Chuck Ragan announces first solo album in 10 years, 'Love and Lore,' shares new song

Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music has announced his first new solo album in 10 years, Love and Lore, due October 25 via Rise Records (pre-order). Chuck co-produced it with Tod Beene, who also plays guitar on the album, and Chuck’s band on the album also includes his Hot Water Music bandmates George Rebelo (drums) and Chris Creswell (backing vocals), plus Spencer Duncan on bass. A press release explains the long wait:

First conceptualized in 2016 with studio work beginning in 2019, progress was halted due to that ol’ dreaded COVID, Love And Lore was posited on the shelf while he focused on his fly fishing operation in Grass Valley, CA to provide for his family. “We got serious about making this album again in 2022, but I didn’t have a ton of time to devote to it between being physically exhausted and having a toddler,” he admits. “It was just chaos.” (This also includes a tree falling on guitarist/pedal steel/multi-instrumentalist Todd Beene’s house.) Eventually Love And Lore was recorded in early 2023 and the result is an album that showcases Chuck’s further transcending the “folk” label to create a collection of songs that see him stretching out as a songwriter to fearlessly explore new sonic territory.

New single “Wild In Our Ways” is out now, and as it says above, it’s definitely not just another folk song. It finds Chuck in Americana-infused rock territory, more relaxed than Hot Water Music but harder than his usual solo material, with his unmistakable gravelly voice in the forefront.

“I’m always trying to do something different because I feel like if we’re not searching, we’re not learning,” Chuck says. “My writing approach seems to be whatever the song needs or wherever the song takes you, just let it breathe.”

The album also includes Chuck’s 2023 solo single “Echo the Halls.” Check out both below.

No upcoming solo dates for Chuck at the moment, but Hot Water Music are bringing their 30th anniversary tour to hometown Gainesville festival The Fest in October, followed by a Europe tour in the fall and an Australia/New Zealand tour in early 2025. All HWM dates here.



Tracklist
All In
Wild In Our Ways
Northern World
Echo The Halls
Winter
Aching Hour
Waiting Out The Storm
One More Shot
Reel My Heart
Hanging On