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New album from Americana duo tackles Kalamazoo shooting, other tough subjects

Mary Whalen
Red Tail Ring out with new album Fall Away Blues.

After three years of writing, arranging and recording, Red Tail Ring’s Michael Beauchamp and Laurel Premo are out with their new album.

It’s called Fall Away Blues. It blends new folk songs on subjects ranging from gun violence and fracking to our deepest relationships and changing sense of place. It also features some old traditional ballads and tunes.

"Fall Away Blues" is the title track on the new album. Premo wrote the song and says its form is based off of the nursery rhyme "Hush, Little Baby." 

"And it's [about] making happiness with whatever you have available. So, in my tune I took that a little further and spoke about a life, and persevering through whatever is thrown your direction," said Premo.

One deeply personal song on the album is called "Gibson Town." The duo wrote the song following the mass shooting in Kalamazoo this February. Beauchamp, who is from Kalamazoo, says he was deeply disturbed by the shooting. 

"We were really greatly affected by the community coming together and just trying to heal from the horrific event," he said. 

A CD release event is happening this Friday, October 7 on the west side of the state in Spring Lake, near Grand Haven. You can find out more here.

Mercedes Mejia is a producer and director of Stateside.
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