For Immediate Release
August 5, 2019
Americana “rhythm & roots” artist Bradford Loomis to release new album in October
Where the Light Ends shares grief, longing, wistfulness, and regret, alongside enduring hope, humility, and love
Nashville-based Americana singer-songwriter Bradford Loomis is set to release a new album, Where the Light Ends, on October 11, 2019. Recorded at Sound Forge Studios in Kenewick WA, and produced by Brandon Bee, Where the Light Ends speaks of the raw reality of the human condition with passion, sharing tales that are shaped by grief and longing and colored by wistfulness and regret, but that are lifted by enduring hope, humility, and love. “In my travels, I’ve met a lot of people going through hard times,” Loomis says. “I want them to know they’re not alone. We’re in this thing together.”
Drawing from the storytelling of Bruce Springsteen, Iron and Wine, and Jason Isbell, and pairing it with the soulful delivery of Chris Stapleton, Marc Broussard, and Shawn James, Loomis has created a unique style he calls “Rhythm & Roots.” Grit and melody marry roots and soul.
It’s easy to see where that grit, and Loomis’ musical gumption, come from. In late 2009, Loomis lost his job, a home, a community, and was supporting a sick spouse when jobs were scarce, yet this storm would not conquer Loomis. His strife was fodder for hard-won songs, and his fear was fuel to push him toward a full-time career in music. “There is such a thing as good grief,” he muses. “I had walked away from music for 10 years when we started a family. The grief we felt, the desperation of those hard times… without them, I doubt that I would have come back to music in any meaningful way or that we would have ever taken the leap to going all-in with it.”
His family of five moved into a tiny mother-in-law apartment to save money, and his wife started working full-time again after a celiac disease diagnosis. He began touring, building a supportive community of fans and recording the songs that became buoys, leading to new destinations, new friends, and a sense of purpose that overshadows the pain it took to get through, let go, and sail on.
Loomis threw himself into writing and learning about the music business. Mentors appeared like angels, sharing their knowledge and experiences in the music industry. He released his first EP, Under the August Sky (2011), and a full-length album, Into the Great Unknown (2013), before teaming up with another singer/songwriter, Beth Whitney, to release a pair of award-winning records under the name The Banner Days (Banner Days [2014] and Hand Me a Hymnal [2015]). After his father’s diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s, Loomis found further fuel for the fire. With the tales of his family’s struggles burning fresh in his chest, he released his most vulnerable project, Bravery and the Bell, in 2017.
“I learned first-hand the power of telling your story,” Loomis says, “and it helped me process everything we were going through. We are uniquely wired for narrative. It’s how we pass on our history, impart our wisdom, and build connections with each other. We see ourselves in the stories of others. We can put ourselves in their shoes and have empathy.”
On past releases, American Standard Time praised Loomis’ “blessedly unvarnished, wild delivery,” while Vents Magazine lauded his music, saying it was “ripped from a very private place… giv[ing] flesh and blood life to some of Loomis’ innermost thoughts and shroud[ing] them in an approachable sound. …an impressive listen.” Seattle Weekly championed his sound, suggesting it “blends fast, rustling drums with soothing harmony and folk flavor, but it’s a subtle angst that makes [it] scream replay value.” Indie Music Review said he “stands out from the field in the Americana scene. There are usually a handful of talents coming along in each generation and style who are torchbearers and innovators for longstanding artistic forms. Loomis is a talent both uniquely of this time and all time.”
Playing 355 shows in two years, while also releasing a Christmas EP (Wintering Heart, [2017]) and a live album (Live at the Red Clay Foundry [2019]), has taken him far and wide in his travels and given him some insights. He plans to tour in support of Where the Light Ends (see confirmed dates below, more to be announced soon).
Bradford Loomis Tour Schedule:
August 10th – Jacksonville Beach, FL / Blue Jay Listening Room
August 14th – Nashville, TN / True Music Room
August 17th – Sparta, TN / Happy Trails Brewing
August 24th – Atlanta, GA / Cottage in the Back
September 6th – Tulsa, OK / The Colony
October 18th – Trempealeau, WI / Elmaro Vineyard
October 25th – Skowhegan, ME / Bigelow Brewing
November 3rd – Nashville, TN / Crying Wolf
November 10th – Panama City Beach, FL / Americana Café
… more dates to be announced soon!