2024 is only a few days old and already there is a plethora of new releases scheduled for your imminent listening pleasure. What’s also fun to do at this time of year is speculate and dream about potential new projects from our old favourites that we might be lucky enough to hear if the stars align.
Firstly here are the upcoming scheduled album releases which I’m most looking forward to:
1. Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Past is Still Alive (February 23rd).
On the album cover Alynda wears a cowboy hat and looks like they mean business. Lead track ‘Albi’ suggests they have left the more futuristic, pounding progression of ‘Life on Earth’ for something softer, more rootsy. It will be very interesting to hear how the album plays out overall but considering the last three records are some of my all-time favourite music I have confidence ‘The Past is Still Alive’ will deliver.
2. Madi Diaz – Weird Faith (February 9th)
Fresh from playing in Harry Styles’s touring band, Madi Diaz looks set to transcend to new heights with the release of her album ‘Weird Faith’. The songs already released from this record sound fantastic, especially a special collaboration with Kacey Musgraves called ‘Don’t Do Me Good’ (wouldn’t it be nice if Kacey had a new release lined up for us too?).
3. Brittany Howard – What Now? (Feb 9th)
One of my favourite live shows of the last few years was seeing Brittany Howard back in early 2020 and well you know what happened then. After the pandemic and a divorce Brittany looks and sounds like she’s entering an era of weird experimentation and freedom on this album ‘What Now?’. Some may long for a return to her Alabama Shakes roots, but I’m more interested in hearing what happens when she lets the freak flag fly.
4. Lizzie No – Halfsies (January 19th)
When I started this blog years ago one of my favourite random musical discoveries was Lizzie No, a brilliant talent whose new record ‘Halfsies’ is due imminently via Thirty Tigers. The album features guests including Allison Russell, Brian Dunne and strings from Attaca Quartet. With the beautiful song ‘The Heartbreak Store’ currently on repeat in my house, this album looks set to be one of the best of the year already.
In Americana we can also look forward to a new one from Sarah Jarosz (Jan 26th) who always delivers elegance and quality musicianship. Ashley Monroe has released a stand-alone single at the end of last year, suggesting that a full album announcement is imminent from her. Plus she’s been writing with her Pistol Annies girls so we can hope and pray for new music from them too. Miranda Lambert is of course on a new record label now so I imagine new music may be on the way as well, which would be very exciting news.
Other confirmed album releases include a mainstream debut for Brittany Spencer (Jan 19th), who has so impressed singing with the Highwomen and playing on the spotlight stage at C2C. Other mainstream country to look out for is an album by Carly Pearce who has released three great singles so far including ‘Country Music Made Me Do It’ – no word on the album release date itself yet but it’s already shaping up nicely.
In the more alternative/indie sphere I’m looking forward to hearing the new Sleater Kinney record (Jan 19th), which looks to be a return to form. I’m also intrigued by the return of Gossip (Mar 22nd), who’ve worked with Rick Rubin on a new album with the lead single ‘Crazy Again’ sounding very promising. Other new ones confirmed include Torres (Jan 26th), Marika Hackman (Jan 12th), Katy Kirby (Jan 26th) and the hotly tipped Brit Award winners The Last Dinner Party (Feb 2nd). Big Thief’s Adrienne Lenker has released a gorgeous single ‘Ruined’ from a yet unannounced new solo release.
But really what’s most interesting about the upcoming year is not knowing what new album will be the soundtrack to your year – such is the joy of being a music fan.
Let me know in the comments what new releases you’re looking forward to hearing!
Highway Queens 
Amy Speace and Jill Jackson hope to release albums this year, and Rachel Croft may. Personally, the new ones from Ferris and Sylvester and The Hanging Stars are eagerly anticipated if outside the remit! And isn’t a new Brandi Carlile album due? – I know she’s been collaborating with almost everyone of note and helping resurrect giants – Tanya, Joni etc. – so incredibly busy but a new album would be great.
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…the tidal wave of new albums continues also in 2024. the unbelievable taylor swift just announced her new album “the tortured poets deparment” to drop on april, 19. the superstar in hiding will also come to fore again with a new album: kacey musgraves will drop ”deeper well” on march 15. what a great hand she lent madie diaz on “don’t do me good” from her new album.
quite worth taking a look back: ashley cooke’s “shot in the dark” of last summer. i just saw her opening for jordan davis on his “damn good time” world tour. in zurich/switzerland the other day. excellent and quite promising young lady - good voice and stage presence and damn good songs from your typical american girl/young woman of her age (25) from next door. her “it’s been a year” tells the whole story a her breakthrough so far and her single “your place” – serious earworm – is climbing up the airplay charts nicely in the usa. sarah jarosz’ new “polaroid lovers” is a gem. brittney spencer’s “my stupid life” is as satisfying as a horse when you could eat one.
a “highway queen” with no album yet, but a seriously good education from berklee college of music, boston, (like molly tuttle or sierra hull) is catie offerman from texas. mighty fine singer with perfekt mainstream earworms – “sound of missing you” for example. she should get a shot at making an album sooner or later and will probably not be missing. after all, she’s from texas.
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