It’s here, folks. The announcement we’ve been waiting on from one of CMNB’s most cherished voices—Willi Carlisle is dropping a brand new album, Winged Victory, on June 27, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most vital releases of the year.
We’ve been singing this man’s praises since way back—whether it was when he rolled through with Peculiar, Missouri or shook the stage at festivals that still talk about him months later. Willi isn’t just a folk artist; he’s a damn soul revival wrapped in denim and banjo strings.
A Record Born in Chaos and Community
Willi describes Winged Victory as “probably the most coherent record I’ve ever made,” and for those who’ve followed his whirlwind year—from Australia with Tyler Childers to brushing shoulders (and cowboy hats) with Willie Nelson at Luck Reunion—you know that’s saying something.
This one’s special. It’s self-produced, a big new step for him, and it blends the old and the new in the most Willi way possible:
- A lost gem from the Industrial Workers of the World songbook
- A classic cowboy tune
- Covers of Lavender Country and Richard Thompson
- And of course, his own beautiful, weird, world-warping originals
The first single, “Work is Work,” is out now—and it’s an apocalyptic bluegrass burner that hits like a freight train and lingers like prairie dust. Stream it, memorize it, and scream it in the truck with the windows down.
Why This One Matters
In a world where everything feels like it’s on fire (and not the good kind), Willi’s music still feels like a warm cup of coffee on a back porch in spring. It’s tender, radical, funny, furious, and absolutely essential.
And hey—he’s not doing this alone. Willi wants you on this journey. Go see a show. Preorder the album. Bring your weird friends and your loudest laugh. This is community music, and it only works if we show up.
