Indie-folk favorites The Lone Bellow have released their sixth studio album, ‘What a Time to be Alive,’ available now via Soundly and Thirty Tigers. Recorded in Muscle Shoals and created collaboratively with their full touring ensemble for the first time, the record captures the raw spark and communal spirit that has defined their live show for more than a decade.
Founding members Zach Williams, Brian Elmquist, and Kanene Pipkin are joined by drummer Julian Dorio and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Geertsma. The project was written in Henderson, Kentucky, at producer Peter Barbee’s converted firehouse studio before moving to Muscle Shoals to track the foundations live in one room together. Elmquist led production, with the band improvising instrumental beds before developing lyrics.
The group also shared the official video for “Staring At The Sun.” “Sometimes it’s hard to really connect with the people you love,” the band explains. “But if you can push through that, and remember that you’re worthy of love, you’re reminded that none of us are strangers anymore.” Additional highlights include “Common Folk,” “No Getting Over You,” “Night Goes Black,” “I Did It For Love,” and “You Were Leaving,” along with their recorded version of the live favorite “Islands In The Stream.”
The album’s creation was shaped by both spontaneity and resilience. Writing began in Henderson, Kentucky, at producer Peter Barbee’s converted firehouse studio before moving to Muscle Shoals to track live foundations together in one room. After a devastating tour theft erased early recordings, fans rallied to help the band return to the studio within hours. “This record encapsulates everything we love and respect about each other,” says Williams. The result stands as a powerful testament to friendship, perseverance, and the enduring bond between band and audience.