JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE

Justin Townes Earle arrived at Bloodshot carrying the weight of a legacy and the fire of his own truth. Bloodshot’s co-founder, Rob Miller, called his first encounter with Justin “a thunderclap moment” and did the world a favor in the form of a record deal. There was simply no denying that Justin Townes Earle was the flesh and bone embodiment of what this label was about. His was a voice that could turn personal devastation into universal salvation, with an unflinching honesty that marked him as essential.

When Earle released The Good Life in 2008, he described it simply as "a singer-songwriter record that draws on a lot of forms of Southern music." But those words belied the depth of his ambition, as he transformed deeply personal themes—his complicated relationships with family, his battles with addiction—into stories about fear, forgiveness, compassion, and redemption.

Harlem River Blues proved Earle's genius. Its title track earned Song of the Year at the 2011 Americana Awards, showcasing his finger-picked guitar work inspired by bluesmen like Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin Hopkins. His live performances became legendary—electric, unparalleled showcases where he shared stages with icons like John Prine, Levon Helm, and Gillian Welch. From his roadburnt-raw debut EP, Yuma, to the weathered wisdom of Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way I Feel About You Now, Earle’s 5-year run at Bloodshot represents a body of work that chose truth over comfort, every single time.

Black and white cover of Justin Townes Earle's album 'The Good Life' featuring a man with a hat holding a guitar and a woman whispering in his ear.
A man and a woman standing in a river at a dock, with cloudy skies and a bridge in the background.
A man and a woman in a photo studio with a graffiti message background. The woman is walking past, wearing sunglasses, a sleeveless top, and jeans. The man is standing still, wearing glasses, a hat, a coat, and jeans. The background has the words "Nothing is gonna change that you feel" spray-painted on a backdrop. The studio has lighting equipment and a ladder.
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