Official showcase confirmed at AmericanaFest in Nashville this week
Atlanta-based award-winning Americana singer-songwriter Eliot Bronson has just released his newest album, James, on August 25, 2017 via Rock Ridge Music (with distribution via ADA). Press has praised James; Glide Magazine lauded the album, saying, “The cohesive collection of songs finds this young singer-songwriter in top form as he sings from an honest viewpoint and the similarities to Bob Dylan as well as artists like Ryan Adams and even Chris Isaak are undeniable from the very first song. The album… feels as close to Americana and country rock as it is to folk. …each infectious song hammers home the realization that he is one of the most exciting up-and-coming artists around right now.” Nashville Music Guide echoed that emotion, writing, “Bronson takes you on ride of passion, emotion, and thoughtful stories. …Bronson’s new album is packed with great picking, beautiful and honest lyrics, and a foot stomping, knee slapping harp that will leave you wanting more.” The Daily Country appreciated that Bronson’s album “offers songs that are similar to snapshots – capturing moments, yet often revealing something deeper.”
James was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton), who also produced Bronson’s most recent, self-titled album. “It was a pleasure working with Eliot,” says Cobb. “He is a brilliant lyricist and poet.”
“Dave Cobb’s honesty and old-fashioned vibe were so appealing to me,” Bronson says. “They leant themselves to the way I created. And, of course, it was a huge boost to have this great artist/producer at your back.” Cobb and Bronson had worked together previously on his 2014 release, Eliot Bronson. “But this album is different,” Bronson points out. “It’s more sparse and economical. My voice is stronger. And I think it’s a step away from the purely Americana vibe of the last one in a direction that I have a hard time defining. I’m excited to discover how this music will define itself. I’m immensely proud of this record. It’s the best thing I’ve done.”
Bronson, who is on the road in support of his new album (see tour schedule below) with dates scheduled in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, is also set to perform at AmericanaFest in Nashville at ACME on September 13th.
Originally from Baltimore, Bronson grew up in a religious household – both his father and grandfather were Pentecostal ministers – and Bronson found shelter in music. At age 15, he got his first guitar and started teaching himself to play. From local coffee houses and venues beyond Baltimore, Bronson sharpened his writing and performance. A local following grew; the Baltimore Sun anointed him “a folk singing wunderkind.” Expanding his range, Bronson then toured as one-half of a duo. They moved to Atlanta, and when his partner quit, Bronson persisted on his own.
Embraced for his 2014 self-titled album by the likes of CMT Edge, Country Weekly, Guitar World, Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country, Acoustic Guitar Magazine and more, Paste Magazine called Bronson and his music “an Americana gem” and “a poetic blend of urban coffee house and outskirts-of-town saloon.” Glide Magazine named the album “one of the best releases” of 2014 and called Bronson “a rock and roll, folk, country mash-up … [with] strong songwriting and lush vocals. …Eliot Bronson is like a gorgeous, magnificent hybrid of [Ryan] Adams, Jason Isbell, and Jim James. …his songs are so purely authentic and well crafted…” Saving Country Music praised Bronson for “capturing moments of spectacular insight and feeling, and giving words to what previously were thought to be unmentionable, and undefinable feelings, and doing it all with a deep sense of mood and melody that make the emotions drip from the edges of the notes like tears.” Bop n Jazz upped that ante by heralding him as “maybe the best singer/songwriter since Dylan.”
Bronson has released three critically acclaimed solo albums and, prior to his solo career, was a member of The Brilliant Inventions. He has won such esteemed songwriting awards as first place at Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest and Eddie Owen Presents “Songwriter Shootout,” and he’s been a finalist at Kerrville Folk Festival, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Contest, and New Song Contest Lincoln Center NYC.
See Eliot Bronson on “Today in Nashville” on WSMV-TV/NBC here and here.
See Eliot Bronson on Creative Loafing Atlanta’s “Live From The Archives” here.
Eliot Bronson Tour Dates:
9/13/2017 – Nashville, TN – ACME / AmericanaFest
9/21/2017 – Athens, GA – The Foundry
9/23/2017 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
9/24/2017 – Dahlonega, GA – Crimson Moon
9/27/2017 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord
10/6/2017 – Alpharetta, GA – Wire & Wood Festival
10/7/2017 – Alpharetta, GA – Wire & Wood Festival
10/13/17 – Newtown Square, PA – Burlap and Bean
10/14/2017 – New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3
10/15/17 – Basking Ridge, NJ – Ross Farm Concert Series
10/16/17 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Saint
10/17/17 – Providence, RI – House show
10/18/2017 – Cambridge, MA – Atwood’s Tavern
10/20/2017 – Richmond, VA – House show
10/21/2017 – Raleigh, NC – Six String Presents at IMURJ
10/22/2017 – Clayton, GA – House show
11/9/2017 – Saluda, NC – Purple Onion Café