Willie Watson’s debut album Folk Singer Vol. 1 is available now for purchase through iTunes, Amazon, and Willie’s own website. The album is out now on Acony Records and has received acclaim from The Guardian, who called it “haunting folk that evokes the past masters” in their 4-star review.
The album was produced by the legendary David Rawlings, longtime friend and producer of Watson’s previous band, Old Crow Medicine Show. “There’s a lot of weight in the way Willie performs,” says Rawlings. “He’s had some tragedy in his life, which has informed his art. There’s an emotional edge to what he does because of who he is as a human being. Willie is the only one of his generation who can make me forget these songs were ever sung before.” The album features ten songs ranging from folk standards to obscure gems.
According to Watson, making the album “happened naturally… as soon as I was playing solo, I started remembering all these old tunes which led me to dig through my 78’s for more. When we got in the studio, I just played everything a couple times. It reminded me of making OCMS, where a lot of times we’d just play songs and let Dave sort it out.”
Willie is currently touring the US this spring and summer in support of the album’s release, including shows with Dave Rawlings Machine (Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Willie Watson, John Paul Jones, and Paul Kowert of Punch Brothers). The tour continues this week with three dates in Nashville. For the full itinerary, please see below.
Willie Watson On Tour
5/6 Nashville, TN @ Grimey’s In-Store – Record Release
5/7 Nashville, TN @ Music City Roots @ Loveless Café
5/8 Nashville, TN @ Station Inn *
5/9 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar *
5/10 Columbus, OH @ Woodlands *
5/11 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark *
5/13 Evanston, IL @ SPACE *
5/15 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café *
5/16 Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern *
5/17 Washington DC @ Gypsy Sally *
5/18 Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head on Stage **
5/21 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge *
5/22 Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live *
5/23 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall *
5/24 Ithaca, NY@ The Dock *
5/28 Los Angeles, CA @ The Bootleg Theater
5/30 Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage
6/15 Palisade, CO @ Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival
6/18 Boulder, CO @ DRM @ Boulder Theatre +
6/20 Telluride, CO @ DRM @ Telluride Bluegrass Festival +
6/24 Kansas City, MO @ DRM @ Uptown Theater +
6/25 St. Louis, MO @ DRM @ The Sheldon +
6/26 Louisville, KY @ DRM @ Brown Theater +
6/27 Nashville, TN @ DRM @ Ryman Auditorium +
7/11 Somerset, KY @ Master Musicians Festival
7/12 Sugar Grove, NC @ MusicFest ‘n Sugar Grove
7/13 Mount Solon, VA @ Red Wing Roots Music Festival
7/15 Ashland, VA @ Ashland Coffee & Tea
7/16 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle – Back Room
7/17 Abingdon, VA @ Abingdon Music Experience
7/18 Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
7/20 Princeton, WV @ Mountain Stage @ Chuck Mathena Center
7/25 Cornish, ME @ Ossippee Valley Bluegrass Festival
7/26-7/27 Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival
8/1-8/3 Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon
8/28- 8/30 Fayetteville, AR @ Fayetteville Roots Festival
8/31 Steelville, MO @ Steelfest
9/19 Bristol, TN @ Bristol Rhythm and Roots
9/21 Blairsden, CA @ Lost Sierra Hoedown
*Mandolin Orange supports
** With Chatham County Line and Mandolin Orange (May 18)
+ DRM/Dave Rawlings Machine = Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Willie Watson, John Paul Jones & Paul Kowert of Punch Brothers (June 18-27)
