Julian James, Moonshine State - Prey to the Crow (2026)

Tracklist

01. Levee
02. Black Mattie
03. Paperbark
04. Black Jack County Chains
05. Monied Mind
06. The Gambit
07. Take My Hand
08. White Lightning
09. Broken Man
10. Prey to the Crow
11. Catfish

Produced by ARIA Award-winner Matt Fell, the record leans into James’s whiskey-drenched Americana and hill-country blues, shaped by years of constant touring and life on the road. While the album carries the full sound of The Moonshine State, Julian currently tours primarily as a dynamic duo with his wife and long-time musical partner Beci Kate. Living full-time in a bus and rarely off the road, the pair bring the same grit, groove and connection heard on the record to stages across Australia and Europe. Prey to the Crow features key contributions from celebrated fiddler Pete Denahy, harmony vocals/guitar from the Hussy Hicks, and a guest harmonica appearance from blues legend Charlie Musselwhite on a reworked Muddy Waters classic, Catfish.

High-energy hill-country sound with special guests Built on the raw, road-tested feel of Julian James & the Moonshine State’s live shows, ‘Prey To The Crow’ amplifies Julian’s resonant vocals and finger-picked guitar with Denahy’s fiery fiddle and Fell’s grounded, roots-first production. Drawing from alt-country, folk, soul, bluegrass and hill-country blues, the songs move between sweaty juke-joint grit and front-porch storytelling without losing their modern edge.

The album’s title track Prey To The Crow opens with a swampy groove and gospel-tinged chorus, driven by the interplay between Julian’s guitar and Pete’s Fiddle. End-album highlight Catfish offers an upbeat reinterpretation of the Muddy Waters classic, featuring Musselwhite’s unmistakable harp and backing vocals from the Hussy Hicks. Across the record, fiddle, bass and layered harmonies weave together to breathe new life into traditional blues and country forms.

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