The Mississippi Delta is known for its blues music and juke joints, but Anne Freeman, a Greenwood native and current Oxford resident, is showcasing her debut Americana-folk album “Days Go By” with a listening party at 6 p.m. today at the End of All Music on the Square.
Not only did Freeman grow up in a musically rich area, but she also came from a talented family. As a child, she watched her dad, uncle and brothers play music and began playing piano herself in elementary school.
“It was never a question of whether or not I would play music,” Freeman said. “It was just a matter of when my dad felt I was old enough to touch the guitars.”
Because Freeman is a singer-songwriter from the lyrical Delta, listeners can expect to hear the region’s inspiration in her new music. The 10-track album includes nostalgic tunes that reminisce about Freeman’s roots, with song titles like “Mockingbird,” “Backseat” and “Whistles Would Sing,” featuring fellow Mississippi musician Andrew Bryant.
“Most of these songs were inspired by the imagery there,” Freeman said. “As much as I love Oxford, I went through a period where I was really homesick for the Delta. So I went there mentally when I wrote most of these songs. I think that longing really was what inspired me.”
Accompanying this debut performance of Freeman’s new album is a band she has played with for the past two years. The Garbage Sons include Kell Kellum, who plays pedal steel and lead guitar, Eric Carlton on keys, Harrison Smith on drums and Ben Yarbrough on bass.
“I dig playing with Anne because she has a strong sense of melody and song structure,” Kellum said. “Anytime she sends me a new song, there will be something catchy that stays in my head for a couple days.”
For Freeman, the feeling is mutual.
“They’re all incredibly talented, and I feel so fortunate to play with [The Garbage Sons],” Freeman said. “Playing with them is what makes me comfortable putting myself out there.”
Oxford’s independent record store the End of All Music is excited to host Freeman’s record release and listening party with The Garbage Sons at its new location on the Square.
“Anne is a really old friend. I’ve known her since we were kids in Greenwood,” said David Swider, the owner of the End of All Music. “She’s a great singer-songwriter and a total package performance-wise, record-wise. She has a great voice and is great at playing guitar. We’re all in for a real treat.”
Freeman said she is “a little nervous,” even as she thrills in the excitement of her album being released.
“I hope that people find the songs catchy and relatable. I hope they get all the feels from it,” she said.
Although she’ll be releasing “Days Go By” on Wednesday, Freeman is already working on her second project, which will be “more of a pop-rock album.”
The free, in-store show is open to the public of all ages, with Anne Freeman and The Garbage Sons performing tracks from the new album. Catering will be provided by The Lyric. The End of All Music will be selling CDs of “Days Go By” at the listening party, and the music will also be available to purchase and stream on iTunes and Spotify.
