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Crossover Touring January Update |
Happy New Year, everyone!
It was great to see so many of you at the APAP conference a couple of weeks back in New York City, whether catching up with old friends or meeting folks for the first time and instantly falling into conversation about the last great show we saw or the artist we just discovered.
And while there is never a good time to get news like the death of Bob Weir, there was something a little bit special about seeing the news land with so many people during the gathering we helped host at Lucinda's on that Saturday night. Watching true music fans come to grips with the loss of an American icon, and then processing it alongside a group of people who genuinely appreciated his impact on our shared experience, was something we'll remember for a long time.
Like maybe no other art form, the people who make the music we love intertwine themselves with our lives, and losing them can feel particularly personal. Similarly, working in the music business often means bonding over shared personal experiences, and that can make for richer, more fulfilling work than your average profession. Last weekend was a stark example of that.
See you out there on the road,
CT |
• With a taste for classic Motown arrangements and a timeless voice, Trish Toledo joins the Crossover roster as part of the vanguard of Southern California neo-soul. Raised with Ecuadorian-Guatemalan roots and a performing-musician father, she moved from cumbias and Latin ballads into pop and soul, crafting a sound that's organic, warm, and inviting. Now, she finds herself right in the middle of a wave of interest in classic, unadorned music that puts the vocals front and center and lets the talent do the work, and we are excited to introduce her to wider audiences in 2026 and beyond.
• While it's possible we're missing someone, we're pretty sure Gwenifer Raymond is the first artist to join the Crossover roster with a PhD in Astrophysics, which she earned at Cardiff University before being discovered by instrumental guitarist Doctor Turtle and signing with San Francisco’s Tompkins Square Records in 2017. Hailed as an heir to Mississippi John Hurt and John Fahey, Raymond's 2025 record, "Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark," was a standout, leading The Quietus to comment: "Raymond’s mastery of her instruments is unmatched." A Closer Listen calls her, "One of the most fascinating performers we’ve been privileged to cover." And now we consider ourselves privileged to help bring her to your stages.
• After a year that saw the band criss-crossing the country in support of "Nowhere Next," their 11th studio album, Yonder is already laying the groundwork for the March 27 release of number 12, "Good As True," by dropping its first single, "Brand New Heartache." Full of the signature catchy choruses and dynamic instrumentation that built the band, it's already becoming a staple of the live show as they move through a winter tour that takes them from Berkeley, CA, to Portland, ME; Germantown, TN, to Milwaukee, WI.
• Did you catch "Austin City Limits" this past weekend? If not, you're going to want to give this version of "Future Lover" a spin. Thee Sacred Souls captivated the studio audience with a four-piece string section and three-piece horn combo that made for a rich and textured performance, punctuated by Alex Garcia's spry guitar solo. Make sure you catch them this summer at the Governors Ball in New York City. Oh, and that tour with Kali Uchis last year? It's been nominated for Latin Tour of the Year by Pollstar.
• Harkening back to the sound of classic murder ballads, Big Richard continues this week to tease their February 6 Signature Sounds debut, "Pet," by releasing their take on David Olney's 1991 song, "Millionaire." It's a striking and defiant recording, spare and aggressive, showing off the band's technical prowess and feel for compelling performance: "I'm bad, but I don't care, boys/ I'm going to be a millionaire." Who's to argue?
• The buzz for the Womack Sisters' debut on Daptone Records is building already: This month, MOJO named their still-untitled record one of "26 Albums To Look Forward To in 2026," along with the likes of Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Ringo Starr, which is decent company to be in. As they work to finish up in the studio, you can catch them out in Santa Ana for the Old School Love Festival, where they are sure to turn some heads.
• If you're in Nashville for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America's annual shindig, make sure to watch out for East Nash Grass, as you might see them crossing the stage during the awards presentation on January 27. The Maddie Denton-fronted "Followin' You," already being covered by lot pickers, is up for song of the year, and the band as a whole are up for Instrumental Group of the Year and Bluegrass Entertainer of the Year. You can ask them how they make space on the mantle for all their hardware if you see them at Telluride.
• J & The Causeways had a little Christmas present for folks right before the holidays — a 12-song live album, "Live at Tipitina's," that puts their considerable talents on display. Full of huge vocals, thrumming keyboard solos, and popping horn phrases, it's a record that truly shows a band in their element. Oh, and good news: They got most of it on video, too, with a sweet multi-camera set-up. Check out the set closer, "Better Ways," for a taste, or catch them for yourself at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this April.
• Like many Crossover artists, Victor has a fanbase that reaches far beyond the United States and the English-speaking world. For just a taste of that, check out this appearance on the Canadian television program "En Direct de L'Univers" ("Live from the Universe"), where the featured guest, Canadian actress and dancer Marilyn Castonguay, simply freaks out when Wooten is brought out to surprise her, playing his iconic "Me and My Bass Guitar." Castonguay, who starred in the award-winning "L'Affaire Dumont," apparently won a competition while dancing to the song while launching her career, after being introduced to Victor by her dance professor. It's a very fun moment.
• The Americana Music Association released their end-of-year data recently and we were proud to find four Crossover artists on their list of the Top 100 Americana Radio Airplay Albums of 2025: "Highway Prayers," by Billy Strings; "Saratoga," by Eddie 9V; "Rituals," by Watchhouse; and "Nowhere Next," by Yonder Mountain String Band. It's a great testament to the way Crossover artists continue to push the genre forward and capture listeners. |
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