Kentucky Music Round-Up: June 21-27, 2025
New music, an 'America's Got Talent' audition, a triumphant return to the stage, and more!
Welcome back to Wick’s Picks! Below you’ll find a recap of new music and other headlines from the past two weeks of Kentucky music. You can listen to a year-long playlist of all the songs featured on these round-ups on Spotify and Apple Music.
New Music
Tyler Booth - “Bluegrass On My Mind”
Campton’s Tyler Booth steps back from the country rock adjacent sound that’s informed much of his earlier music in favor for a more acoustic leaning sound with “Bluegrass On My Mind” from his Downtown EP, out today. The song sees Booth longing to get back home to Kentucky and the one he loves waiting for him there while he’s off touring and living life on the road everywhere from Georgia to North Carolina, California and beyond.
Jack Browning - “Muhlenberg County Stars”
England’s Jack Browning sings about the love he has for his partner, comparing it to them to the beauty of the starlit skies above on “Muhlenberg County Stars.” The confessional is the first single from Browning’s forthcoming record expected this fall.
Jake Kohn - “Nutshell” (feat. Marcus King and Zac Townsend)
Jake Kohn conjures up his signature blend of Appalachian grunge on “Nutshell,” a gritty and southern rock infused track off his debut album Where Do We Go From Here? — out today — featuring vocals from fellow Virginian Zac Townsend and otherworldly guitar licks from Marcus King.
Low Gap - “One Mississippi”
Newport based country group Low Gap sing about being trapped in a cycle of second guessing yourself and the isolation that oftentimes accompanies it on the catchy new single “One Mississippi.”
Moose Loon - “long time no see”
Moose Loon, a new project from Ryan Anderson of Louisville based collective Bendigo Fletcher, today released it’s debut single, “long time no see.” The moody, twangy nod to those who keep his heart soft from far away features accompaniment from Grant Curless (pedal steel) and Jon McGee (backing vocals).
Of The Dell - “Yes I Will“
Huntington, WV based trio Of The Dell dream up sunny soundscapes and harmony driven lyrics of love on the anthemic “Yes I Will,” offering a fans a preview of what’s to come as they ready to open for rock legends Jefferson Starship in Charleston on July 6.
Jeremy Pinnell - “Come Home To Me“
Northern Kentucky’s Jeremy Pinnell is joined by The Mastersons’ and The Whitmore Sisters’ Eleanor Whitmore on his latest single “Come Home To Me” from a Shooter Jennings produced album expected later this year. The song explores how many people try to shield the worst perceived parts of themselves from others, resulting in the unintended consequence of pushing others away because you’re not being your authentic self.
Aaron Raitiere - “Little Loser 2”
Danville’s Aaron Raitiere transforms from country singer-songwriter extraordinaire to borderline punk rocker on the introspective and self-depreciating “LITTLE LOSER 2.” The song is one of many dropped by Raitiere this week, which also includes this song’s predecessor “LITTLE LOSER” and the electronic dance album A$$ ON THE INTERNET under the name Donkey Donk.
Other News & Notes
Bill Taylor & The Appalachian Heatherns wow’d the judges with a cover of Bob Dylan’s "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"during their June 24 audition for America’s Got Talent that aired on NBC.
Northern Kentucky blues musician Nat Myers, who has been in and out of the hospital battling sarcoma in recent months, will perform a surprise late night set at the Master Musicians Festival in Somerset on July 12. He’ll also perform at The Burl on Aug. 8.
After selling out their Oct. 30 show at The Burl in less than a week, Western Kentucky country rockers Ole 60 have added a second show at the Lexington venue with support from Kashus Culpepper on Oct. 31.
Also announced for The Burl is Prestonsburg singer Joshua Slone, who will make his headlining debut at the venue on Sept. 22, just days before he’s scheduled to open up for Zach Bryan during the first ever concert at the University of Michigan’s football stadium in Ann Arbor.
On Wednesday Sturgill Simpson announced he’d be returning to the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado for a two-night run Sept. 16 and 17 that will serve as the finale for his 2025 tour. Prior to that Simpson has a string of festival dates that include a performance in Louisville at Bourbon & Beyond on Sept. 13.
Tyler Childers (via Instagram) announced that the next single off his forthcoming album Snipe Hunter (out July 25), “Oneida,” will drop next week on July 2. Much like it’s preceding single “Nose On The Grindstone,” “Oneida” is an old and (until now) unreleased song that builds even more momentum to the hypothesizing that this new album will be comprised of entirely deep cuts.
Yesterday the third wave of performers were revealed for the Nashville-based AMERICANAFEST taking place Sept. 9-13. Among the additions are fixtures in the Kentucky music scene like Southeast Ohio’s Darrin Hacquard and Huntington, West Virginia’s Kindred Valley. They join previously announced names like Darrell Scott, Dee Oh Gee, Low Gap and Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays.
New Bylines
I recapped Billy Strings’ two-night tour finale at Rupp Arena that he pushed through despite the surprise death of his mother the morning of June 20 for this newsletter.
On June 25 Lindsey Elam joined me in the Hound FM studio to talk about her musical upbringing in Eastern Kentucky, 12 year stint chasing her honky tonk dreams in Nashville, motherhood, substance abuse, new music and much more for episode #61 of the Wick’s Picks Podcast.
Wick’s Picks Podcast
Next week on the show I’ll be joined by Middlesboro, Ky.’s Bill Taylor, fresh off his four “Yes” votes from the judges on this week’s episode of NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
Tune in via 96.1 Hound FM, The Hound mobile app or HoundFM.com on July 2 at 7 p.m. ET to listen.
