The second half of 2025 found me in an unusual state—caught thinking about what got away. One of those once-in-a-lifetime, historic music invitations dangled right in front of me, close enough to see but not quite to grab. I brooded for a couple of days, pacing around with the familiar soundtrack of what-ifs echoing in my head.
Then a little beam of light—quite literally—landed in my dulcimer case.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with some legendary singers and performing on some truly great stages, each leaving an impression on me. But this single moment wasn’t about placement or fame. It was simpler, with just me playing at an open-air café in Salida, Colorado. No real stage, backed up against a brick wall, and the music bouncing off and spilling into the street. Folks passing by on the sidewalk, pausing and tapping their feet. You could see their expressions, being so close. Nodding and smiling like they were experiencing something they’d known forever. That’s the stuff. That’s why I do it.
And just as I packed up my mountain dulcimer (yes, the dulcimer—she’s a killer blues instrument, if you didn’t know), I saw it. Slipped under a couple of greenbacks in the tip jar:
“You R Grate” — scrawled in Sharpie by a listening youngster.
Well, damn. That was a first-class funk removal. No award, no booking, nothing could’ve lifted me like that note did. The next day, Susan and I started sketching out a return tour through the Southern Rockies for next summer. But it’s gotta be venues like the Soggy Surfer in Salida—open, welcoming, with space for conversation between song and story. Because that's where my music breathes.
New Music on the Horizon
This July 13th, I head into the studio to lay down the first of many new tracks for my next album. The writing on this one hits a little harder, similar to Hysteria, and less storytelling like Delta Traces. I'm reaching for something a little different. Songs that don’t just ride along the same old blues tracks. The first tune, Delta Blue, casts a wide-angle look at those who’ve tried to bottle up and sell the soul of the Mississippi/Arkansas Delta. There’s a bit of bite in there… a little shade for spice.
The cast of musicians for this record will shift a bit from past albums. Not better talent, just ones with a different flavor. We're chasing a new sound. Keep an eye on my socials @BillyJeterMusic to stay up to date with my travels and new sound.
2025 Live Dates
My show calendar for the rest of the year gives me some space for creating, and every stop chosen is intentional. So, if I’m playing, it’s in a place worth showing up for—whether I’ve got a band of fine pickers with me, or it’s just me and a six-string doing what we do.
Here’s where you can catch me:
July 11 – University of Arkansas Pryor Center Juke Joint Project – Fayetteville, AR
July 12 – Oyster Bar – Little Rock, AR
Aug 1 – Music in the Garden Series, Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum – Crested Butte, CO
Aug 21 – Anthracite Spirits, Anthracite Lounge – Crested Butte, CO
Sept 1 – Grant Lake Picnic (Private Event) – Crested Butte, CO
Sept 5 – Soggy Surfer – Salida, CO
Oct 25 – Hambone Music Festival, Bluesberry Café – Clarksdale, MS
Oct 26 – Hambone Festival, Hambone Café & Gallery – Clarksdale, MS
Nov – Pecan Harvest! – Shady Grove Pecans
Dec 14 – Homecoming at Rose’s Shack, C&B Market – Wabbaseka, AR
Come Along for the Ride
The road ahead feels promising. There’s music to be made, stories to be shared, and old friends to reconnect with—maybe even some new ones on the horizon. Plenty of good still yet to come, and just like the note said…You R Grate.
See you down the road,
– Billy