BONUS TRACKS: 4/20 Song by Shooter Jennings and Willie Nelson, Health Updates from Indigo Girls and Bill Strings, and More Roots Music News
This week saw 4/20 and Earth Day, both two important holidays, especially depending on who you ask. In honor of the former, Shooter Jennings shared a cover of Jason Boland’s “When I’m Stoned” featuring Willie Nelson as part of his Hellponies
Black News 
This week saw 4/20 and Earth Day, both two important holidays, especially depending on who you ask. In honor of the former, Shooter Jennings shared a cover of Jason Boland’s “When I’m Stoned” featuring Willie Nelson as part of his Hellponies Archives series. Jennings shared the following in a press release:
I’ve known Jason Boland for more than half my life. I saw him playing songs in bars. I opened for him the day we got thrown in jail in Baylor County for weed. So naturally, when they asked me to do this project, I enthusiastically agreed and called Willie Nelson to help me out. Boland is a diamond and he’s one of the guys that influenced a lot of what is going on in today’s country music, so it was my pleasure to honor my old friend.
Although the track originally appeared on 2002’s Live and Lit at Billy Bob’s Texas, No Depression's review of Jason Boland & The Stragglers' 2025 LP Last Kings of Babylon can be found here.
This week saw a number of other covers of note: Gregory Alan Isakov and Sylvan Esso offered a quiet, folksy version of Mazzy Star's scuzzy 1993 hit, "Fade Into You." S.G. Goodman finally shared a studio version of Butthole Surfers' 1996 alternative rock song, "Pepper," which she's been slipping into live sets for months now. And Jesse Malin shared a double A-side single featuring an original track called “Hollywood Forever” with a cover of The Clash’s “Rudie Can’t Fail”
Indigo Girls took to Instagram last weekend to share some important health news: Emily Sailers has been diagnosed with two incurable conditions, cervical dystonia with torticollis and an essential tremor. The former is a neurological movement disorder and the latter impacts the nervous system. The band recorded the video together in Atlanta while rehearsing for their upcoming tour. Although both conditions are degenerative, Sailers has treatments lined up and the band still has tour dates through the end of 2026. Read more at Billboard and watch the full video below.
In more scary health news, bluegrass shredder Billy Strings also shared on social media that he broke his leg in a skateboarding accident. According to Rolling Stone, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has already offered Strings his famous throne (from when he broke his leg in 2015), though!
Chadwick Stokes, co-founder of roots-rock band Dispatch, announced a rock opera titled 1972 that will premiere at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University during its 2026-27 season. Stokes first debuted songs in 2024 and co-wrote the project with director Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam, Waitress). Read more on the American Repertory Theater's site and check out the Screen Door essay Stokes penned for the Spring 2020 "Live and In Person" issue of the journal, too.
Finally, RIP Nashville session guitarist Wayne Moss, who passed away at the age of 88. He played on such classic releases as Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman," Dolly Parton's "Jolene," and Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde. In fact, it was Orbison's Instagram page that broke the news, according to Stereogum. Nashville broadcaster, author, and journalist Craig Havighurst shared this piece he wrote for WMOT in 2018 for more information.
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
William Prince - "Lighthearted"
Libby Weitnauer - "How To Hurt" (from her forthcoming album, Freehand, due out October 2)
Orquestra Pacifico Tropical - "Entre La Montaña" (from their forthcoming album El Poder, due out June 19)
The Klezmatics - "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportee)"
NEW RELEASES - 4/24/26
Blood Sucking Maniacs - Blood Sucking Maniacs
Rachel Brooke - This One’s For You
Kiki Cavazos - Goodbye Blues
Mikaela Davis - Graceland Way
Angelo De Augustine - Angel in Plainclothes
The Hip Snacks - Out On A Limb
Noah Kahan - The Great Divide
Milk Carton Kids - Lost Cause Lover Fool
Ringo Starr - Long Long Road
Taylor Dallas Vidic - Cat & Mouse
Dale Watson - Unwanted
COMING SOON - 5/1/26
Tori Amos - In Times of Dragons
A Different Thread - Over Again
Jesca Hoop - Long Wave Home
Hiss Golden Messenger - I'm People
The Klezmatics - We Were Made For These Times
Taj Mahal - Time
Kacey Musgraves - Middle of Nowhere
Ben Musser - Sentimental Fever
Emily Nenni - Movin' Shoes
Maisy Owen - Dark on a Sunny Day
Paisley - Are U Mad at Me
Dida Pelled - I Wish You Would
Vaiano’s Paisanos - Jalopy
Various - Old No. 1 Revisited
Todd Day Wait - Heart Over Mind
Rita Wilson - Sound of a Woman
