Joshua Hedley’s new song “I Never (Shed A Tear)” is premiering today (listen/share HERE).

The song is second track unveiled from Hedley’s highly anticipated debut album Mr. Jukebox, which will be released April 20 on Third Man Records and is now available for pre-order.

In celebration of the record, Hedley will make his debut on the Grand Ole Opry on album release day—a lifelong dream for the acclaimed Nashville musician and songwriter. Additional tour dates include a series of performances next week at SXSW as well as 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. See below for full tour details.

Already receiving widespread attention, the title track recently premiered as part of NPR Music’s “Songs We Love” series. Watch/share the song’s official music video HERE. Of Hedley, NPR Music’s Ann Powers praises, “When he began writing and singing in a voice sent down by an Eddy Arnold-loving angel, he found that he could use the well-worn tropes of the Nashville Sound in deeply personal, convincing ways” and continues, “The first country artist to sign to Jack White’s Third Man Records since [Margo] Price’s rise to fame, Hedley is driven by a similar goal: to make music that honors tradition in a personal and heartfelt way.”

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.”

photo credit: Jamie Goodsell  

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.

1. JUKEBOX TRACK LIST
2. Counting All My Tears
3. Mr. Jukebox
4. Weird Thought Thinker
5. Let’s Take A Vacation
6. These Walls
7. I Never (Shed A Tear)
8. This Time
9. Don’t Waste Your Tears
10. Let Them Talk
11. When You Wish Upon A Star

JOSHUA HEDLEY SXSW SCHEDULE

Wednesday, March 14

• 8:00pm—BMI Showcase @ Antone’s

Thursday, March 15

• 11:40am—Bloody Mary Morning @ GSD&M Courtyard
• 7:30pm—Luck Reunion @ Willie Nelson’s Ranch
• 12:00am—High Road Touring Party @ Continental Club

Friday, March 16

• 5:00pm—Waterloo Day Party @ Waterloo Records

Saturday, March 17

• 4:00pm—South x San Jose @ Hotel San Jose

7:00pm—Rachael Ray’s Feedback House @ 1102 East Cesar Chavez Street

JOSHUA HEDLEY CONFIRMED TOUR DATES

March 14–17—Austin, TX—SXSW (see full schedule above)

April 12—London, U.K.—The Waiting Room

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

August 2–5—Happy Valley, OR—Pickathon

August 3-4—Indianola, IA—Hinterland Festival 2018

For more information, please contact
Asha Goodman 615.320.7753 or Carla Sacks 212.741.1000 at Sacks & Co., asha.goodman@sacksco.com or carla@sacksco.com.

www.joshuahedley.com