Simpson plans on concept album

This is Simpson's third album in 12 months, having released "Cutting Grass Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions" in October 2020 and "Cutting Grass Vol. 2" in December 2020.

"I just wanted to write a story—not a collection of songs that tell a story, but an actual story, front to back," said Simpson. He describes the concept album as a "rollercoaster ride through all the styles of traditional country and bluegrass and mountain music that I love, including gospel and a cappella."

Written and recorded in less than a week, the new album features the same musicians who played on the "Cuttin' Grass" albums and is what Simpson calls "a simple tale of either redemption or revenge." Willie Nelson sings on one song. The backing musicians are Mike Bub – upright bass; Stuart Duncan – fiddle, background vocals; Mark Howard – background vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar; Sierra Hull – mandolin, background vocals; Miles Miller – percussion, background vocals; Tim O'Brien – background vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar and Scott Vestal – banjo, background vocals

Simpson has previously challenged genre conventions with 2016's soul-inflected "A Sailor's Guide to Earth," which won the Grammy award for Country Album of the Year and was nominated for Album of the Year, and 2019's "Sound & Fury," which was nominated for Rock Album of the Year. Simpson is currently on location filming his role in Martin Scorsese's upcoming movie "Killers of the Flower Moon." He will be touring starting in September including five sold-out nights at Webster Hall in New York from Sept. 28-Oct. 2 and three nights at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, from Nov. 18-20.

The songs are:
Prologue
Ol' Dood (part I)
One In the Saddle, One On the Ground
Shamrock
Played Out
Sam
Juanita (featuring Willie Nelson)
Go In Peace
Epilogue
Ol' Dood (part II)

The release come out on vinyl on Dec. 3.