A3ReleasesNov 10, 20261 min readEdited by William Boles

Sam Amidon announces ninth album Willing Brother Knowing, shares "Innisfree"

The folk musician's new record, produced by Big Thief drummer James Krivchenia, is due February 26, 2027 on River Lea Records.

Photo: Paul Hudson from United Kingdom / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Sam Amidon announced his ninth album, Willing Brother Knowing, and shared its first track, "Innisfree". It is set for release on February 26, 2027 via River Lea Records, a division of Rough Trade, and is available to pre-order.

The album was recorded and produced by James Krivchenia, drummer with Big Thief.

The Lockgroove take

Amidon makes old songs feel newly found.

Amidon built his reputation on reworking traditional American folk songs, often with fiddle and banjo and an eerie calm. A Big Thief drummer behind the desk points to a slightly more modern, textured sound, though we will only know once more tracks arrive.

Release dates in late winter are a quiet slot, and that suits this kind of music. A pre-order and a first single leave months for the record to build slowly.

Put this on

01
Sam Amidon, "Saro" (All Is Well, 2007)
The folk standard that introduced many people to him.
Play on Apple Music
02
Sam Amidon, "Pharaoh" (Bright Sunny South, 2013)
A tense, strange reading of a traditional tune.
Play on Apple Music
03
Sam Amidon, "Blue Mountains" (Lily-O, 2014)
A gentle one for a winter evening.
Play on Apple Music