Rod Picott

Rod Picott

Rod Picott is an American singer-songwriter from the United States whose work draws on alternative country, Americana and folk, with related roots-rock influences. He grows up in South Berwick, Maine, and also spends part of his early life in New Hampshire before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 1994. Before releasing his own records, he plays local clubs, works the regional music circuit between Boston and Portland, busks in Boulder, Colorado, and studies songcraft with writer Stephen Allen Davis.

Early influences and move to Nashville

Picott’s musical background comes from a wide range of family and local influences. His father, a former marine, keeps a record collection that runs from John Philip Sousa to Ray Charles, while his older brother introduces him to Patti Smith and The Clash. These different styles help shape the writing style he develops later. After relocating to Nashville in 1994, he quickly builds a reputation as a strong new songwriter and hosts a weekly showcase called Rod Picott’s Fireside Whiskey Hour.

Recording career

Picott’s first album, Tiger Tom Dixon’s Blues, appears in 2001. The record receives airplay from Bob Harris on BBC radio, and Music Row magazine’s Robert Oermann describes it as the start of a major artist’s career. His 2002 album Straydogs shows further development as both writer and vocalist, includes guest appearances from Alison Krauss and frequent co-writer Slaid Cleaves, and spends five weeks on the Americana chart. It also appears on year-end best-of lists in the United States and Europe.

In 2004 he releases Girl From Arkansas, followed in 2005 by the live collection Travel Log, recorded in front of a small audience in Charlotte, North Carolina and featuring Dobro and lap steel player Matt Mauch. In 2006 he co-produces Slaid Cleaves’ Rounder Records release Unsung with David Henry.

Summerbirds and collaboration with Amanda Shires

In 2007 Picott assembles several of his favourite musicians for Summerbirds, a full-band album that includes rock songs and ballads. Maverick magazine gives it a five-star review, and the album later receives a distribution deal with Proper Distribution. A UK and Italy tour follows the European release, and Picott and the band perform live on BBC radio in London.

At the Folk Alliance Conference in Austin, Texas in 2006, he meets fiddler and singer Amanda Shires. The two tour together for more than 150 shows across the United States and Europe and then begin writing and recording a duo project. Their acoustic release Sew Your Heart with Wires features only their two voices, Picott’s guitar, and Shires’ fiddle and ukulele. All ten songs are co-written by the pair, and the album includes material such as a murder ballad, a gospel number and an outlaw narrative. It reaches number 7 on the Euro Americana Chart and is voted number 4 Best Debut of 2008 by FAR chart radio reporters.

Later work

By 2008 Picott has released five studio albums and one live recording. He releases Welding Burns in 2011. He is also associated with Decembersongs.