There is daylight at the end of the long tunnel that has been the dearth of new music from one of country music’s most revered songwriters. Chris Knight can stand toe to toe with just about any of the songwriting stalwarts of the era, but it’s been seven years since he last hunkered down in the studio and given us something new for the listening rotation. That will all change on October 11th when he will release Almost Daylight via Thirty Tigers.

“It’s hard to know how people are gonna react,” Chris Knight says of the new album. “I’ve written songs about a lot of different things going all the way back to my first record, and some folks still think ‘somebody kills somebody’ is all I write about. Maybe that’s why I was bound and determined to get these particular songs on this album. If people like them, then we’ll be fine. But I wasn’t gonna do it any other way.”

Produced, mixed and mastered by the Grammy-winning Ray Kennedy, Almost Daylight also includes guest appearances by Lee Ann Womack, and John Prine who sings on his old classic “Mexican Home.” “I love that song, but it took me 15 years to find a way to do it,” Knight says of one of the two cover songs on the record. Almost Daylight is said to feature banjo, fiddle, and harmonica. But there is also a lot of electric guitar courtesy of Dan Baird.

“I was determined not to do any acoustic songs on this album,” Chris explains. “I wanted it all to sound edgy and raw, but to feel big at the same time. We kept trying different approaches until I felt we landed on what worked. The thing is, some of my songs might take a year of writing before I even think they’re ready for recording and I fretted about every one of these. I’ve never put a cover song on any of my records before, but there are two covers on this one. And I think it all fits together pretty good.”

Producer Ray Kennedy says about the album, “Chris had been playing some of these songs on the road and started developing ideas before we got to the studio. He and I talked about keeping the Appalachian factor with banjo, fiddle, harmonica and mandolin where it felt right. It was significant that Dan was involved, as he’s the man who can play guitar with the right feeling for Chris. The background vocals really brought the fire, and this lead to ideas for piano, Hammond B-3, accordion and Wurlitzer electric piano. Everything evolved from the performance of each song and I let the songs dictate what they needed in order to evolve into an album.”

Growing up in Slaughters, Kentucky, Chris Knight worked in the mining industry for a decade before he started pursuing music seriously at the age of 30. He didn’t land a record deal until he was 37, and has since recorded music for Decca, Dualtone, and Thirty Tigers. His songs have been covered by Randy Travis, Lee Ann Womack, Montgomery Gentry, Wade Bowen, and others, and his down home authenticity mixed with real world wisdom makes him a favorite of many.

“There’s all kinds of different ways to make music, but this is the way I chose to do it,” Knight says. “If I don’t have something worth saying I’m not opening my mouth, which is probably why I took seven years to make this album. I haven’t suited everybody, but every time I get a new fan it tells me I’m doing something right. I think my previous records have set a precedent, if only for me at the very least. I just want people to think this one stands up to everything else I’ve done.”

Almost Daylight Track List:

“I’m William Callahan” “Crooked Mile” “I Won’t Look Back” “Go On” “The Damn Truth” “Send It On Down” feat. Lee Ann Womack “Almost Daylight” “Trouble Up Ahead” “Everybody’s Lonely Now” “Flesh and Blood” “Mexican Home” feat. John Prine

Chris Knight Tour Dates:

July 12 – Maryville, TN – The Shed

July 13 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle

July 17 – Tomball, TX – Main Street Crossing

July 19 – Roanoke, TX – ChopShop Live

July 20 – McKinney, TX – Hank’s Texas Grill

July 26 – Springfield, IL – Boondocks

July 27 – Arlington Heights, IL – Hey Nonny

August 22 – Paris, TX – Heritage Hall Paris

August 23 – Pointblank, TX – Hilltop Icehouse

August 24 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

August 30 – Helotes, TX – John T. Floore’s Country Store

August 31 – Yantis, TX – Neon Moon

September 1 – West, TX – Westfest

September 7 – Morehead, KY – Morehead Conference Center

September 11 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre

September 12 – Amarillo, TX – Hoot’s Pub

September 13 – Lubbock, TX – The Blue Light

September 14 – Farwell, TX – Alpo’s Barn

September 15 – Roswell, NM – The Liberty

September 18 – Kenney, TX – the Kenney Store

September 19 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater

September 20 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater

September 21 – Saint Jo, TX – Red River Station BBQ

September 27 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Indy

September 28 – London, KY – World Chicken Festival

October 3 – Charlotte, NC – Booth Playhouse

October 5 – Middlesboro, KY – Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival

October 12 – Hickory, NC – Shooters Lounge

October 19 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall

November 7 – Orlando, FL – Tin Roof

November 8 – Brooksville, FL – Riverhawk Music Festival

November 9 – Tallahassee, FL – Fifth and Thomas

November 19 – Boston, MA – City Winery

November 20 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live

November 21 – New York, NY – Hill Country Live

November 22 – Washington, DC – City Winery