Rising American folk singer, songwriter, and musician Ken Pomeroy’s anticipated new album, Cruel Joke, is out today—her first in partnership with Rounder Records.
Anchored in Pomeroy’s Cherokee heritage, Cruel Joke is a powerful collection that showcases her raw songwriting and engaging voice. Produced by Pomeroy’s musical partner Dakota McDaniel, Gary Paczosa (John Prine, Alison Krauss, Sierra Ferrell, Katie Pruitt), and Colton Jean, the project consists of twelve deeply personal tracks—including a collaboration with her longtime songwriting hero John Moreland—that find Pomeroy telling stories of self-realization, reflection, and the world around her.
Known for her impactful live shows, Pomeroy will perform select headline dates this spring, including stops at Nashville’s Row One, Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right, and Tulsa’s Mercury Lounge (both shows sold out). She’ll also join Iron & Wine, I’m With Her, and Turnpike Troubadours on tour this year, and will play Newport Folk Festival in July.
Of the album, Pomeroy shares, “Dakota and I began recording ‘Cicadas’ back in February 2023. That marked the beginning of our long two-year journey, and so much has happened since we started. The oldest song was written when I was 13 years old; the most recent was added only a few months ago, just before we finished recording. For almost two years, we dedicated nearly every waking moment to working on Cruel Joke.”
An Oklahoma native, Pomeroy is already receiving widespread attention as “a new voice reviving the age-old Native Americana sound” (Teen Vogue). At 22, she’s appeared in the hit film Twisters (performing a cover of “Wall of Death”), had her song “Cicadas” featured in Hulu’s Reservation Dogs, and toured with Lukas Nelson, Iron & Wine, American Aquarium, John Moreland, and Kaitlin Butts. A skilled guitarist and versatile session musician, she’s also lent her talents to projects by Wilderado, Kyle Nix (Turnpike Troubadours), J.R. Carroll, and more.
CRUEL JOKE TRACK LIST:
Pareidolia
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Wrango
Rodeo Clown
Coyote (feat. John Moreland)
Stranger
Dogs Die
Grey Skies
Flannel Cowboy
Days Getting Darker
Cicadas
Innocent Eyes
KEN POMEROY CONFIRMED TOUR DATES:
May 16 — Nashville, TN — Row One
May 21 — Brooklyn, NY — Baby’s All Right
June 7 — Tulsa, OK — Mercury Lounge (SOLD OUT)
June 8 — Tulsa, OK — Mercury Lounge (SOLD OUT)
June 19–22 — Telluride, CO — Telluride Bluegrass Festival
June 27 — Pendleton, OR — Jackalope Jamboree
July 10 — Interlochen, MI — Interlochen Center for the Arts+
July 11 — Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre+
July 12 — Asheville, NC — Asheville Yards Amphitheatre+
July 13 — Cary, NC — Koka Booth Amphitheatre+
July 16 — Westport, CT — Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts~
July 19 — Portland, ME — Thompson’s Point+
July 20 — Burlington, VT — The Green at Shelburne Museum+
July 21 — Northampton, MA — The Pines Theater+
July 23 — Richmond, VA — Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden+
July 24 — Glenside, PA — Keswick Theatre+
July 25 — Lafayette, NY — Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards+
July 26 — Newport, RI — Newport Folk Festival
August 29 — La Vista, NE — The Astro*
September 26 — Chesterfield, MO — The Factory
+supporting Iron & Wine and I’m With Her
~supporting I’m With Her
*supporting Turnpike Troubadours