Willie Watson has announced his self-titled debut solo album, set for release on Sept. 13 via Little Operation Records and More (Thirty Tigers). Though Watson’s career as a singer, songwriter, and poet has spanned over 30 years and countless projects, this is the multi-instrumentalist’s first solo record of original material. In anticipation of the eponymous set, the folk musician released the effort’s first single, “Real Love,” as a preview of his new sound, and an accompanying music video directed by Joseph Wasilewski.

With the impending set, Watson chose to put together a band that would assist in self-exploration while recontextualizing a new era. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Gabe Witcher and Kenneth Pattengale, Willie Watson features a number of talented musicians from various moments in the founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show’s personal history, including Benmont Tench on keys, Paul Kowert on bass, Dylan Day on guitar, Jason Boesel on drums and Sami Braman on fiddle.

“Real Love” previews the totality of the impending project. Written for his wife, Mindy, the single is a testament to their partnership’s endurance across mundane and spectacular moments, with the line “this is the only real love that I have ever known” operating as both refrain and affirmation. The Wasilewski-led video calls attention to both Watson’s project of self-exploration and past alike, as clips of Watson playing guitar by himself in various locations are juxtaposed alongside footage of the pair slow dancing in those same places. “This record is me beating the devil, or the story of what finally did it anyway. I didn’t make any specific pact or anything but I know we’ve been tangled up most of my life. Now that he’s gone I can love myself again,” Watson stated.

Alongside the reveal of his upcoming record, Watson also unveiled a series of North American tour dates with stops across the continent—everywhere from New York to British Columbia, Tennessee and Los Angeles, before heading back to his home state of New York to close out the lengthy run. Between solo dates, Watson will support Old Crow Medicine Show for a July 19 performance at Portland, Maine’s State Theater, as well as a number of midwestern dates in late November. He is also set for several festival appearances, including The Trails End Music Festival in Etna, Calif., on June 28 and 29, Trumansberg, N.Y.’s Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival on July 20 and Ossipee Valley Music Festival in Hiram, Maine, on July 26. 

Fans can purchase tickets for and find more information about Willie Watson’s tour here and pre-order Willie Watson. Read on for a complete list of upcoming tour dates.

Upcoming Willie Watson Tour Dates

June 28-29 – The Trails End Music Festival – Etna, Calif. 

 July 18 – The Word Barn – Exeter, N.H.

July 19 – State Theater – Portland, Maine*

July 20 – Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival – Trumansberg, N.Y.

July 23 – Caffe Lena – Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

July 25 – Nectar’s – Burlington, Vt.

July 26 – Ossipee Valley Music Festival – Hiram, Maine

Aug. 22 – Pitchfork Social – Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Aug. 23 – The Orillia Street Music Hall – Victoria, British Columbia

 Sept. 21 – Planet Bluegrass – Lyons, Colo.

Sept. 25 – Bijou Theater – Knoxville, Tenn

Sept. 28 – The Bur – Lexington, Ky.

Sept. 29 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, Mich 

Oct. 1 – HI-Fi Annex – Indianapolis

Oct. 2 – SPACE – Evanston, Ill. 

Oct. 4 – Stoughton Opera House – Stoughton, Wisc.

Oct. 5 – Thrasher Opera House – Green Lake, Wisc.

Oct. 6 – Dakota – Minneapolis   

Oct. 30 – Pico Union Project – Los Angeles

Nov. 1 – Felton Music Hall – Felton, Calif.

Nov. 2 – Mystic Theater & Music Hall – Petaluma, Calif.

Nov. 3 – Freight & Salvage – Berkeley, Calif.

Nov. 6 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, Wash. 

Nov. 7 – Wild Buffalo – Bellingham, Wash.  

Nov. 8 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, Ore. 

Nov. 9 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, British Columbia

Nov. 11 – Top Hat Lounge – Missoula, Mont.

Nov. 12 – The Rialto – Bozeman, Mont.  

Nov. 15 – The Coast – Fort Collins, Colo.

Nov. 16 – Globe Hall – Denver  

Nov. 19 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, Mo. 

Nov. 20 – The Pageant – St Louis*  

Nov. 21 – Val Air Ballroom West – Des Moines, Iowa*

Nov. 22 – Riverside Theater – Milwaukee*

Nov. 23 – Hancher Auditorium – Iowa City, Iowa*

Dec. 3 – Basement East – Nashville, Tenn.

Dec. 4 – The Grey Eagle Music Hall – Asheville, N.C.

Dec. 6 – Union Stage – Washington

Dec. 7 – The Southern – Charlottesville, Va. 

Dec. 8 – Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, Pa.

Dec. 10 – The Sinclair – Boston

Dec. 12 – Bowery Ballroom – New York 

Dec. 13 – Levon Helm Studios – Woodstock, N.Y.  

Dec. 14 – Hangar Theatre – Ithaca, N.Y. 

* supporting Old Crow Medicine Show