Red Sky July - Misty Morning (2025)

Husband and wife duo Shelly Poole and Ally McErlaine are joined by vocalist Haley Glennie-Smith to produce something special. Red Sky July are a husband-and-wife duo consisting of Ally McErlaine, Shelly Poole, and Haley Glennie-Smith on vocals. They have appeared as special guests with Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, and others and have played major festivals, including Glastonbury and C2C: Country to Country. Fans of their last album, “The Truth and The Lie,” will be familiar with their rich country sound.

This latest record departs from the previous and leans more towards English traditional folk with a spoonful of American roots. Fans looking for another slice of “The Truth and The Lie” may be disappointed as there are no big Nashville-inspired anthems, but the curious listener should give this set a chance as it has a lot to offer. “Misty Morning” is a different journey all around and an extremely enjoyable one. The vocal harmonies between Poole and Glennie-Smith are, at times, breathtaking and always fascinating.

From the start, the opening track, ‘Stones and Brambles,’ takes you on a musical journey across the countryside. Poole and Glennie-Smith join, singing, “I run to you every day/over the stones and brambles”. The gorgeous guitar is interlaced with a plaintive piano and soaring backgrounds as you travel with them.

Vocalist Joe Hammill joins the band for ‘Utah’, which is a brilliant fit as they engage in a call-and-response type song. Hammill’s deep, resonant voice opens the tune acapella style before a simple arrangement takes you deeper into the storyline. “Sorry, Daddy, I will always be a drifter / Don’t worry Daddy, I will leave all my things at the side of the road / Sorry, Daddy, I’m ready for a new start / I’m ready for a new heart.”

‘Platform 5’ is where the folk-influence takes full hold and leaves the station. Simple in its structure, it proves less is more. A cityscape with ethereal vocals emerges before us. The title track explores the territory of a relationship built on more than friendship. The lyrics, “You’re the man I call when the bottle breaks/And the hazy-gin eyes can’t see anything straight,” hint at something deeper.

The set is undoubtedly a departure from Red Sky July’s previous work as they rediscover themes they may have briefly touched on before and explore new ones, too. With “Misty Morning,” they have delved deeply into folk. They have explored the beauty of nature, love, relationships, and loss. It is a coherent collection of songs that will delight the listener. A shout-out also goes to Ellamae Statham for the stunning cover artwork, which sets the scene. It is an extremely satisfying, misty morning all around.