,” on which he was joined by a host of voices including Rosanne Cash and Sheryl Crow. That song was nominated for “Song Of The Year” at the 2019 Americana Music Awards, and served to reintroduce Erelli to a wider audience. And just in time, because Blindsided combines the exuberance of Erelli’s signature sound with the wisdom that comes with over 20 years of songwriting, capturing an artist at a point in his career where he is clearly digging deep and swinging for the fences. 

Blindsided, a step in a different sonic direction for Erelli, is an unflinching examination of the distance between innocence and experience. The album was forged in a process of reckoning, of taking stock of the soul, and being pleasantly surprised. Mining the same gritty yet soulful territory as John Hiatt’s Bring The Family or Bonnie Raitt’s Nick Of Time, Erelli contemplates the delicate tension between love and commitment, faith and family, disillusionment and hope. But this isn’t a confession from the therapist’s couch, it’s rock ’n roll, and Erelli is clearly taking his cues from heroes like Petty and Prine. To create the soundtrack that reflected this reinvigorated approach to songwriting, Erelli consulted his mental list of fellow musicians with whom he had forged connections in recent years, and realized they all lived in Nashville. So, he made the trek to the Music City, with best friend and multi-instrumentalist/producer Zachariah Hickman in tow, curious to see what effect a change in geography, personnel, and context would produce. With the help of drummer Jamie Dick (Rhiannon Giddens, Our Native Daughters), guitarist Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter), Kai Welch (Molly Tuttle, Kacey Musgraves) on keys, producer Hickman on bass, and Dan Knobler (Lake Street Dive, Caroline Spence) recording and mixing, the result couldn’t have been more unanticipated. Against the backdrop of Blindsided’s hungrier, hook-laden sound, with the inspired addition of a string quartet on half of the album, Erelli has never sounded more passionate or vital. Over the course of Blindsided’s 11 tracks, the message of each song is distilled to its purest form, as fearlessly honest in perspective as it is straightforward in its delivery.

TOUR DATES

1/31/ - Jupiter Hall - Manchester, NH

2/3 & 2/4 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

2/13 - Greenwich Odeum - East Greenwich, RI

2/14 - New York Society For Ethical Culture - New York, New York

2/28 - Port City Music Hall - Portland, ME

3/5 - Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation - Waltham, MA

3/6 - The Stone Church - Brattleboro, VT

3/7 - Narrows Center For The Arts -  Fall River, MA

3/20 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI

3/21 - The Kent Stage - Kent, OH

4/29 - Rogue Theatre - Grants Pass, OR

4/30 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR

5/1 - Historic Everett Theatre - Everett, WA

5/2 - McMenamins Elks Temple - Tacoma, WA

5/6 - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY

5/8 - The Parlor Room - Northampton, MA

5/9 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

5/12 - Woodbury Brewing Company - Woodbury, CT

5/13 - One Longfellow Square - Portland, ME

5/14 - Caffe Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY

5/15 - The Word Barn - Exeter, NH