Formerly a member of the alt-country-rock band, Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell’s solo career is flourishing in the wake of Southeastern - a record he released last year which is nominated for Best Song, Best Album, and Artist of the year for 2014 from the Americana Music Association’s Honors & Awards. Rock critic Ken Tucker named Southeastern his #1 Album of 2013, and it also made NPR and Amazon’s Best of 2013 lists and was American Songwriter’s #1 album.

Southeastern is not a record Jason has made before, and not simply because the glorious storm and drama of his band, the 400 Unit, is absent. They will tour together; it’s not a break-up record, not an album of dissolving, but, rather, songs of discovery. And not at all afraid, not even amid the tears. Which is to say that he has grown up.

Joining Isbell on the show is Shovels & Rope, the reigning Americana Music Association’s 2013 “Emerging Artist of the Year”, who just released their new album, Swimming Time, on DualTone Records on August 26th.