Crossover Touring Artist News

COCHEMEA

• Well, it's too late for the 2026 Grammys, but don't be surprised to see some heat in 2027 for "Volume III: Ancestros Futuros," the new album from Cochemea. It's a special piece of work that Tigre Sounds says is filled with the "kind of rhythmic sounds that pulse through your veins, opening doors to other worlds and making you dance, first on your own, within yourself, and then together." Mojo gave it four stars. Produced by Daptone Records head Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann), it is an amalgamation of jazz, R&B, and indigenous rhythms that truly pushes boundaries and challenges the listener. Folks at National Sawdust got a flavor of it this past weekend in New York City and we're very excited to help bring it to stages across the U.S. in 2026.

EAST NASH GRASS

• Speaking of awards, we were thrilled to see East Nash Grass fiddler Maddie Denton take home the award for Fiddler of the Year at last month's IBMA ceremony in Chattanooga. The Bluegrass Jam Along pod had a nice interview with her about it the day after the win and it's clear how much it means to her, having very much grown up in the bluegrass community (it's fun to hear her talk about growing up in central Arkansas with Billboard). Make sure to catch them on tour with AJ & Blue Summit this fall, but you might want to lock them in now for next summer.

THE CODY SISTERS

• The Cody Sisters picked up some mantelpiece material last month, too, winning the Band competition at Freshgrass, which comes with a cash award and a recording session with Compass Records. What young band couldn't use a little money and studio time? But it's no surprise: They've been turning heads all summer, touring with Chatham Rabbits and festival hopping. Now with a new home base in New York City, they're poised for a very busy 2026.

BILLY STRINGS

• Billy has been criss-crossing Europe this month — Royal Albert Hall this past weekend! — but he hasn't been too busy to make news. Last week, Third Man Records announced "Billy Strings Live in Rosemont," a new 20-track recording from May 25, 2024, at Allstate Arena, along with his 2016 debut self-titled EP, will be the 66th installment of their Vault series. Plus, we got Billyween details: He's calling the Oct. 31 show at Baltimore's CFG Bank Arena "Meet Me at the Crypt," and he'll be playing the role of the Wolf Man, with a host of guest stars announced. We don't know what the "Charm City Coven" will be doing, but we're intrigued!

EDDIE 9V

• You've probably heard "Love Moves Slow" by now (it's headed toward six million streams on Spotify alone), but maybe you haven't heard yet the new acoustic version that dropped on Friday, with Eddie teaming up with Melt on a collaboration that knocked our socks off. When Veronica Stewart-Frommer enters for the second verse, watch out. And there's more on the way: The boys have been working hard this month tracking for their debut Easy Eye Sound release, which we expect in the spring. Should be a great way to kick off the next festival season.

JOHNNY MULLENAX

• Have you checked out "The Lowdown," the latest Ethan Hawke vehicle on FX? Well, pay extra attention to episode 3, when you do, because you'll catch a glimpse of Johnny fronting the band that provides ambiance to a fun little rock-club walk through. It was very cool for the production team to work with Tulsa's local music community — people who are dialed in will notice musicians not just playing during the episode, but with small parts throughout. Great stuff. Oh, and Johnny's got some short-run green vinyl, too.

WATCHHOUSE

• With more than a month left in what has been an epic cross-country tour, Watchhouse have already left a swatch of sellouts in their wake, from North Carolina to Massachusetts, New York to Oregon. They've found time, though, to sit down with World Cafe in Nashville to record a mini concert as a duo that really puts their intrinsic musical beauty on display. There just aren't that many artists working today with their combination of musicality and emotional impact. Or, as Paste put it, "they must have been karmically fated to end up together."

TWO RUNNER

• Billy's not the only one with eyes on Europe: Two Runner will be hitting the Continent with Alela Diane this November. It's a Nevada City team-up — not unlike their recent Sweet Harmony Sessions video with Dusty the Kid. "Nevada City Serenade" is a lovely tribute to the great Utah Phillips, and you should definitely stick around for the bit at the end where Paige talks about attending Utah's funeral back in 2008 as a lifelong resident of Nevada City. It's so cool when musicians become identified with their geography, becoming a part of the very landscape, and when a community grows up around them.

GREG LOIACONO & STINGRAY

• People familiar with Greg Loiacono's work in the Mother Hips might not be ready for what he's doing with Stingray — it's some funky stuff. The newest single, "Come Back Home," released on Royal Potato, is a dance hit, with Greg showing off a comfortable falsetto and a bass line from Kofy Brown that slinks right between the beat laid down by Michael Urbano and Vicki Randle. Add in some Wurlitzer and wicka-wicka guitars and it's hard not to get moving. We're really looking forward to where this project is heading.

Crossover Touring October Update