Rhiannon Giddens has shared Freight Train, a new version of the song made famous by fellow North Carolina folk artist Elizabeth Cotten.
The stripped back reworking features the two-time Grammy Award-winner's intimate vocals alongside Louisiana native and longtime collaborator Dirk Powell on acoustic guitar. It follows Caroline Rain, one of four original songs written by Giddens and Powell that will feature on the singer-songwriter's seventh album, 'Hope Is the Thing with Feathers', due out on September 18 via Nonesuch Records.
Co-produced by Giddens and Powell, the 10-song project was created by the pair alongside several key collaborators from throughout Giddens' life and career, including longtime bassist Jason Sypher, Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi, Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, her first bandmate and fellow North Carolinian Justin Robinson, her nephew Justin Harrington, Amelia Powell, Charly Lowry, and Giddens' sister, Lalenja Harrington. Commenting on how the record took shape, Giddens said:
"Louisiana, the Congo, Italy, the Carolinas—all of these influences and people coming together to make something: that is American music. It’s how American music came to be, and that was the original thought of creating a band with the musicians that I’ve been playing with for years, and featured on this album."
The multi-hyphenate will support the album with a UK and European tour this autumn, alongside a number of US shows later this month, in November and early next year. Tickets are on sale now.
Her previous album was last year's 'What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow', a collaborative record with her former Carolina Chocolate Drops bandmate Justin Robinson. Her last solo LP was 2023's 'You're The One'.
'Hope is the Thing with Feathers' tracklist:
1. Angel Fire Rise
2. Hope Is the Thing with Feathers
3. Step Away Blues
4. Wish in Vain
5. Carolina Rain
6. High on a Mountain
7. Freight Train
8. Walk with Me
9. Cluck Old Hen
10. Going Home
Rhiannon Giddens Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Tue September 29 2026 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Wed September 30 2026 - DUBLIN Vicar Street
Thu October 01 2026 - CORK Cyprus Avenue
Sat October 03 2026 - BELFAST Ulster Hall
Sun December 06 2026 - LONDON KOKO
Mon December 07 2026 - EDINBURGH Edinburgh Assembly Rooms
Tue December 08 2026 - GATESHEAD Glasshouse International Centre for Music - Sage 2
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