GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her landmark album ‘Tambourine' with a two-part release arriving August 29, 2025. The project includes a long-awaited vinyl reissue of the original record alongside ‘Time and Patience: Tambourine Kitchen Recordings,' a companion collection of home demos and unreleased material from the early 2000s. Together, the two releases reflect Merritt’s living legacy while opening a window into the creative journey behind one of Americana’s most acclaimed voices.
The announcement follows a run of European and UK tour dates that included a Glastonbury Festival performance and an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Merritt will return to AmericanaFest in Nashville this September for multiple performances and showcases. Away from the stage, she continues her work as Practitioner-in-Residence at Duke University and is reimagining The Gables Lodge, an 18-room hotel and traveler’s retreat in her hometown of North Carolina.
Originally released in 2004, ‘Tambourine' earned Merritt a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album and drew widespread praise for its soulful blend of southern rock, poetic lyricism and fearless songwriting. Produced by George Drakoulias with contributions from Mike Campbell, Maria McKee, Neal Casal, and Don Heffington, the record has since become a cult favorite and cornerstone of Americana music. The upcoming vinyl reissue will restore the album’s analog depth and warmth for longtime fans and new listeners alike.
Complementing the reissue is ‘Time and Patience: Tambourine Kitchen Recordings,' a new release of intimate home demos recorded by Merritt in her North Carolina kitchen during the early 2000s. With only a spiral notebook, her voice, and her dog Lucy nearby, these recordings trace the raw beginnings of the ‘Tambourine' era.
“When I hear my 27-year-old self belting these songs, I hear my dreams,” Merritt reflects in the liner notes. “I hear my intentions—and those intentions are true. Writing songs and singing them was where I went to be free.”
At the time, Merritt faced major-label pressure to deliver a hit. ‘Time and Patience' reveals the more vulnerable story behind ‘Tambourine'—one of soul-searching, creative defiance, and belief in her own voice.
“These songs weren’t hits. I was a good writer, not a great one. My band wasn’t good enough. At least that’s what I was told,” she recalls. “But I believed in these demos back then—and it is a tender moment to bring them to you now, proudly, so much time and patience later.”
The ‘Tambourine (20th Anniversary Edition)' vinyl and ‘Time and Patience' will be released August 29 via One Riot Records. ‘Time and Patience' will also be available on all streaming platforms. The ‘Tambourine' reissue is dedicated to Neal Casal and Don Heffington, cherished members of Merritt’s original studio band.
Pre-order the Tambourine (20th Anniversary Edition) vinyl [HERE].
Pre-save Time and Patience [HERE].
