Darren Jessee Releases Single 'Shoulder Season'

The folk musician's new single, produced by Josh Kaufman, previews a solo album scheduled for 2027.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Folk

Flat-color folk-album poster illustration in slate blue and cream, showing a snow-dusted pine beside concentric record grooves. — Folk musician Darren Jessee released the single "Shoulder Season" on Thursday, produced by Josh Kaufman, ahead of a solo album slated for 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Darren Jessee has released the single "Shoulder Season," recorded with Josh Kaufman and mixed by Peter Katis. The release comes ahead of a forthcoming solo album that is scheduled for 2027.

Why it matters

The single marks Jessee's return to solo recording after years as a drummer for Chatham County Line. It also signals a new chapter following the retirement of the Bar/None label representative who had overseen his last seven albums.

Bar/None released Jessee's last seven albums, a catalog history that frames the new solo project. The forthcoming album is scheduled for 2027, but no exact release date or label arrangement for it has been disclosed.

The players

Darren Jessee

Darren Jessee is a North Carolina singer-songwriter and former drummer for the band Chatham County Line.

Josh Kaufman

Josh Kaufman is a musician and producer who recorded and produced the single "Shoulder Season."

Peter Katis

Peter Katis is a recording engineer and producer who mixed the single "Shoulder Season."

The details

"Shoulder Season" was recorded and captured on tape by Jessee and Josh Kaufman, with Jessee writing the lyrics. The solo album was recorded during a blizzard, and Jessee has appearances scheduled at Wake Forest Listening Room and Flat Iron in November.

November 12: Performance at Wake Forest Listening Room, Wake Forest, NC.
November 18: Performance at Flat Iron, Greensboro, NC, with Natalie Jane Hill.
2027: Scheduled release of Darren Jessee's forthcoming solo album.

Industry Dynamics

Jessee's move follows a catalog relationship with Bar/None Records that released his last seven albums, a run that the label's representative's retirement now puts in transition. The shift reflects how independent folk artists often rely on long-term label partnerships that depend on individual staff relationships.

Listeners in North Carolina can see Jessee live at Wake Forest Listening Room on November 12 and at Flat Iron in Greensboro on November 18. The new single and forthcoming 2027 album will extend how fans can hear his work beyond those local performances.

The takeaway

Fans who want to hear new material should watch for announcements about the forthcoming album, since details are expected in the coming weeks. Checking performance schedules at local listening rooms is the most direct way to see Jessee live this fall.

What happens next

Darren Jessee performs at Wake Forest Listening Room on November 12 and at Flat Iron in Greensboro on November 18, with his solo album scheduled for release in 2027.