Singer-songwriter Nicki Bluhm gives a nod to her adopted hometown of Nashville with her new track “Cumberland Banks.” Released today (July 2), the track serves as the lead single from her eighth studio album Rancho Deluxe, which arrives on October 3.
The groovy story-song was inspired by recent journeys on the road alongside the celebrated bluegrass act The Infamous Stringdusters. Anchored by rhythmic accompaniment from Mumford & Sons touring band member Matt Mennefee on banjo and dobro provided by Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass, “Cumberland Banks” showcases Bluhm’s keen ability to transport listeners into her lyrical landscapes.
“Canoeing down the Cumberland River was a favorite pastime of ours until the day we found ourselves huddled under a bridge fearing for our lives in the midst of a Tennessee thunderstorm,” Bluhm shares in a statement. “This song is that story told in the form of a late-night summertime John Hartford and Roger Miller pick-along.”
“Cumberland Banks” serves as the first preview of Rancho Deluxe, which was named as a nod to the home studio where she and partner, Jesse Noah Wilson, crafted the record. Mennefee and Beck are just two of a list of seasoned musicians who join Bluhm on the project, including Jess Nolan, Kai Welch, and Cameron Neal. Sonically, the San Francisco native’s upcoming project promises a soundscape filled with elements of 70s-era country, indie folk, psych-rock, and classic soul.
“This is a harvest record,” shares Bluhm. “It’s a collection of the fruits of my labor. I’ve taken all these life lessons and experiences, and I’ve learned from them. Jesse and I have an amazing arsenal of friends and family that we recruited to play on the record, and that interplay lends itself to a freedom in the studio. We were focused on catching the moment, being in the room together, and experiencing something communally.”
Listen to “Cumberland Banks” below:
Rancho Deluxe Track List:
- “Bay Laurel Leaves”
- “Falling Out of Dreams”
- “Tumbleweed”
- “Keep on Growing”
- “Cumberland Banks”
- “Change the Channel”
- “Simple Side of Me”
- “Trying to Survive”
- “Taking Chances”
- “Long Time to Make Old Friends”
Nicki Bluhm 2025 Tour Dates:
July 11-12 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Celebration of Summer Jam at Watkins Glen – Analog at Hutton Hotel
July 31 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Heart of Town – Pier 48 in Mission Rock
Aug. 14 – Park City, Utah @ Park City Song Summit
Aug. 17 – Truckee, Utah @ Terrapin Roadshow at Truckee – Salty Gebhardt Amphitheater
Sept. 10 – Nashville, Tenn. @ AmericanaFest – The 5 Spot
Sept. 12-14 – Jackson, Wy. @ Horseshoe Music Festival
