AT ANY GIVEN TIME, YOU’RE LIKELY TO FIND JIM LAUDERDALE MAKING MUSIC, WHETHER HE’S LAYING DOWN A NEW TRACK IN THE STUDIO OR WORKING THROUGH A SPONTANEOUS MELODY AT HIS HOME IN NASHVILLE. AND IF HE’S NOT ACTIVELY CRAFTING NEW MUSIC, HE’S CERTAINLY THINKING ABOUT IT. “IT'S A CONSTANT CHALLENGE TO TRY TO KEEP MAKING BETTER AND BETTER RECORDS, WRITE BETTER AND BETTER SONGS. I STILL ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I'M A DEVELOPING ARTIST,” HE SAYS. THIS MAY BE A SURPRISING SENTIMENT FROM A MAN WHO’S WON TWO GRAMMYS, RELEASED 34 FULL-LENGTH ALBUMS, AND TAKEN HOME THE AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION’S COVETED WAGONMASTER AWARD. BUT FORTHCOMING ALBUM GAME CHANGER IS CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIVE IS ONLY CONTINUING TO HONE HIS CRAFT.

OPERATING UNDER HIS OWN LABEL, SKY CRUNCH RECORDS, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2016, LAUDERDALE RECORDED GAME CHANGER AT THE RENOWNED BLACKBIRD STUDIOS IN NASHVILLE, CO-PRODUCING THE RELEASE WITH JAY WEAVER AND PULLING FROM SONGS HE’D WRITTEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. “THERE'S A MIXTURE ON THIS RECORD OF UPLIFTING SONGS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, SONGS OF HEARTBREAK AND DESPAIR—BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF LIFE AS WELL,” HE SAYS. “IN THE COUNTRY SONG WORLD ESPECIALLY, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF IT. THAT’S REAL LIFE.”

LAUDERDALE WOULD KNOW: HE’S BEEN A VITAL PART OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC ECOSYSTEM SINCE 1991, WHEN HE RELEASED HIS DEBUT ALBUM AND BEGAN PENNING SONGS FOR AN IMPRESSIVELY LONG ROSTER OF COUNTRY MUSIC GREATS. “WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER WANTING TO BE A BLUEGRASS BANJO PLAYER, I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT I WOULD GET TO WORK WITH PEOPLE LIKE RALPH STANLEY, ROBERT HUNTER, LORETTA LYNN, GEORGE JONES, EMMYLOU HARRIS, ELVIS COSTELLO, LUCINDA WILLIAMS AND JOHN OATES ,” HE MUSES. “GETTING TO WORK WITH THEM INSPIRES ME GREATLY TO THIS DAY, AND I KNOW IT ALWAYS WILL.” ,” HE MUSES. “GETTING TO WORK WITH THEM INSPIRES ME GREATLY TO THIS DAY, AND I KNOW IT ALWAYS WILL.”

FROM ROLLICKING GUITAR RIFFS ON “THAT KIND OF LIFE (THAT KIND OF DAY)” TO THE SLOW, SWEET HARMONIES OF “I’LL KEEP MY HEART OPEN FOR YOU,” GAME CHANGER SHOWS OFF LAUDERDALE’S INGENUITY AS A SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND PRODUCER—WHILE REESTABLISHING HIM AS ONE OF AMERICANA’S MOST STEADFAST CHAMPIONS. "COUNTRY MUSIC IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, BUT I'LL ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR STEEL GUITAR AND A TELECASTER," HE SAYS. "I HAVE DONE MY JOB ON THIS RECORD IF PEOPLE WHO LOVE CLASSIC COUNTRY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN PUT IT ON, OR HAVE IT IN THEIR COLLECTION, AND IT WOULD FIT RIGHT IN."

RESPECTING THE PAST DOESN’T MEAN HE’S NOT BREAKING NEW GROUND. “WE’RE ALL WE’VE GOT,” A CO-WRITE WITH MARY GAUTHIER AND JAIMEE HARRIS, OFFERS A TIMELY MESSAGE ABOUT HEALING TORN RELATIONSHIPS AT HOME AND ACROSS THE WORLD. AND “FRIENDS AGAIN,” A GRINNING NUMBER ABOUT REKINDLING A FRIENDSHIP, IS FRESH AND FORWARD-LOOKING. AT EVERY TURN, LAUDERDALE’S COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT AND GENUINE LOVE FOR THE CREATIVE PROCESS REVEAL THEMSELVES IN THOUGHTFUL, WELL-CRAFTED SONGS SURE TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME. "WHEN EVERYTHING WORKS RIGHT, IT'S JUST MAGICAL TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THEM BACK," HE SAYS. "YOU FEEL, AT LEAST FOR THOSE THREE-AND-A-HALF MINUTES, LIKE LIFE MAKES SENSE.”

Weaving together modern and traditional styles of American music, Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon based 5-piece composed of Joe Suskind (guitar), Crystal Lariza (vocals), Brian Alley (banjo), Kaden Hurst (mandolin), and Ben Ticknor (bass). Their dedication to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements highlight polished technical skills and a commitment to listening to each other. Formed in 2018, the band began touring extensively- steadily cultivating a passionate fan base at home in the Pacific Northwest, and eventually around the country. NCD released their first studio album “Better Late Than Never” in 2021 and their second LP “Greener Pastures” is slated for release late 2023. They’ve toured internationally and have found acclaim at festivals such as Iceland Airwaves, John Hartford Memorial Fest, Americanafest, FreshGrass and RockyGrass.

“Never Come Down has as much raw musical talent as any up-and-coming band out there today. They play and sing with authority and emotion beyond their years, and they showcase those skills through timeless songs that are all their own. This is a rare combination, and it's fully on display on their upcoming album, 'Greener Pastures‘. Unlike a lot of string bands, the sound of their individual voices/instruments merge seamlessly into one, and I find myself listening to the emotion, not the picking. That can take many years to figure out. Some never do. But Never Come Down has that emotive synergy as a starting place for what promises to be a meaningful musical journey ahead. It was such an honor to produce this record, and I can't wait for the world to learn what this amazing band is all about”. 
-Chris Pandolfi , The Infamous Stringdusters

“I became an instant fan of this band upon hearing their set at Northwest String Summit in 2022. As it turned out, they were opening several shows for us on the west coast that same week. I was privileged to witness firsthand their professionalism and musicianship. Never Come Down’s ability to gain and hold an audience’s interest at showtime and handle all the other day to day business is a testament to their dedication and work ethic. They are a driven group of folks and I admire them. Having momentum is certainly a fitting way to describe their trajectory.”
-Alan Bartram , The Travelin’ McCoury’s

"The Portland music scene got a huge shot in the arm with the advent of Never Come Down. Top-notch players combined with great original songwriting make for an always-fantastic show whenever they play. They're also deeply involved in the musical community - sweethearts building a scene!" 
 - Philip Graham, Ear Trumpet Labs