Photo by Shervin Lainez

Today Gov’t Mule announced their newest studio offering, Peace…Like A River will be released on June 16 via Fantasy Records and, in celebration, shared “Dreaming Out Loud,” the first taste of the project featuring Ivan Neville and Ruthie Foster. On the riveting new track, Grammy award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar icon, and producer Warren Haynes utilized iconic quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Robert and John Kennedy, and the late civil rights leader and U.S. Representative John Lewis.

Peace…Like A River marks the band’s 12th studio album and follow-up to their chart-topping blues album, Heavy Load Blues. The 12-track collection of rock features guest appearances from Billy Bob Thornton, Celisse, and Billy F Gibbons, the latter of whom performed just this past weekend with Haynes during the CMT Music Award’s tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“Peace…Like A River is very ambitious from a musical arrangement standpoint in the way that a lot of the songs take twists and turns that is not common in today’s pop music world,” shared Haynes in a press release. “At the same time, it’s very much a song record and covers a lot of ground, stylistically speaking. Song for song maybe my favorite one.”

The album explores many qualities of Gov’t Mule’s individual players–Haynes (guitar, vocals), Matt Abts (drums), Danny Louis (keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals), and Jorgen Carlsson (bass)–while continuing to explore their signature sound and reinforce the stature they’ve earned over their years of playing. Notably, Peace…Like A River was recorded during the same sessions as Heavy Load Blues at The Power Station New England with co-producer John Paterno with Haynes; however, they were created in separate rooms and with different gear to further their distinct characters.

Gov’t Mule will be on the road this year in support of the album with a 10-date spring tour starting on May 5 at New Orleans’ Jazz Fest through a two-night stint on May 19 and 20 at Hanyes’ hometown of Asheville, N.C. They’ll then return with Dark Side of the Mule, their Pink Floyd Tribute for 12-dates, including a performance at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. They’re also slated for performances at Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour. Learn more about Gov’t Mule’s upcoming tour dates here.

Pre-order Peace…Like A River here.

Listen to “Dreaming Out Loud” below.

Peace…Like A River Tracklist

1.    Same As It Ever Was

2.   Shake Our Way Out (ft. Billy F Gibbons)

3.   Made My Peace

4.   Peace I Need

5.   Your Only Friend

6.   Dreaming Out Loud (ft. Ivan Neville and Ruthie Foster)

7.   Head Full Of Thunder

8.   The River Only Flows One way (ft. Billy Bob Thornton)

9.    After The Storm

10.  Just Across The River (ft. Celisse)

11.   Long Time Coming

12.  Gone Too Long 

Deluxe edition (CD Only) – Time Of The Signs EP tracklist

1.      Stumblebum

2.     Under The Tent

3.     Time Stands Still

4.     Blue, Blue Wind

5.     The River Only Flows One Way (WH vocals)