No matter where you go in life, there will never be anywhere quite like home.
Whether you love it or hate it, it’s hard to deny that the place where you grew up and experienced life for the first time is a unique part of one’s identity. This is especially true for renowned Nashville country songwriter Darrell Scott, who spent his formative years just north in Kentucky.
The Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame nominee recently dropped his single, “Kentucky Morning,” ahead of the August 11th release of his new album, Old Cane Back Rocker. The single, which was released on July 28th via Soundly Music, serves as a love letter to The Bluegrass State, to Scott’s family, and overall, to home.
“Kentucky Morning” is a perfect demonstration of the idea behind Old Cane Back Rocker; it tells the story of southern families migrating north to find work. Written from the perspective of the one who stayed home, the song addresses themes of family, loyalty, and life as a whole.
Through simple yet thoughtful lines like, “They’d talk of the nights beneath the bright city lights / And wonder how I ever stayed / And I’d tell them oh, your bright lights don’t shine like a Kentucky morning / You can’t hear a whippoorwill out on the street,” Scott depicts his genuine appreciation for his home, and the complexities of moving on from what you know. The song’s beautiful string melodies paired with Scott’s smooth, calming voice brings to the listener a strong sense of nostalgia and relatability.
Old Cane Back Rocker will be Scott’s first full-length release since his 2016 LP, Couchville Sessions. This time, he incorporated the work of The Darrell Scott String Band, with whom he recorded the whole album over the course of two consecutive weekends in Arkansas and Colorado. Between shows, the band stayed in a house together in Louisville, CO, and went to work at the eTown Studio in Boulder every day. The end result is a collection of songs that celebrates Scott’s upbringing in Kentucky and the relationships he has fostered with other musicians.
Of his work on “Kentucky Morning,” Scott stated, “I am proud of this band, this recording and these stories of real people in this unreal time. Love and hope and goodness and simplicity still exists, folks. We are still here.”
Darrell Scott will be touring across the country following the release of Old Cane Back Rocker this month.
Tour Dates
AUGUST
05 — Elkin, NC — Reevestock Music Festival
12 — Alta, WY — Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival
18 — Asheville, NC — Salvage Station
19 — East Spartanburg, SC — Get Off The Grid Festival 2023
24 — Stanley, ID — River Take ME!!!!!
SEPTEMBER
01 — Garden City, ID — Visual Arts Collective (VAC)
09 — Bristol, TN — Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2023
15 — Louisville, KY — Bourbon & Beyond 2023
16 — Pelham, TN — The Caverns
17 — Montgomery, AL — Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
19 — Baton Rouge, LA — Red Dragon Listening Room
20 — Kenney, TX — The Kenney Store
21 — Tomball, TX — Main Street Crossing
27 — Santa Ynez, CA — Maverick Saloon
28 — Sebastopol, CA — HopMonk Tavern
29 — Sutter Creek, CA — Sutter Creek Theatre
30 — Ferndale, CA — Ferndale Music Company & The Old Steeple
OCTOBER
11 — Big Stone Gap, VA — Blue Highway Fest 2023
14 — Norfolk, VA — North Shore Point House Concerts
17 — Elkton, MD — Elkton Music Hall
18 — Pittsburgh, PA — City Winery
19 — Cleveland, OH — Music Box Supper Club
20 — Ann Arbor, MI — The Ark
