About the Artist

When Edward David Anderson sings of rolling sand hills, prickly pear cactus and a river that “flows like wine,” he takes us on a trip down a dusty country road to a little town in west central Illinois called Havana. “Get your kicks on the 1-3-6” the journeyman songwriter/multi-instrumentalist croons on his latest offering Still the River out Sept. 20th on his own Black Dirt Records.

The Backyard Tire Fire frontman and his family headed west down US 136 where they found a piece of land and some peace of mind in the middle of a pandemic. The Andersons moved into an old farmhouse on a bird & butterfly sanctuary a few miles from the Illinois River and the change proved fruitful. The setting inspired the prolific writer to spin another batch of timeless tunes highlighting his new surroundings and the joys of having recently become a father.

In true homestead fashion, the recording was self-produced and engineered in a small studio designed by EDA. Making most of the sounds on the album himself (with mixing engineer Adam Gardner lending a capable hand), Anderson laid down a 10-song collection that was awarded grant funding from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

From the first line “Evening primrose in August, bee balm in July,” to a rollicking road trip from Atlanta to Havana, we’re transported to a land of “hardwood floors and dollar stores” where gangsters once hunted ducks by day and hit the casinos at night. There’s an array of sounds here too folks. Stuff to tickle the ear, showcasing EDA’s love for the studio and ample instrumental prowess. On the final track he vows “I’m gonna shine my light all around…” and aptly delivers on that promise throughout this beautiful recording. Still the River is indeed a compelling snapshot of a transformative moment in a musical journey that spans three decades.