Ric Robertson is an American original, pulling influences from the greats that came before, but wholly responsible for creating his own creative universe. Robertson’s voice and lyrics hold a soft Southern burr, a Zen acceptance of humanity’s failings, and, most importantly, a sense of pure playfulness in the music. This is John Prine by way of New Orleans, Harry Nilsson in a Nudie suit, a stoned Dr. John lost in Nashville, Bill Monroe on mushrooms listening to Bessie Smith. Step into his boundlessly creative multi-verse and you’ll find nothing short of American songbook excellence. When Ric’s not writing songs or playing music, his polymath personality fills time learning claymation, filmmaking, playing with puppets, learning pedal steel... He’s relentlessly creative. Robertson is the musician’s musician, as testified by the fact that he’s continuously in-demand as a touring bandmate, having played and recorded with The Wood Brothers, Rhiannon Giddens, Lucius, Sarah Jarosz, David Grisman, Sierra Ferrell, Dirk Powell, Sam Grisman Project, and countless others. A guest list this large and varied is a testament to Robertson’s easygoing musicianship. He’s as comfortable backing up another artist onstage as he is leading his own band, and throughout he anchors his creativity in a sense of playful collaboration.
His last album, Carolina Child, out now on Free Dirt Records, was Robertson’s break-out moment, a fully-fledged exploration of madcap ideas and creative anarchy, was produced by Dan Molad of Lucius, and features Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig from Lucius plus a whole host of Robertson’s friends and colleagues: Alex Hargreaves ( Kacey Musgraves, Billy Strings, Steve Martin), Sam Fribush (Charlie Hunter, Hiss Golden Messenger), Nick Falk (Herbie Hancock), Eddie Barbash (Jon Batiste, Cory Wong), Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers, Kai Welch (Kacey Musgraves, Abigail Washburn) , Logan Ledger, and Dori Freeman. His brand new forthcoming album, “Choices and Chains” (set for release in July 2024), includes many of the same cast of characters plus special features from Grammy winning songstress Sarah Jarosz and the quickly rising star and powerhouse vocalist Sierra Ferrell. Take time to dive in, and you’ll find Robertson’s songs draw inspiration from the fragility of our inner lives, but also from the small moments packed with meaning that surround us. Listen. Go Deep. Enjoy!
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