American troubadour Tom Russell, once described by Rolling Stone as “The greatest living folk-country songwriter” has announced a new album ‘October in the Railroad Earth’ confusingly not out in October but on March 15th via Proper Records. The new studio album comprises ten original songs, including the title track from the Irish film Small Engine Repair and features Bill Kirchen on lead electric guitar, Eliza Gilkyson on backing vocals and the Grammy Award-winning Texmaniacs. Russell describes the songs and sound as: “Jack Kerouac meets Johnny Cash…in Bakersfield”.
Singer-songwriter, painter, essayist – Tom Russell is annoyingly talented and has recorded 35 (!) records, as well as publishing six books – including a book on his art, a book of his songs, and a book of essays on the West. His songs have been recorded by some little-known names you might have heard of including Johnny Cash, Doug Sahm, Nanci Griffith, k.d. Lang, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave Alvin, Iris Dement, Dave Van Ronk, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Tom Paxton, Ian Tyson, Iris Dement, Joe Ely, and about a million others. In 2017 Russell released two records: ‘Folk Hotel’ with twelve new original songs, and the Ian and Sylvia tribute: ‘Play One More.’
Tom kicks off his world tour in support of ‘October in the Railroad Earth’ with UK dates in 2019 as follows:
Wed, 27 March – Cardiff, Norwegian Church Arts Centre
Thur, 28 March – Bristol, Thekla
Fri, 29 March – London, The 100 Club
Sat, 30 March – Farncombe, Farncombe Music Club
Tues, 2 April – Brighton, Komedia
Wed, 3 April – Nottingham, The Glee Club
Thur, 4 April – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Fri, 5 April – Sheffield, The Hubs
Sat, 6 April – Bury, The Met
