John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff - The Return Of... (2025)

The Return of…John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff (Schoolkids Records) heralds the reappearance of North Carolina’s finest honky tonkin’, soulful country-rockers. 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of John Howie Jr.’s iconic career as a band leader/singer/songwriter, from the legendary Two Dollar Pistols through to the Rosewood Bluff, with a 2018 solo album thrown in for good measure. Howie has built a legacy of authentic, roots-driven country music. The Rosewood Bluff’s five-piece lineup features Nathan Golub on pedal steel guitar, Tim Shearer on electric guitar, Mark Connor on bass, Dave Hartman (Southern Culture on the Skids) on drums, and Howie on rhythm guitar, with the whole outfit fueled by his rich baritone on lead vocals. Their sound shifts effortlessly between honkytonk shuffles, driving country-rock numbers, and deep soul ballads. The album’s 12 tracks explore the struggles and resilience of underdogs navigating life’s complexities. With heartfelt storytelling, The Return of… reaffirms Howie’s place as a master of honky-tonk, offering hope and grit for these challenging times.