New Music Friday: February 7, 2025
Charles Wesley Godwin, Ken Pomeroy, The Red Clay Strays, Waxahatchee, and more
Welcome back to Wick’s Picks! Below you’ll find my new music picks for the week, which are compiled into a larger, year-long Spotify playlist with all the other songs I’ve highlighted in 2025 at the end of this post. As always, thank you for your support, and enjoy!
Adam Chaffins - “Trailer Trash”
Today Eastern Kentucky born, Nashville based country crooner Adam Chaffins dropped “Trailer Trash,” the title track from his forthcoming EP due out May 16. The story of a blue-collared Romeo & Juliet also sees him harmonizing with his wife Brit Taylor in addition to a soulful breakdown that adds a cheeky bit to the mix.
Summer Dean - “Somebody’s Knockin’“
Texas singer Summer Dean struts around with confidence on “Somebody’s Knockin’,” a revived cover of Terri Gibbs’ 1981 country funk banger about anticipating a one night stand. If it’s a preview of what’s to come from Dean, I can’t wait to see what it is she works up next!
Charles Wesley Godwin - “It’s The Little Things”
West Virginia’s Bruce Springsteen, Charles Wesley Godwin, finds joy in life’s simple pleasures on the gracious and happy go lucky “It’s The Little Things.” The song is the first track unveiled off the seven song Lonely Mountain Town out Feb. 28 featuring collaborations with ERNEST and Scott Avett.
Lilly Hiatt - “Ghost Ship“
I’ve always loved Lilly Hiatt’s blend of empowering rock n’roll and her new album Forever is no exception. One of my favorite from it is “Ghost Ship” courtesy of its groovy guitar riffs as she sings of her desire for a stable life and “something to sink my teeth into.”
Valerie June - “Joy, Joy!”
Valerie encourages us all to show ourselves grace and grow from past failures rather than allowing them to beat us into submission on “Joy, Joy!,” the lead single from her album Owls, Omens, and Oracles out April 11. Surrounded by an undeniable beat comprised of screeching guitar, funky bass and a touch of keys June drives that sentiment home, singing "And when you feel you’re not enough / Has this old been hard and rough / A golden seed beneath dark soil / To seek the sun is often rough.”
The Lil Smokies - “Montana Flower”
Montana/Oklahoma based bluegrass outfit The Lil Smokies sing of a love as beautiful as the Big Sky country they call home on “Montana Flower.” The ballad is the first single from their first album in five years, Break Of The Tide, coming April 4 via Americana Vibes, the independent label launched by GRAMMY winning bluegrassers The Infamous Stringdusters in 2020.
Ken Pomeroy - “Coyote” (feat. John Moreland)
This song from Oklahoma rising artist Ken Pomeroy is a few months old now, but I never like to put a timestamp on a good song. This duet with John Moreland touches on Pomeroy’s Cherokee upbringing and the realization that in some instances, she only has herself to blame by using imagery of a coyote, oftentimes a troubling omen in Native stories, to drive the point home.
The Red Clay Strays - “No One Else Like Me” (Live AF From Callaghan’s)
From spontaneous pond-jumping at Laurel Cove Music Festival to thousands of fans singing their songs back to them at Railbird, it’s safe to say that Kentucky loves them some Red Clay Strays. On the band’s new Live AF From Callaghan’s EP released in conjunction with Western AF the band digs into several of their fan favorite tunes in a live setting. My favorite of the four songs featured is easily “No One Else Like Me,” a song of self discovery that they stretch out with a barrage of sweaty, southern rock jams.
Esther Rose - “New Bad”
Earlier this week Esther Rose gave a preview of her album Want out May 2 with “New Bad,” setting the stage for what looks to be her most wide-ranging project to date. The song about using your fears as fuel and living life with no regrets is both empowering and chaotic in nature due to its moving between country rock and all-out grunge arrangements that ultimately does well to keep listeners on their toes.
Waxahatchee - “Mud”
An outtake from last year’s GRAMMY nominated album Tigers Blood, Katie Crutchfield is joined by “Right Back To It” collaborator MJ Lenderman and drummer Spencer Tweedy (son of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy) on “Mud,” Waxahatchee’s first new music in 2025. The two minute adventure is ripe with twang as she sings of being led along by people who don’t hesitate to hold you back and drag your name through the mud when you’re not around.
LISTEN ON APPLE MUSIC HERE
Coming Next Week
Next Wednesday, Feb. 12, on my radio show I’ll be joined by Paintsville rock n’roller Sean Whiting for an hour of music and conversation ahead of his band, The Big Badness’, show at The Twisted Cork in Lexington on Valentine’s Day. You can join us that evening at 7 p.m. live on Hound FM, The Hound mobile app or HoundFM.com.
Also, stay tuned for a post here early next week recapping this weekend’s John Hartford Days celebration taking place at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro. Have a great weekend
