Go ahead and mark your calendars for October 10th, because Philip Bowen is a dropping a killer new record. And we have all the details. The fiddle playing phenom from West Virginia has been rolling out singles at a steady pace since March, but has yet to provide any details regarding an album, until now. Titled Appalachia Forever, Bowen’s 3rd record finds the artist vulnerably sharing his story, both the good and the bad, through 10 deftly written originals that are steeped in his Appalachian life. An extremely underrated songwriter and one of the best fiddle players in the business, Bowen has a special way of conjuring emotion through his music, and Appalachia Forever is loaded with emotion evoking lyricism. And with features from several artists, including Charles Wesley Godwin and Josiah and the Bonnevilles, among others, it’s clear that Bowen surrounded himself with top-tier talent to bring this project to life. I could go on and on about how great the album is, but no one is able to contextualize and set the scene for Appalachia Forever quite like Philip Bowen himself, so luckily he graciously agreed to a quick Q&A to give Whiskey Riff the insider information on the new album. See what Bowen had to say here: Q: You are obviously very proud of where you come from. How has your home state of West Virginia and the greater Appalachian region inspired and influenced the record? A: “West Virginia and Appalachia are in my DNA – the people, the mountains, the stories. Every song on this record is reflection of the pride, the struggle, and the beauty I grew up around. I called it ‘Appalachia Forever’ because no matter where I go, those roots stay with me. This record is full of my own Appalachian life experiences, but it’s also an homage to the region that made me who I am.” Q: In your own words, what are the common themes that tie Appalachia Forever together? A: “The thread running through the whole album is authenticity. Whether it’s about family, faith, hard work, or just getting through tough times, the songs all point back to the idea of holding on to where you’re from and the people who lift you up. It’s about resilience and connection. It’s joyful, it’s sad, and it’s all the things that life brings us. This is my best attempt at sharing my story.” Q: Half of the songs on the album include features from other artists. What was it like working with so many other talented artists to bring these songs to life? A: “From the start, I knew collaboration has to be part of this record. Including artists I love, respect, and trust – like Charles Wesley Godwin, Josiah & the Bonnevilles, Julia DiGrazia Leon Majcen, and Madison Hughes – made ‘Appalachia Forever’ feel even more alive. This is the best job in the world, and when you can work with your friends it’s even more special.” Q: Is there anything else you want the fans to know about the record? A: “This record is for anyone who’s ever felt proud of where they’re from, even if it wasn’t always easy. I hope people hear their own stories resonating in these songs. Two good examples are ‘Five Drugs’ and ‘Blue As Water.’ I hope these songs find who they’re meant to find. Finally, I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s supported me and been on this crazy journey over the last few years – you’re the reason I get to make music like this.” It is clear that this album is very special and personal to Bowen, and in my opinion, it features some of his best work to date. Check out the full set list for Appalachia Forever below, and give a few of my favorite singles released thus far a listen to get a feel for the record before it drops in its entirety on October 10. Appalachia Forever Track List: “Bulldog” “Carolina Wren” “Five Drugs” “Hurricane” ft. Julia DiGrazia “Slow It Down” ft. Madison Hughes “Sure Could Use The Rain” ft. Josiah and the Bonnevilles “Blue As Water” ft. Charles Wesley Godwin “The Wheel” “Best Pretender” “Big Fish” ft. Leon Majcen Philip Bowen has a handful of tour dates remaining this fall, and if he and his band are coming to a city near you, I highly suggest snagging some tickets and catching the show. Check out his tour dates below: Philip Bowen Tour Dates 9/11 – Westville Music Bowl – New Haven, CT^ 9/12 – Turning Stone Resort – Verona, NY^ 9/13 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway – Boston, MA^ 9/19 – Ramble at the Randall – Webster, KY= 10/10 – The Clay Center – Charleston, WV% 10/11 – The Purple Fiddle – Thomas, WV 10/24 – Night of Hope for the Nightbirdie Foundation – Heath, OH 11/5 – Santander Arena – Reading, PA^ 11/6 – MGM National Harbor – Oxon Hill, MD^ 11/7 – 1st Summit Arena – Johnstown, PA^ ^supporting Dwight Yoakam w/ The Mavericks =w/ Ritch Henderson, Lance Rogers, Josh Mitcham %w/ The Parachute BrigadeThe post Philip Bowen Shares His Life Story With Upcoming Record, ‘Appalachia Forever’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.