The wonderful Kassi Valazza returns with an album titled “From Newman Street” on May 2nd via Loose Music. Newman Street refers to the location of a friend’s house in Portland where Kassi found shelter and a safe space while navigating change in 2023. Here, she wrote most of the songs for the new record and planned her move to New Orleans, Louisiana.
The 10-track set is delivered through “a strikingly honest lens as Valazza ponders her willingness to accept change, finding positivity where she can”. The album follows 2023’s “Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing”, which received rave reviews from NPR Music, UNCUT, No Depression, MOJO, Bandcamp Daily, Holler, as well as from your very own Americana-UK. Our review can be found here.
The AUK review of one of her most recent shows in the UK described the evening as “a perfect night” with veteran reviewer Paul Kerr searching for comparisons “Joni Mitchell backed by Pearls Before Swine, an Anne Briggs who grew up in the American southwest?” he posited. The full review is here
‘Weight Of The Wheel’, the first single from the new album, could evoke feelings of heaviness and confusion with life’s constant cycle, showcasing as it does the exquisite songwriting alongside Valazza’s unmistakably tender yet warm voice which conjures up thoughts of the likes of Karen Dalton, Joni Mitchell and Sandy Denny with much of the same wisdom.
There are also tour dates to support the album in June and July with one UK date so far. Watch this space!
Kassi Valazza 2025 Dates:
June 25 LONDON, St Pancras Old Church
June 28 TILBERG, NL, 013 Poppodium
June 29 OSTEND, BE, De Zwerver
June 30 GRONINGEN, NL, Der Aa Theatre
July 02 ROSKILD, DK, Roskilde Festival
Here’s that single ‘Weight of the Wheel’.
Wistful, beguiling and so enchanting. Great track.