“Planting in a Drought” – Release Day!

I am chuffed to announce the official release of Planting in a Drought, new songs of struggle, protest and encouragement.
(Scroll down for early reviews)

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Or play the album on Spotify (and all streaming services).

Tom explains, “Sometimes I feel like I am planting in a drought when I sing my songs of those who struggle against powerful forces, songs to protest policies that benefit only the few at the top, and songs of desperately needed hope and encouragement.”

In classic folk style, these songs address topics like climate change, trickle-down economics, voter apathy, immigration, war, and more. Some are straight-up protest songs – others are empathetic songs of struggle or songs to encourage listeners to work for a better world.

Produced by Sean Staples
All songs by Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Except “Liberty’s Shore” by Tom Smith & Traditional
© Ⓟ 2020 Peabody Hill Publishing (ASCAP)

Also appearing on this album:
Sean Staples, Isa Burke (Lula Wiles), Seth Connelly, Mally Smith, Laurence Scudder (Spotted Tiger, The Glory Junkies) and Janice Allen
Children’s chorus: Andrew, Anna, Casey, Cyrus, Evan, Huck, Jada, Justin, Kyrieh, and Scarlett

Early Reviews and Testimonials

“These are the seeds that will keep us surviving!” ~ Matt Smith, Club Passim

“This is the album the world needs right now.
These are the songs that will help us get angry when we need to get angry, feel pain when we need to feel pain, and find hope when we need to find hope.” ~ Mally Smith, performing songwriter

“Contrary to what a lot of people think, folk music is still a living tradition […] that feeds on new songs that speak of people’s wants, people’s needs, people’s struggles and people’s triumphs. Tom Smith is more out of the tradition of say Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton than Jackson Browne or Connor Oberst. He’s a man who writes songs that seem like they’ve always been there. There are very few songwriters working today that I would call folksingers, but I would call Tom Smith a true folksinger.”
~ Dave Palmater, WUMB-FM Folk Radio Boston

“Tom’s songs are laced with a healthy dollop of our most precious commodity – hope.” ~ Chuck Hall, award-winning songwriter

“Congrats and thank you to Tom Smith for this beautifully produced CD. The songs are both relevant and timeless. The performances are refined and personal, while being insightful and thought-provoking. This is a gift that reaches far beyond the present day.” ~ Ric Allendorf, award-winning songwriter