BONUS TRACKS: The Mastersons Step Away From Steve Earle’s Band

After 12 years in Steve Earle’s band, The Dukes, The Mastersons have decided to step away from that gig to seek a slower pace. “This past decade has seen us crisscrossing the globe endlessly, only pausing momentarily to make records. We’ve toured though sickness, the loss of family members and other challenging circumstances. We now find ourselves wanting a time to pause, to reflect, and to find a way to enjoy the fruits of our labor a bit more,” Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore said in a statement on social media. Thankfully, they married duo assure us they’re still planning to make music, both together and with others. You can read the whole statement here. For more on their musical life as a duo, check out our interview from 2020, when The Mastersons were our Spotlight band as they released their latest album, No Time for Love Songs.

The cover art for the “Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All” by Kim Gordon

It’s Bandcamp Friday, a fine time to update your music collection with some recent roots music releases. It’s also your window — open today only — to snag Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All, a compilation whose proceeds will benefit The Brigid Alliance, Abortion Care Network, and Noise for Now. Among the nearly 50 songs on the compilation are exclusives from Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell (a live version of “The Problem”), Caroline Spence, Andrew Bird, My Morning Jacket, R.E.M., and She & Him. Check out the full track list and buy the compilation today only at Bandcamp.

Bluegrass solo artist and former Sister Sadie member Dale Ann Bradley had a heart attack last weekend and was expected to undergo triple bypass surgery this week. While her medical expenses will be covered, she will not be able to tour for some time, and friends have started a GoFundMe to help replace that lost income. Bradley is a two-time Grammy nominee and six-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year award. She has also received IBMA honors as a participant in collaborations celebrating women in bluegrass. Her latest album is Things She Couldn’t Get Over, released in 2021 by Pinecastle Records.

A new nonprofit launched this week with a goal of helping emerging musicians advance their career sustainably. Salt Lick Incubator, based in Boston, provides grants of $5,000-$15,000 to help artists finance studio time, vinyl pressings, video production, marketing, or other goals, along with a plan to help ensure success. The organization will also host creative retreats, performances, and consulations to connect artists with all parts of the music industry. The incubator, led by former Berklee College of Music president Roger Brown, focuses on R&B, neo-soul, singer-songwriter, Americana, bluegrass, folk, and Latin and African genres. The first round of recipients are 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador, singer-songwriter Beane, Afro-Latina artist PAMÉ, and folk-pop trio Tiny Habits. The application window for the next round of grants is open now through Nov. 30. Learn more about Salt Lick Incubator here.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

Here’s a sampling of the songs, albums, bands, and sounds No Depression staffers have been into this week:

Loretta Lynn (all of it)
Bartees Strange – “Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” (Loretta Lynn cover)
Violet Bell – “Meet Me in the Garden”
Sierra Hull – 25 Trips
John Fullbright – The Liar
H.C. McEntire – “Soft Crook”

The Tallest Man on Earth – “Blood Bank” (Bon Iver cover)
Catherine MacLellan – “Emett’s Song”
Jaimee Harris – “Keep Me on Your Mind”
Maryanna Devlin – A Great Many Things
Lucius – “The Man I’ll Never Find”
Whitehorse – “Division 5,” from their new album, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, coming in January
Billy Strings – “Long Journey Home,” from his new album, Me and Dad, coming in November