Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan Reveals New Solo Album “Love & Lore”

People discover Chuck Ragan in different ways. Some people know Ragan from the pioneering punk act Hot Water Music he’s co-fronted for the past three decades. Others are aware of his successful solo career or the Revival Tour, a collection of traveling troubadours that included his peers like Frank Turner and The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon. Some folks may have even come across him from the successful fly fishing operation he runs out of Grass Valley, California. The one throughline through all this is the way that Ragan approaches everything with a level of honesty and integrity that can’t be faked, and that sentiment is undeniable on his new full length, Love And Lore, that is out today via Rise Records. This is Ragan’s first solo collection in ten years and one that’s being released as Hot Water Music take a well-deserved victory lap for their breakout album, Vows, which came out earlier this year.

In some ways, it’s a miracle that Love And Lore even exists. The album was first conceptualized by Ragan in 2016, studio time was booked in 2019 and right before the recording was set to take place, COVID happened and all of Ragan’s musical projects had to be put on hold so he could focus on his fishing operation to provide for his family. Eventually Love And Lore was recorded in early 2023 and the result is an album that showcases Ragan further transcending the “folk” label to create a collection of songs that see him stretching out as a songwriter to fearlessly explore new sonic territory. Ragan is accompanied on Love And Lore by a group of seasoned musicians, including multi instrumentalist Todd Beene, George Rebelo (Hot Water Music), Paige Overton (Paige And The Overtones) and bassist Spencer Duncan. Lyrically, the album sees Ragan digging deep into his own psyche to craft lyrics that are brutally honest when it comes to themes such as relationships, family and the daily struggles that are an inherent part of living.

“I’m always trying to do something different because I feel like if we’re not searching, we’re not learning. My writing approach seems to be whatever the song needs or wherever the song takes you, just let it breathe. Some of these songs are 15 years old and every once in a while something will pop out to me at the right time. It may have started a decade ago but for some reason whatever I sang or played just felt relevant to me in that moment, and that’s what I wanted to work on. There’s so much heartbreak that comes with this life and I’m not just talking about myself, I’m talking about the people around me. As someone who spends a lot of time away from my loved ones, there’s a lot of darkness at times and a lot of questions, and a lot of these songs are very much reflective of that and very much about therapy and finding peace and solace in nature, on the water and with loved ones, you know?” (Chuck Ragan)

Chuck Ragan And The Camaraderie be appearing at The Fest in Gainesville, FL on the 27th October which will be followed by solo US tour dates in December, a run EU dates in January 2024 and a solo tour of the UK and Ireland in Spring 2025. You can view all of Chuck Ragan‘s tour dates and purchase tickets here.