New Orleans Folk Rock Diva Lilli Lewis is releasing Americana, her third full album for Louisiana Red Hot Records. The album was co-produced by Lewis and iconic indie producer Mark Bingham (Peter Stampfel, Hal Wilner, Allen Ginsberg). Notable guest artists include cellist Rick Nelson (Afghan Whigs, Polyphonic Spree), Doug Belote (Dr. John, George Porter, Jr.),  folk favorite Gina Forsyth, and Seattle Blues Legend Lady A. The album will be released on CD and across all digital platforms on October 29th.

Thanks to the perils of five pandemic-era hurricanes, Americana was recorded across more than twice as many spaces, with the bulk of the load performed in New Orleans at Marigny Studios (recorded by Rick Nelson), and at Bingham’s own Nina Highway in Henderson, Louisiana. After performing for a full house at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s last show before lockdown, Lewis conceived the album amid quarantine conditions that imposed an indefinite pause in an otherwise booked-out performance year. Without the pressure of upbeat, danceable shows on the agenda, Lewis turned to a bag of story songs that she felt didn’t fit the New Orleans club scene.

Of the collection, Lewis says: “these stories were meant to reflect the humanity of the forgotten, because in times like these, it feels like dignity can be really hard to come by.”

Released October 29, 2021
Produced by Lilli Lewis & Mark Bingham

Recorded by:
Rick Nelson at Marigny Studios, New Orleans
David Villalta at Studio 55, Ponchaatoula, LA
Mark Bingham at Nina Hwy, Henderson, LA
Keenan McRae at Artisound, New Orleans
Lilli Lewis at Sanctuary Studios, Slidell, LA