Welch and Rawlings Announce Boots No. 3 Album
The duo's archival album captures a 1997 live performance recorded in Hickory, North Carolina, due February 12 via Acony Records.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Folk
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings announced Boots No. 3: The Hickory Show, an officially released recording of a September 27, 1997 performance at the Acoustic Stage in Hickory, North Carolina. The album previously circulated among fans as a bootleg and is due February 12 via Acony Records.
Why it matters
The release officially restores and makes available for the first time a performance that had only existed in unofficial fan circulation. It offers listeners a look at the duo's early work, recorded a year after Welch's debut Revival and before Hell Among The Yearlings.
The album contains 23 tracks drawn from a September 27, 1997 live performance featuring two guitars and two voices. Two songs, "Tear My Stillhouse Down" and "Pancho & Lefty," were shared ahead of release, while the stub does not indicate how the full tracklist compares to other archival releases.
The players
Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter known for her roots and folk recordings alongside longtime musical partner David Rawlings.
David Rawlings
David Rawlings is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter who has performed and recorded as Gillian Welch's longtime musical partner.
Acony Records
Acony Records is the label releasing the duo's archival Boots No. 3: The Hickory Show.
The details
The release includes early versions of "Orphan Girl," "Caleb Meyer," "Red Clay Halo," and "Acony Bell." The recording was restored from the original live concert performance and is part of the duo's archival Boots series.
Timeline
September 27, 1997: Performance recorded at the Acoustic Stage in Hickory, North Carolina.
February 12, 2027: Boots No. 3: The Hickory Show due via Acony Records.
Season Trajectory
The release extends the duo's Boots series, which officially brings previously bootlegged live recordings into circulation for the first time. It places a 1997 performance alongside the period of Welch's debut Revival and the later Hell Among The Yearlings.
Listeners can access the album through its February 12 release via Acony Records, with the two previously shared tracks offering a preview. The stub does not specify the available formats or pricing.
The takeaway
Fans of the duo's catalog can hear a 1997 performance that circulated only as a bootleg before its official restoration. The release offers a direct window into the duo's early work ahead of their later albums.
What happens next
Boots No. 3: The Hickory Show is scheduled for release on February 12, 2027 via Acony Records.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by UNCUT.
