Joe Nolan’s latest album, Drifters, is ten songs of longing, wanderlust and lost love. He’s been heralded by No Depression and the Globe and Mail as a roots rock wunderkind; in the year pre-pandemic he played over 175 shows across North America and six European countries; he’s signed with Mongrel Music Agency (Chuck Prophet, Lake Street Dive); and his work has earned accolades including the Cobalt Prize for songwriting at the 2020 and 2018 Maple Blues Awards.
9/10 “Firmly on the must-listen list. His blend of roots and folk is refreshingly un-jaded and full-bodied, offering hope and despair delivered with a warm, soft voice flecked with gravel but smooth as honey. Safe to say John Prine would have approved.”
Exclaim!
“I wanted to keep it as stripped down as possible,” Nolan says. “We recorded most of it to my Tascam 2-track reel-to-reel in an attempt to make something that resembled the sounds of my favorite records from the ’70s with that real warm tape sound and vibe. I also have always wanted to collaborate with guitarist Kevin Breit [Norah Jones] and he graciously added some beautiful touches to this album.”
“He’s about to step up to an international level.”
Folk Radio UK (Mike Davies)
In the past, Nolan has stated that his definition of rock ‘n roll is an artist letting their heart bleed on and off stage, without any fear. There’s probably no better way to describe Drifters, as on it Nolan once again demonstrates a willingness to venture deeply into the dark corners of his psyche. He may be categorized as a roots artist, but Nolan never wants that tag to define him completely. By drawing inspiration from vintage rock ‘n roll, blues, country and punk, he intends to keep pushing boundaries with every record he makes.
“Nolan strikes a vein of sequestered gold. Drift away on the high seas of stellar song craft.”
Americana Highways (H. R. Gertner)
For fans of: Buddy Miller, David Olney, Todd Snider, Buck Meek, Joan Shelley, Angelo De Augustine.
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