“Getting to play music for a living is wild, but getting to work with friends on such fun projects makes me fall in love with music all over again,” says ACM-nominated vocalist and songwriter Sunny Sweeney. In this case, her friends are fellow powerhouse artists Rissi Palmer, Miko Marks, and Tami Neilson. And the project she is referring to? A waltzing, heartfelt cut of Bob Dylan’s beloved classic, ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.’ “Working with Miko, Rissi, and Tami on one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs is simply just a dream,” says Sweeney. “I feel like we have all lived a little and all ‘felt the words.’”
Co-produced by Sweeney and long-time guitarist, Harley Husbands, ‘Don’t Think Twice’ rides a 6/8 drum groove as each singer takes her turn with the song’s near-perfect verses. The production is accentuated by a multi-part horn arrangement by Doug Corcoran, vintage sounding Hammond organ by Kevin McKendree, Husbands’ soulful electric guitar fills, and Joanna Janét floating in and out on harmony vocals, all creating a retro backdrop for Sweeney, Palmer, Marks, and Neilson to feel out each verse in their own way.
“I’ve been a long-time fan of Sunny’s work, so it was a total honor to sing on a track with her,” says Palmer. “Add in Miko and Tami, who I’m also a fan of, and you’ve pretty much got a dream team.” Marks adds, “I’m elated that I get to be on a record with women I admire and am really glad that Sunny had this beautiful and heartfelt idea to collaborate.” Neilson, honored to be included with some of her favorite contemporaries, said, “Sunny didn’t even have to say what song it was…phone book, car manual? I’m in!”
In addition to the release of ‘Don’t Think Twice,’ Sweeney also just released a stellar cover of Emmylou Harris’s ‘Red Dirt Girl’ with fellow Texan Jamie Lin Wilson. She is also featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit which opened last month in Nashville, Tennessee and runs through February 2024. Sweeney’s hard-to-miss, sparkly guitar, hats from Standard Hat Works in Waco, Texas, and a handmade wooden sculpture made by Sweeney’s stepdad, Paul Strickland, in honor of her song ‘Poet’s Prayer’ were lent to the museum for this one year, limited-time display.
Catch Sunny Sweeney On Tour:
May 12 – Harrisonburg, VA – The Golden Pony
May 14 – Greenville, SC – Doc’s Tavern
May 15 – Raleigh, NC – The Pour House Music Hall
May 16 – Greensboro, NC – Flat Iron
May 17 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
May 18 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry House
June 1 – Springfield, MO – Southbound Bar & Grill
June 2 – Bonner Springs, KS – Private Event
June 3 – Winfield, KS – Island Park
June 10 – Kilgore, TX – The Back Porch
June 15 – The Woodlands, TX – Dosey Doe Big Barn
June 16 – Saint Jo, TX – Red River Station
June 17 – Graham, TX – Graham Concert Series on the Square
June 18 – Tomball, TX – Private Event
June 21 – Bozeman, MT – Live from the Divide
June 22-24 Red Lodge, MT – Red Lodge Songwriter Festival
June 25 Billings, MT – Pub Station
July 8 – Clinton, WI – Live in the Lot
July 11 – Indianapolis, IN – HiFi w/ Corb Lund
July 15 – Maquoketa, IA – Codfish Hollow Barn
July 19 – Denton, TX – Dan’s Silverleaf
July 21 – Groesbeck, TX – Old Fort Parker
Aug 3 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern.
Fall UK tour announced:
Nov 9 – Newcastle – The Cluny
Nov 10 – Leek – Foxlowe Arts Center
Nov 12 – Nottingham – The Bodega
Nov 13 – Birmingham – Kitchen Garden Cafe
Nov 14 – Manchester – Retro
Nov 15 – Gloucester – Gloucester Guildhall
Nov 17 – Cardiff – Acapela Studio
Nov 19 – London – Oslo
Nov 20 – Oxford – The Bullingdon
Nov 21 – Southampton – 1865
Nov 25 – Belfast – Limelight 2
For tickets and information on all tour dates, please visit sunnysweeney.com/tour.
