Back in the “before times” of 2019, we ran a little “Who/What/Where/When” piece on then-emerging traditional country singer-songwriter Erin Viancourt, who had just put out her debut single, “Playin’ Old Records.”
Flash-forward to present day, or the “after times,” and the Cleveland-born songstress is on the cusp of releasing her debut album, Won’t Die This Way, which will see the light of day July 21st.
And that’s far from all she’s accomplished since then.
After nearly eight years of working at 3rd and Lindsley here in Nashville, connections were made after she performed with Alex Williams in 2019 at the venue, soon securing her a spot with WME and True Grit Management prior to Covid. And on that roster was a man by the name of Cody Jinks, who would eventually swoop Viancourt up to be the first artist on his label, Late August Records.
The two have been on the road this year, with Viancourt opening up for Jinks on a slew of dates across the country with more to come.
“It was a blast,” she told us on the phone back in June. “I got to meet so many new people, and meet so many new fans. Cody’s audience is the best.”
When asked about any pre-show rituals or things she does to prepare for shows of this magnitude, Viancourt said, “I always warmup and get into the groove, but the boys and I do a little shot of bourbon before we go on and do a sweet little huddle. And I don’t always find my moment to do it, but I try to say a little prayer to myself.”
She went on to say, “I try to pick out one person [from the audience] that’s really listening, and just play for those people. We try be a light in the audience’s life, and be a little getaway.”
Leading up to the release of Won’t Die This Way, Viancourt has released two singles, including May’s “Should’ve Known Better,” and “Cheap Paradise,” which dropped this past Friday June 30th.
“It’s an album of ten years worth of songs for me. Lots of growth, truths, and fun, and appreciating the sweet and small things,” she told us about the upcoming album.
Recorded at Nashville’s Forty-One Fifteen and The Smoakstack, Won’t Die This Way was co-produced with Kyle Dreaden, and features co-writes with Jinks, Kendell Marvel, Ward Davis and others.
When asked about the most rewarding/fulfilling part of making this album, she reflected, “Besides the creation of it, it gave me a lot of silent time to myself, because I got to be part of the entire mixing process. It’s a lot of meditation to sit there and listen to drum sounds over and over again. But it’s a very interesting personal challenge on many fronts, so that was a really cool part of the process I didn’t think I’d get so much out of.”
Viancourt has her record release show set for the day of release, July 21st, in her hometown of Cleveland at The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, with a Nashville release show set for the following week, July 27th, at her old stomping grounds 3rd and Lindsley.
“I have so many friends, family, and longtime supporters who’ve been watching me since I was 16, so it’ll be special playing back home. It’s not just a celebration for me, but the people who’ve been supporting me for many years.”
July 7 /// Evansville, IN /// Victory Theatre*
July 8 /// Fort Wayne, IN /// Embassy Theatre
July 20 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// The Crafthouse Stage & Grill
July 21 /// Cleveland, OH /// Beachland Ballroom
July 22 /// Louisville, KY /// Zanzabar
July 27 /// Nashville, TN /// 3rd & Lindsley
July 28 /// Johnson City, TN /// Down Home
July 29 /// Mccaysville, GA /// Tooneys Music Venue
August 10 /// Buffalo, NY /// Buffalo Iron Works+
August 11 /// Boston, MA /// Paradise Rock Club+
August 12 /// New York, NY /// Gramercy Theatre+
September 3 /// Simpsonville, SC /// CCNB Amphitheatre
at Heritage Park*
October 19 /// Fort Worth, TX /// Hwy 30 Fest
*supporting Cody Jinks
+supporting The Steel Woods
