MR. JUKEBOX OUT THIS FRIDAY
SET TO MAKE GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT ON ALBUM RELEASE DAY
“JOSHUA HEDLEY’S FLAWLESS VIBRATO
AND ENCYCLOPEDIC
KNOWLEDGE OF
COUNTRY MUSIC MAKE
FOR A STARTLING INTRODUCTION ON HIS DEBUT ALBUM.”
The official music video for Joshua Hedley’s new song, “I Never (Shed A Tear),” is premiering today exclusively at CMT. Watch/share HERE. “I Never (Shed A Tear)” is off Hedley’s anticipated new album, Mr. Jukebox, which will be released this Friday, April 20 on Third Man Records and is now available for pre-order.
The album is now streaming in full as part of NPR Music’s “First Listen” series. ListenHERE. Of the album, NPR Music proclaims, “…while many listeners focus on Hedley’s otherworldly vocals (and who could blame folks, with that flawless vibrato), his lyrics are quietly powerful,” and goes on to assert, “After years playing behind the songs of others, his dream of introducing the world to his own voice has been realized, and beautifully so.”
In celebration of the record, Hedley will make his debut at the Grand Ole Opry on album release day—a lifelong dream for the acclaimed Nashville musician and songwriter. Additional tour dates include festival stops at High Water Festival, Stagecoach and Pickathon and headline shows at Brooklyn’s Union Pool, Nashville’s The Basement East and L.A.’s The Roxy and Hi Hat. Tickets are on-sale now. See below for full tour details.
Produced by Skylar Wilson and Jordan Lehning, the 10-track album features nine original songs as well as a version of “When You Wish Upon A Star.” In addition to Hedley on vocals and fiddle, the album features Eddie Lange on steel guitar/guitar, Jeremy Fetzer from Steelism on guitar/baritone guitar, Michael Rinne on bass, Jon Radford on drums/percussion and Micah Hulscher on piano/organ.
Of the album, Hedley comments, “It’s not a throwback. It sounds new because it is new, and it sounds the way it sounds because it’s the only thing I know how to do. I can’t write a song that sounds different. Classic country is like a suit. Nothing about a men’s suit has changed in like 100 years. Classic never goes out of style. Something can’t be a throwback if it’s never been out of style.” He continues, “I just want people to remember they have feelings, and that they’re valid. Not everything is Coors Light and tailgates. There are other aspects of life that aren’t so great that people experience. They’re part of life, part of what shapes people. And that’s worth noting.”
Hedley will release two exclusive, non-album tracks on April 21 as part of Record Store Day 2018. Pressed on mahogany brown vinyl, the limited edition 7” features “Broken Man” and “Singin’ A New Song.”
A Florida native, Hedley felt inexplicably drawn toward the fiddle as a child. He first asked for one at age 3. His mom listened to Neil Diamond and his dad listened to Otis Redding––they didn’t see the request coming––but when he asked again five years later, they were struck by the longing’s staying power and, at 8 years-old, he finally got his hands on his very own instrument. He went on to perform at the local VFW and American Legion and, at 12, joined his first band. His bandmates were in their 40s. Around the same time, Hedley visited Nashville with his parents and immediately knew that he belonged. At 19, he made the move and began sneaking into Robert’s Western World––too young to drink legally and too wild to care. Hedley went on to become a featured performer and in-demand sideman at the now legendary spot and, ultimately, a well-respected frontman. Armed with an easy croon and prodigious fiddle playing, he became known by peers as the Mayor of Lower Broad. In the years since, he’s performed with artists including Jonny Fritz, Justin Townes Earle and more and was featured prominently in the the 2015 documentary, Heartworn Highways Revisited.
MR. JUKEBOX TRACK LIST
1. Counting All My Tears
2. Mr. Jukebox
3. Weird Thought Thinker
4. Let’s Take A Vacation
5. These Walls
6. I Never (Shed A Tear)
7. This Time
8. Don’t Waste Your Tears
9. Let Them Talk
10. When You Wish Upon A Star
JOSHUA HEDLEY CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
April 18—Brooklyn, NY—Union Pool
April 20—Nashville, TN—Grand Ole Opry
April 21–22—Charleston, SC—High Water Festival
April 24—Nashville, TN—The Basement East
April 27—Indio, CA—Stagecoach Festival
April 28—Pioneertown, CA—Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
April 30—West Hollywood, CA—The Roxy
May 1—Los Angeles, CA—Hi Hat
May 3—Evanston, IL—SPACE
May 4—Minneapolis, MN—7th St Entry
May 5—Davenport, IA—Raccoon Motel
May 25—Austin, TX—Hot Luck Festival 2018
July 19—Newtown, Australia—Leadbelly
July 20—Marrickville, Australia—Marrickville Bowling Club
July 21—Castlemaine, Australia—The Bridge Hotel
July 22—Northcote, Australia—Northcote Social Club
July 26—Oakleigh South, Australia—Caravan Music Club
August 2–5—Happy Valley, OR—Pickathon
August 3-4—Indianola, IA—Hinterland Festival 2018