Call it Reckless Kelly’s Last Hurrah. From its roots as a barnstorming Idaho outfit to its modern-day status as a torchbearer for independent Americana music from coast to coast, Reckless has tied Austin rock and cowboy poetry together seamlessly for more than 25 years. Now, the band is slowly winding down its touring days. Co-founders and brothers Willy and Cody Braun told Rolling Stone in late 2022 that Reckless will pare its touring schedule back to roughly 35 shows a year from 2023-35 before retiring from the road altogether. This alone is a major change for a group that has neared or exceeded 200 shows a year for most of its career. The reason for the long goodbye, according to the members, is to ensure fans have opportunities to catch more shows without the pressure a whirlwind farewell tour puts on both artist and the audience. “The coolest thing about our fan base is, we got them one at a time,” Willy — Reckless’s frontman, says. “We didn’t go out there with one big hit or music video or one big tour. We literally got our fans on an individual basis. I’m pretty proud of that part: Once we got a fan, they stayed with us.” Cody — who plays fiddle and mandolin — and Willy grew up in rural Idaho, near Stanley, in a family full of musicians. They are joined in Reckless by drummer Jay Nazz, bassist Joe Miller, and steel guitar player Geoff Queen.Before wrapping up on the road, Reckless plans to release at least one more full-length album — a follow to the double album American Jackpot/American Girls, which was released in spring 2020 just as the pandemic shut down live music and scuttled a release tour — and the band intends to announce multiple projects, big and small, between now and 2025.

The Gritty Troubadour with a New Groove~ Fred Eaglesmith, the Canadian singer-songwriter and roots music icon, has spent over five decades carving out a singular path in the music world. Known for his raw, storytelling lyrics, gravelly voice, and unapologetic independence, Eaglesmith has become a cult hero to fans of Americana, folk, and country music. Born in rural Ontario in 1957, he ran away from home at 15, hopping freight trains and living a nomadic life that would later fuel the vivid, working-class narratives in his songs. With a career spanning more than 25 albums, Eaglesmith has earned a reputation as a prolific and uncompromising artist. His songs, often laced with wit, heartbreak, and a touch of rebellion, have been covered by legends like Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert and countless more. Tracks like “Time to Get a Gun” and “Freight Train” have become anthems for the disenfranchised, while his live performances- equal parts rock show and revival meeting- have cemented his status as a must-see act. Eaglesmith, along with his multi-instrumental wife, Tif Ginn, have teamed up with a new band, The Velvet Frogs, injecting fresh energy into their timeless sound. The Velvet Frogs bring a dynamic, genre-blurring edge to Eaglesmith’s music, blending his signature rootsy grit with psychedelic undertones and a dash of rock ’n’ roll swagger. Together, they’re reimagining his classic tunes and introducing new material that proves Eaglesmith is as vital and inventive as ever. No longer a road warrior, Eaglesmith is now only playing select and curated dates, as a duo with Tif Ginn, as well as with The Velvet Frogs. He continues to push boundaries, defy expectations, and remind us why he’s one of the most enduring and enigmatic figures in modern music. Whether you’re a longtime devotee or a newcomer to his world, one things for sure: Fred Eaglesmith is still writing his story, one unforgettable song at a time.