Valerie June Previews New EP ‘Brighter Blue’ with Lead Single “Smokestack”

Singer, songwriter, poet, and multi-instrumentalist Valerie June has announced her new EP, Brighter Blue, arriving September 11th via Concord. Alongside the announcement, June has released the project’s lead single, “Smokestack,” a bold reinterpretation of the blues standard “Smokestack Lightning” interwoven with elements of the traditional folk song “In the Pines.”

The new three-track EP sees June revisiting the sounds that first defined her career while continuing to expand her distinctive blend of blues, folk, gospel, rock, and Americana. In addition to “Smokestack,” Brighter Blue features new interpretations of “I’ll Fly Away” and “Trouble In Mind,” with the latter featuring Sam Amidon on fiddle, banjo, and backing vocals.

Speaking about the inspiration behind “Smokestack,” June explains:

“Few songs have travelled as far and wide as ‘Smokestack Lightning.’ Since Howlin’ Wolf’s landmark 1956 recording, it has been embraced by generations of artists across blues, rock, folk, psychedelia, and grunge. Inspired by that tradition of reinvention, I gathered a blazing electric band to forge our own path through the song.”

She continues:

“We fused the haunting imagery of ‘In the Pines’ popularized by Lead Belly, the visceral edge of Nirvana, and the electrifying spirit of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s guitar work into a single roaring performance. The result is a road-tested blend of roots music and rock n’ roll that feels equally at home in the Mississippi Delta and on a sun-baked American highway.”

The announcement follows the success of 2025’s acclaimed album, Owls, Omens, and Oracles, which earned widespread praise and fueled an extensive North American tour. June has continued to receive recognition for her singular artistry, with praise from artists including Bob Dylan and collaborations spanning everyone from Mavis Staples to Elvis Costello and Robert Plant. She was also recently the subject of an exhibit at Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music celebrating her career.

This summer, June is supporting Ani DiFranco on select West Coast dates before embarking on additional festival appearances and a North American headline run. She’ll also appear at AmericanaFest in Nashville on September 18th for the “Women & Guitars” panel alongside NPR Music’s Ann Powers.

Valerie June’s upcoming itinerary includes dates with Ani DiFranco, festival appearances, and headline performances throughout North America.

Tour Dates:

Aug. 2 – Seattle, WA @ Woodland Park Zoo ^ + [SOLD OUT]
Aug. 4 – Portland, OR @ Pioneer Courthouse Square ^ +
Aug. 5 – Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Festival Pavilion ^
Aug. 6 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall ^
Aug. 7 – Sun. Aug. 9 – Lyons, CO @ Rocky Mountain Folks Fest+
Aug. 9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
Aug. 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Walt Disney Concert Hall ^
Aug. 14 – Ojai, CA @ Libbey Bowl ^
Aug. 15 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium ^
Aug. 16 – Sonoma, CA @ Gundlach Bundschu Winery ^ [SOLD OUT]
Aug. 17 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Aug. 18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Aug. 27 – Hatfield, MA @ Black Birch Vineyard [SOLD OUT]
Aug. 28 – Homer, NY @ Center for the Arts of Homer
Aug. 29 – Tivoli, NY @ Kaatsbaan Music Festival
Aug. 30 – North Truro, MA @ Payomet Performing Arts Center
Sep. 11 – Fish Creek, WI @ Door County Auditorium
Sep. 12 – Evanston, IL @ Evanston Folk Festival
Sep. 13 – Annapolis, MD @ Annapolis Songwriter Festival
Sep. 17 – Memphis, TN @ Satellite Music Hall*
Sep. 18 – Nashville, TN @ Americana Fest >
Oct 8 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre – Souvenirs: 80 Years of John Prine [SOLD OUT]
Dec. 11 – New York, NY @ Crown Hill Theater*
Dec. 18 – Sarasota, FL @ The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art*
Feb. 26 – Mar. 5 – Miami to St. Kitts & St. Maarten @ Cayamo

^ = w/ Ani DiFranco
+ = trio
* = Full Band
> = in conversation with Ann Powers – Women & Guitars Panel

Valerie June ‘Brighter Blue’ EP album artwork