Americana/folk singer-songwriter duo The Kennedys to release new album, Smoketree

Pete and Maura Kennedy, known nationally to Americana/folk-rock fans as The Kennedys, have been busy in the recording studio. Their next album, Smoketree, is set for release independently on August 21, 2026. It is the follow-up to Headwinds (2023), which spent a month at #1 on the national Folk DJ chart. Smoketree consists of all original, newly written songs that reflect their feelings on things both timely and timeless: environmental concerns, social upheaval as families and entire populations flee violence, the search for peace in the world and peace in one’s heart. All of these are touched upon with their trademark upbeat tone of uplift and encouragement.

Maura and Pete played and sang all of the tracks on Smoketree, producing and engineering in their own studio in the Hudson Valley. “We like to take our time and let the music grow naturally,” Maura says. “We used a lot of rootsy, mostly acoustic instruments on this one: 5-string banjo, mandolin, and harmonica, as well as pedal steel, Rickenbacker 12-string, and a twangy Telecaster. After three decades, we’re proud to still be growing creatively.”

In true band fashion, there are different musical flavors throughout the songs on the album, and the pair’s trademark storyteller vibes are in full force. The second song on the album, “Without Us,” was shared early with fans as a single on July 17, 2026, and the song and video premiered earlier that week at Americana UK. Maura calls the song “an edgy comment on the environment and how nature will reclaim itself once we humans are no longer around to twist it to our own will.”

Another standout on the album is “Meant to Do,” which Pete describes as “a memoir, a baby boomer manifesto. It’s my own story, but in a larger sense it’s about having a dream as a kid and hanging on to that dream all the way down the line. We recorded the track with a lot of ringing 12-string guitars as a tribute to The Byrds, one of our big inspirations.” In contrast to the folk-rock vibe of that song, “Puzzlewood,” is, according to Pete, “an ambient acoustic track that reaches back to the misty surrealism of ancient British folklore.” The opening song, “Like an Angel,” is about inspiration. “Most of us who write songs can’t tell you exactly where it all comes from; it might start with a phrase or an idea, but there’s more to it than that,” Maura explains. “‘Like an Angel’ tries to put that mystery into words.” 

Well-traveled, never tiring of the life of wandering troubadours, The Kennedys look forward to hitting the airwaves and the stage with their blend of energized folk-rock, passion, and a sense of kindred spirit camaraderie with their audience. The pair plans to tour extensively; confirmed dates are listed below, and fans are encouraged to follow The Kennedys on social media and to check the band’s website for tour updates.

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