August 9, 2024 — Breakthrough guitarist, songwriter and bandleader Grace Bowers’ highly anticipated debut album, Wine On Venus, is out now.
In celebration of the new music, Bowers will make her late-night television debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” this Monday, August 12 with her band, The Hodge Podge, and released a new live performance video for album track “Madame President” today.
Of “Madame President,” Bowers shares, “We wrote ‘Madame President’ wanting to see change in the world today. Women are competing within the highest circles now and we hope to see that momentum grow for the world to transform.”
Produced by John Osborne (Brothers Osborne), Wine On Venus captures the one-of-a-kind energy of Bowers’ live performances with The Hodge Podge. Already receiving critical attention, Garden & Gun declares, “Phenom Grace Bowers is poised for six-string stardom,” while Forbes praises, “an infectious, joyous party and a worthy introduction to Bowers,” and The Bluegrass Situation proclaims, “an exceptional breakout talent who seems primed for a long career to come.”
The release of Wine On Venus marks another milestone in a breakout year for Bowers, who made her Grand Ole Opry debut last week on her eighteenth birthday, was recently named a U.S. Global Music Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State and YouTube’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative and is nominated for Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2024 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards.
Additionally, Bowers and The Hodge Podge will continue to tour through this fall including select dates with The Red Clay Strays and Gary Clark Jr. as well as performances at prominent festivals such as the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Bourbon & Beyond, XPoNential Music Festival and Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival. See below for a complete list of tour dates.
Reflecting on the project, Bowers shares, “I’m so excited to share my first album with the world! It’s been a long time coming, and I’m proud of what was created with the incredible Hodge Podge and John Osborne producing. We recorded everything live, as it should be, for this sonic journey. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
In addition to Bowers (guitar), the record features Joshua Blaylock (keys), Brandon Combs (drums), Eric Fortaleza(bass), Esther Okai-Tetteh (vocals) and Prince Parker (guitar) as well as songwriting collaborations with respected artists such as Ben Chapman, Meg McRee, Maggie Rose and Lucie Silvas.
Originally from the Bay Area and now calling Nashville home, Bowers began garnering attention after sharing videos of herself playing guitar on social media during the pandemic. In the years since, she’s been featured on “CBS Mornings” in a piece focused on a new wave of young female guitarists, performed alongside Dolly Parton as part of her Pet Gala special on CBS, joined Lainey Wilson as part of CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live celebration, performed as part of the “Men’s Final Four Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan” and been sought after by everyone from Devon Allman to Tyler Childers and Susan Tedeshi to Kingfish. Of her 2023 Newport Folk Festival debut, Rolling Stone declared, “Her 20-minute performance gave the distinct sense that everyone lucky enough to have attended was witnessing a star in the making,” while The Tennessean calls her “a 17 year old Blues guitar prodigy,” with a, “heart as big as her talent is vast.”
Most recently this summer, Bowers joined artists such as Slash and Brothers Osborne on the road, performed alongside Billy Idol at the Fired Up For Summer benefit concert and raised $30,000 with her 2nd Annual “Grace Bowers & Friends: An Evening Supporting Love, Life & Music” benefit show, $15,000 of which was donated to MusiCares®. With the release of Wine On Venus (distributed by The Orchard), Bowers continues to establish herself as one of music’s most intriguing new artists.
