{"id":2188544,"date":"2025-12-05T20:54:59","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T20:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2188544"},"modified":"2025-12-05T20:54:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T20:54:59","slug":"new-music-from-ber-pert-near-sandstone-and-more-bgs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/new-music-from-ber-pert-near-sandstone-and-more-bgs\/","title":{"rendered":"New Music From Ber, Pert Near Sandstone, and More \u2013 BGS"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Somehow it\u2019s December and we\u2019ve already reached our final collection of new roots music, songs, and videos for 2025. It\u2019s been a year absolutely packed with essential new music that you gotta hear, hasn\u2019t it? We think this final round-up is the perfect way to go out, as we look ahead to plenty more fresh tracks to share in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>First, mandolinist Jesse Appelman previews the first single from his upcoming debut solo album. \u201cGlacier Song\u201d is sung from the perspective of the titular glacier, examining the inevitability of time and change with bluegrass trappings and tasteful dashes of old-time from his talent-stacked ensemble. Texan singer-songwriter Dustin Brown calls on fellow Texan Billy Hartman and Nashville-based Rachel Cole for his new track, \u201cBallerina.\u201d Out next week, it\u2019s a simple, stripped-down, and twangy arrangement for a song about yet another tale as old as time: a love triangle between two people and their freedom.<\/p>\n<p>Also, Kara Arena draws inspiration from the Hindu deity Hanuman for a new single, \u201cWhose Face Is On Your Heart.\u201d A harbinger for her upcoming EP, which is set for release in January 2026, the vibey modern folk number finds the singer-songwriter considering the concept of our loved ones leaving indelible marks on our hearts while wrapped in cinematic strings. From Toronto, Meredith Moon returns to her just-released September album, <em>From Here to the Sea,\u00a0<\/em>to share a brand new performance video for \u201cPoseidon.\u201d She\u2019s accompanied by Tony Allen, Rachel Melas, and Mikey Shakes as they play the song down at Compass Records\u2019 \u201cHillbilly Central\u201d studio. \u201cPoseidon\u201d is about rising above the tumult of toxicity and negativity and choosing your own heart.<\/p>\n<p>To conclude, we take a trip to Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota to catch new singles debuted this week by both Ber and Pert Near Sandstone, two acts from the incredibly music-rich Twin Cities. Today, Ber announced her upcoming new album, <em>Good, Like It Should Be<\/em>, set for release in early April 2026. The lead single from that project, \u201cBook Cover,\u201d is about the deeper meaning and understanding that can be hidden inside ourselves and is found in the delicious sonic territory where country, indie, and pop overlap. You can easily picture the song on mainstream country radio and an indie-pop playlist, too.<\/p>\n<p>Pert Near Sandstone, for their part, lean into Irish folk and Celtic sounds with accordion, tenor banjo, and a shout-along, pub-ready lyric. \u201cSide by Side\u201d is about perseverance and rising above interpersonal challenges together. With resonant accordion and banjo tremolos, you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re huddled up with the band in the corner of a cozy pub jamming along.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s plenty to hear and enjoy below. Thanks for sharing a year\u2019s worth of new music with us! We\u2019ll see you in 2026 right here for more premieres, but for now\u2026 You Gotta Hear This!<\/p>\n<h2>Jesse Appelman, \u201cGlacier Song\u201d<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/soundcloud%3Atracks%3A2216164205%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-83mDeDJAlt2&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"507\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Artist:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.jesseappelman.com\">Jesse Appelman<\/a><br \/><strong>Hometown:<\/strong> Oakland, California<br \/><strong>Song:<\/strong> \u201cGlacier Song\u201d<br \/><strong>Album:<\/strong> <em>Where We Go<br \/><\/em><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> December 12, 2025 (single); February 20, 2026 (album)<\/p>\n<p><strong>In Their Words:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThis song might not make much sense until you realize that it\u2019s sung from the first-person perspective of a glacier \u2013 and what better inanimate object could there be to explore the inevitability of time and change? Written one of my oldest friends, Will Fourt, the crooked and circular structure was a perfect vehicle for this ensemble to weave the spontaneous and lush whirlwind of melody that ends the track. The refrain, \u2018I don\u2019t know where we go,\u2019 here an expression of uncertainty, gave rise to the album title, re-worked as a statement of intent: <em>Where We Go<\/em>.\u201d \u2013 <em>Jesse Appelman<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Track Credits:<br \/><\/strong>Jesse Appelman \u2013 Mandolin, vocals<br \/>Sami Braman \u2013 Fiddle<br \/>Allison de Groot \u2013 Clawhammer banjo<br \/>Emily Mann \u2013 Bass, harmony vocals<br \/>Eli West \u2013 Guitar, harmony vocals<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Kara Arena, \u201cWhose Face Is On Your Heart\u201d<\/h2>\n<p><iframe style=\"border: 0; width: 350px; height: 442px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/track=2336565459\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/transparent=true\/\" seamless=\"\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/karaarena.bandcamp.com\/track\/whose-face-is-on-your-heart\">Whose Face Is On Your Heart by Kara Arena<\/a><\/iframe><br \/>(Click to listen)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Artist:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.karaarena.com\">Kara Arena<\/a><br \/><strong>Hometown:<\/strong> New York, New York<br \/><strong>Song:<\/strong> \u201cWhose Face Is On Your Heart\u201d<br \/><strong>Album:<\/strong> <em>Whose Face Is On Your Heart\u00a0<\/em>(EP)<br \/><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> December 5, 2025 (single); January 2026 (EP)<\/p>\n<p><strong>In Their Words:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201c\u2018Whose Face Is On Your Heart\u2019 was born after I encountered the story of Hanuman, the Hindu deity. What truly distinguishes Hanuman is his deep devotion to his Lord, Rama and Devi Sita. When his loyalty comes into question, Hanuman says, \u2018Every inch of my body has Rama in it. My heart and soul are made of Rama.\u2019 When doubt of his love persists, he tears open his chest to reveal images of Rama and Sita glowing within his heart. When writing this song, I thought about what it would be like if our hearts were branded with the ones we love most. We wear their faces like a badge of honor. And when love leaves, do those sketches become scars?\u201d \u2013 <em>Kara Arena<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Track Credits:<br \/><\/strong>Kara Arena \u2013 Vocals, guitar, songwriter<br \/>Michael Lepore \u2013 Piano<br \/>Brett Bass \u2013 Upright, electric bass<br \/>Matt Bent \u2013 Drums, percussion<br \/>Mae Roney \u2013 Violin<br \/>Rachel Rice \u2013 Cello<br \/>Joe Cilento \u2013 Electric guitar, keys<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Ber, \u201cBook Cover\u201d<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ber- Book Cover (Official Lyric Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ipDWk4DB8_Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Artist:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ber.os.fan\/\">Ber<\/a><br \/><strong>Hometown:<\/strong> Minneapolis, Minnesota<br \/><strong>Song:<\/strong> \u201cBook Cover\u201d<br \/><strong>Album:<\/strong> <em>Good, Like It Should Be<br \/><\/em><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> December 5, 2025 (single); April 3, 2026 (album)<br \/><strong>Label:<\/strong> Nettwerk Music Group<\/p>\n<p><strong>In Their Words: <\/strong>\u201cI wrote \u2018Book Cover\u2019 last year over a cup of tea with my friend Corey Sanders, who at the time was consoling me as I was feeling very overlooked and invisible as a small, independent artist and writer in the music industry. At its surface, \u2018Book Cover\u2019 is about heartache and longing to be known for what\u2019s inside, to be given a shot by someone not based on your looks or appearance, but because of the person you are. In its bones I\u2019ve personally found deeper meaning\u2014 \u2018Book Cover\u2019 is a sweet reminder to myself to know your worth and acknowledge what you bring to the table. It\u2019s one of my favorite songs from my forthcoming album, and I hope you like it!\u201d \u2013 <em>Ber<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Dustin Brown, \u201cBallerina\u201d (with Billy Hartman, Rachel Cole)<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/soundcloud%3Atracks%3A2197566895%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-CXYFN8jPaTq&amp;color=%234a3018&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"507\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Artist:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dustinbrownsongs.com\">Dustin Brown<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.billyhartmanmusic.com\">Billy Hartman<\/a>, Rachel Cole<br \/><strong>Hometown:<\/strong> Moody, Texas (Dustin); Texas (Billy); Nashville, Tennessee (Rachel)<br \/><strong>Song:<\/strong> \u201cBallerina\u201d<br \/><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> December 12, 2025<br \/><strong>Label:<\/strong> New Usual Records<\/p>\n<p><strong>In Their Words:<\/strong> \u201cWriting a song can be as complex as the characters in it. Some fall out on the table, but this one definitely reflects its process as much as its meaning. The turmoil behind the writing of this song influenced its jaded undertones. It\u2019s a tale as old as time, a love triangle between two souls and freedom. A dilemma of one\u2019s resolve and another\u2019s yearning.\u201d \u2013 <em>Dustin Brown<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Meredith Moon, \u201cPoseidon\u201d<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Meredith Moon - Poseidon (Americanafest Sessions)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Vy5PSBO0VQA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Artist:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meredithmoon.com\/\">Meredith Moon<\/a><br \/><strong>Hometown:<\/strong> Toronto, Ontario, Canada<br \/><strong>Song:<\/strong> \u201cPoseidon\u201d<br \/><strong>Album:<\/strong> <em>From Here to the Sea<\/em><br \/><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> December 2, 2025 (video); September 12, 2025 (album)<br \/><strong>Label:<\/strong> Compass Records<\/p>\n<p><strong>In Their Words: <\/strong>\u201c\u2018Poseidon\u2019 was written during a pretty tumultuous time in my life, juggling priorities and in the end choosing my heart over all else. I felt the weight of the negativity inflicted on me by the toxic situations I\u2019d left recently and \u2018Poseidon\u2019 was about re-instilling my own power and safety, like surrounding myself by an orb of protection.\u201d \u2013\u00a0<em>Meredith Moon<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Performance Credits:<br \/><\/strong>Meredith Moon \u2013 Guitar, vocals<br \/>Tony Allen \u2013 Fiddle<br \/>Rachel Melas \u2013 Bass<br \/>Mikey Shakes \u2013 Drums<strong><br \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Video Credit: Filmed at Compass Studios by Emma McCoury.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Pert Near Sandstone, \u201cSide by Side\u201d<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pert Near Sandstone - &quot;Side by Side&quot; (Official Audio)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZhJ_u1ue_lg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><strong>Artist:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pertnearsandstone.com\/\">Pert Near Sandstone<\/a><br \/><strong>Hometown:<\/strong> Minneapolis \/ Saint Paul, Minnesota<br \/><strong>Song:<\/strong> \u201cSide by Side\u201d<br \/><strong>Album:<\/strong> <em>Side by Side<\/em><br \/><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> December 3, 2025 (single); February 27, 2026 (album)<\/p>\n<p><strong>In Their Words:<\/strong> \u201cI originally started writing \u2018Side by Side\u2019 about my relationship with my wife and us pushing through challenging times. However, as the song came together, I realized the message of perseverance applied equally to the band and the challenges we go through together as professional musicians touring on the road. The music is traditional Irish-folk inspired, featuring wonderful accordionist Patrick Harison and Nate Sipe on Irish tenor banjo. I sing the lead along with full band group vocals and harmonies, which add to that real pub anthem sound. While in the recording studio we pulled the title \u2018Side by Side\u2019 from the lyrics which eventually became a rallying cry and decided it would be a fitting name for the new album.\u201d \u2013 <em>J Lenz<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Track Credits:<br \/><\/strong>J Lenz \u2013 Acoustic Guitar, vocals, songwriter<br \/>Kevin Kniebel \u2013 Clawhammer banjo, vocals<br \/>Nate Sipe \u2013 Mandolin, tenor banjo, vocals<br \/>Justin Bruhn \u2013 Upright bass, vocals<br \/>Patrick Harison \u2013 Accordion<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>Photo Credit: Ber by Tom Thornton; Pert Near Sandstone by Tony Nelson.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source thebluegrasssituation.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Somehow it\u2019s December and we\u2019ve already reached our final collection of new roots music, songs, and videos for 2025. It\u2019s been a year absolutely packed with essential new music that you gotta hear, hasn\u2019t it? We think this final round-up is the perfect way to go out, as we look ahead to plenty more fresh [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2188545,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[24356,422336,37339,419987,422338,49186,348247,422333,21935,349441,422335,422334,422342,422337,422339,26626,26622,422341,422340,32052,352313,352312,352315,352309],"class_list":["post-2188544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-americana","tag-ber","tag-bluegrass","tag-celtic","tag-dustin-brown","tag-folk","tag-hanuman","tag-hindu-deity","tag-indie","tag-irish","tag-jesse-appelman","tag-kara-arena","tag-mandolin","tag-meredith-moon","tag-nettwerk-music","tag-new-music","tag-new-music-friday","tag-old-time","tag-pert-near-sandstone","tag-premiere","tag-song-premiere","tag-track-premiere","tag-video-premiere","tag-you-gotta-hear-this"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/New-Music-From-Ber-Pert-Near-Sandstone-and-More-\u2013.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2188544"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2188546,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188544\/revisions\/2188546"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2188545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2188544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2188544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2188544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}