October in the Railroad Earth

Tom Russell’s latest recording of original compositions, October in the Railroad Earth, is set for CD and vinyl release March 15, 2019, on Frontera Records in North America and Proper Records for the rest of the world. He describes the songs and sound as “Jack Kerouac meets Johnny Cash in Bakersfield.”
Bill Kirchen is featured on lead electric guitar, Eliza Gilkyson adds vocals, and the Grammy® Award-winning Texmaniacs appear on “Isadore Gonzalez,” about a Mexican cowboy who died in England during a performance of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The record contains nine other originals, including the title song from the Irish film Small Engine Repair, and a cover of the traditional “Wreck of the Old 97.”
October in the Railroad Earth follows the acclaimed 2017 Frontera/Proper album Folk Hotel and Russell’s tribute to Ian & Sylvia on True North Records, Play One More, both receiving worldwide acclaim. Between major releases in 2018, Russell recorded the Bruce Springsteen track “Across The Border” for the three-disc Appleseed Records anniversary sampler, Roots and Branches, and issued a re-recording of early classics on Frontera, Old Songs Yet To Sing.

Russell’s previous album of new original material was the 2015 “folk opera” that Thom Jurek of allmusic.com hailed as Tom’s masterpiece, The Rose of Roscrae. Named “The top folk album of 2015” by Mojo magazine, Roscrae was also lauded as “maybe the most important Americana record of all time” by UK Folk. The album was included in top ten lists of dozens of publications, including the Los Angeles Times.

In 2007, on one of Russell’s five appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, he debuted the controversial “Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall?” which has since gone viral.

Tom Russell’s songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Doug Sahm, Nanci Griffith, k.d. lang, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave Alvin, Iris DeMent, Dave Van Ronk, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Joe Ely, Tom Paxton, Ian Tyson, and Joe Ely, among many others.
Tom Russell graduated from the University of California with a Master’s degree in Criminology and taught Sociology in Nigeria during the Biafran War.
 Latest News
Tom Russell Latest Breaking News!
Bob Dylan, The Grammys, Jimmy Webb, Aztec Chickens, Affordable Trains, Denver…..
*******Journey of a Lifetime! The most affordable train trip yet! Masters of American Song….25 seats remain! With American Masters Jimmy Webb, Jesse Winchester and Tom Russell: January 14-18, Los Angeles to Oakland and return, aboard vintage streamliner railroad cars. Tom Russell leads a “Beat” tour of City Lights in San Francisco; concerts and workshops with Jimmy Webb (Galveston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Wichita Lineman) and Jesse Winchester (Yankee Lady, Defying Gravity, The Brand New Tennessee Waltz and dozens more great songs) and Tom Russell….featuring Thad Beckman – open mics and guitar workshops. One of the most unforgettable train journeys on earth…where no roads go! Pass through the wild California coast where Cecil B. Demille buried his movie cities and seals and whales cavort! Not to be missed…..toll free 866-484-3669, or email trains@sover.net or see www.rootsontherails.com for full details. Get on board….today.
*****Tom Russell’s Blood and Candle Smoke is nominated in the first round of Grammy ballots going out now…Americana category. If you or any friends are members of NARAS and are able to vote…please do. Many thanks.
*****Aztec Chicken, Free Range Chickens, Molly and Tenbrooks, Ragtime Evolution and a dozen other new Russell paintings now available…also Red Horse which was painted for the new Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky Red Horse record. You can own the original! New art can be viewed at: http://www.tomrussell.com/art.php
******Look Out: Texas, California, Denver, Arizona and beyond…Tom Russell is coming with a new batch of songs he’s been recording with Calexico, Gretchen Peters, Fats Kaplin, Augie Meyers, Joel Guzman, Viktor Krauss, Barry Walsh, Will Kimbrough…and others. The Cactus Café! Houston! Bisbee! Check out these dates…below and order tickets….
Tom will soon post his blog on the new book: Bob Dylan in America on his site at: http://www.russelltom.blogspot.com/
Tour Dates Coming:
October 22, Austin TX. Cactus Cafe
University of Texas
Austin, TX 78713
512-475-6515
http://www.utexas.edu/txunion/ae/cactus/index.php?section=ae
October 23, Houston, TX McGonigels Mucky Duck
2425 Norfolk
Houston, Texas
http://www.mcgonigels.com/
713-528-5999
October 30, Denver, CO Soiled Dove
7401 East 1st Avenue
Denver, CO 80230
http://www.soileddove.com/
November 5th, San Diego, CAAMSD concerts
(formerly Acoustic Music San Diego) 4650 Mansfield Street
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 303-8176
http://www.amsdconcerts.com/
November 6th, Riverside, CA Break Down the Walls
All Saints' Episcopal Church
3847 Terracina Drive
Riverside, CA, 92506
www.allsaintsriverside.org
Tickets: FrConrad@gmail.com
November 18, Bisbee, AZ Starlight Lounge
Cafe Roka
35 Main Street
Bisbee, AZ 85603
(520) 432-5153
November 19th, Sahuarita, AZ Javarita Coffeehouse
The Good Sheperd United Church of Christ
17750 S. La Canada Dr
Sahuarita, AZ 85629
http://www.thegoodshepherducc.com/Javarita_Coffee_House.html
November 20, Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum Theater
15 W Aspen Ave.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Office:(928) 556-1580
http://www.orpheumpresents.com/
November 22, Phoenix, AZ Rythm Room
1019 e. indian school road
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 265-4842
www.rhythmroom.com
January 14th, Los Angeles, CA….With Tom Russell/Jesse Winchester/Jimmy Webb
Largo
366 North La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048-1949
(310) 855-0350
January 16th, Berkeley, CA….Tom Russell/Jimmy Webb/Jesse Winchester
The Freight and Salvage
2020 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 644-2020
www.freightandsalvage.org
February 4th, Sisters, OR…..Winter Concert Series Sisters Folk Festival
Venue TBA
February 5th, Eugene, ORTsunami Books
2585 Willamette St
Eugene, OR 97405-3132
(541) 345-8986
http://www.myspace.com/tsunamibooks
February 8th, Portland, OR
The Alberta Rose Theatre
3000 NE Alberta St.
Portland, OR 97211
503.719.6055
http://www.albertarosetheatre.com
February 10th, Seattle, OR….The Tractor
5213 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
www.tracfortavern.com
February 11th, Vancouver, BC
Rogue Folk Club 31 - 1465 Lamey's Mill Road
Vancouver, BC V6H 3W1, Canada
(604) 732-1305
March 31th, Oklahoma City… Blue Door Cafe
2805 N McKinley Ave
Oklahoma City
http://www.bluedoorokc.com