The American singer and guitarist who plays folk and blues music, with an emphasis on Southern folk songs has also signed to to Fat Possum.
The North Carolina artist will released his fifth album When I’m Called on July 12th.
Fussell has also announced American, European and UK tour dates in August and September including an Irish date at The Workman’s Club in Dublin on Wednesday August 28th. Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday at 10am local time. Full European / UK dates below.
‘Going To Georgia’ is the album’s first song.
“I learned the traditional song ‘Going to Georgia’ from a few different places so my version is something of a collage. There are a number of variants out there. Ralph Stanley played a version of it, as did the great song collector and revivalist/interpreter Paul Clayton. My main source was an early 1980s field recording of The Eller Family of Hiawassee, Georgia, brought to us by artist - documentarians Art and Margo Rosenbaum via their wonderful Folkways anthology Folk Visions & Voices: Traditional Music and Song in Northern Georgia.”
Jake Xerxes Fussell
Fussell’s music is informed from his time with his father Fred C. Fussell, an Alabama folklorist, curator, and photographer who took his son on the road while he was recording blues and folk songs and musicians.
About the new album from Jake Xerxes Fussell
When I’m Called is Fussell’s richest work to date, a slate of warm instrumental textures abetting his glowing guitar and weathered baritone. It sees him returning to a well of music that holds lifelong sentimental meaning, contemplating the passage of time and the procession of life’s unexpected offerings. When I’m Called is produced by James Elkington, mixed by Tucker Martine, and features contributions from Elkington (guitar, piano, dobro,synth, organ, pedal steel, mandola, harmonica, arrangements), Blake Mills (guitar), Joan Shelley (vocals), Ben Whiteley (bass), Joe Westerlund (drums, percussion), Robin Holcomb (vocals), Anna Jacobson (horns), Jean Cook (strings), and Hunter Diamond (woodwinds).
Recognized for his compelling transliterations of traditional music, Fussell took an a typical approach to the material on When I’m Called, often constructing the music from the ground up, before considering what existing source material could be applied to the song. Though his affection for ballads spans mountainous Appalachian tunes to sea shanties and everything in between, Fussell has found himself particularly close to field recordings made in the 1960s and ’70s by painter, musician, and folklorist Art Rosenbaum — one of Fussell’s beloved late mentors, who died in September 2022. When I’m Called’s lead single, “Going To Georgia,” showcasing Fussell’s trademark guitar stylings, is one such tune.
Jake Xerxes Fussell European Tour Dates
TWed. Aug 28 – Dublin, IE @ The Workman’s Club
Fri. Aug. 30 - London, UK @ Lafayette
Sat. Aug. 31 - Lewes, UK @ Con Club Lewes nr Brighton
Sun. Sept. 1 - Bristol, UK @ Lantern Hall
Mon. Sept. 2 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Tue. Sept. 3 - Glasgow, UK @ Mono
Wed. Sept. 4 - Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
Fri. Sept. 6 – Paris, FR @ L’Archipel
Sat. Sept. 7 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique
Sun. Sept. 8 – Rotterdam, NL @ Kantine Walhalla
