If it weren’t for the Philadelphia Folk Festival, I don’t know if I would’ve discovered a fraction of my favorite artists — Valerie June is one of them.
The Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist released her sixth studio album, “Owls, Omens and Oracles,” Friday, April 11, 2025, via Concord Records.
June, a Tennessee native who performed at the 57th annual Philadelphia Folksong Society staple in 2018, captured the attention of a sea of folkers who battled storms throughout the weekend.
Produced with M. Ward’s signature retro sound, June propels listeners through a 42-minute journey of neo-soul, folk, rock ’n’ roll and blues.
The album begins with “Joy Joy!” where June searches for happiness with a Motown vibe and an explosive guitar solo.
“And when you feel you’re not enough
Has this old world been hard and rough?
A golden seed beneath dark soil
To seek the sun is often rough
And when you’ll flower know not the hour
An ever-present superpower
An effervescence from below
No one can tell, just trust and grow”
She slow dances through the pain on “All I Really Wanna Do,” and leans more into pop as she dreams of a harmonious world on “Endless Tree.”
“Getting the courage to do something small
Lifting the spirits of all that you saw
Feeling the tiniest spark in your heart
’Cause only an ember can light up the dark”
There is a theme of hope across the 14 tracks on “Owls, Omens and Oracles,” and one of the most overt is on “Trust The Path.”
“Promise me you’ll venture towards unknown
Every step a new discovery shown
What can be sees all that’s always been
I can only point the way for you, my friend”
June adopts a Bob Dylan style on “Love Me Any Ole Way,” and fellow Philadelphia Folk Festival alumni the Blind Boys of Alabama join her on “Changed.”
She leans into the soul side of her influence on the psychedelic “Superpower,” bluegrass on “Sweet Things Just For You,” and ‘60s folk singer-songwriter on “Missin’ You (Yeah Yeah).”
You can really hear Ward’s throwback production style throughout the album, especially on the stripped-down, piano-led “I Am In Love.”
The a cappella “Calling My Spirit” is reminiscent of gospel hymnals, and “My Life Is A Country Song” wins the award for my favorite song title of the year.
“Country music, it don’t need to be saved
Just to remember all those who gave”
The album closes with the sweet and honest folk track “Love And Let Go,” which again — in its lyrics and progression — reminds me of Dylan, with a modernized production.
Don’t miss Valerie June April 15 at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; April 16 at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia; April 17 at The National in Richmond, Virginia; April 18 and 19 at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, Maryland; and May 6 at The Town Hall in New York City.
Get “Owls, Omens and Oracles” from Valerie June, Concord Records, Bandcamp, Amazon, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, Deezer and qobuz.
Favorite Tracks
Joy Joy!
All I Really Wanna Do
Endless Tree
Trust The Path
Changed
Sweet Things Just For You
Calling My Spirit
My Life Is A Country Song
