News & Reviews

May 2024 - I have a new recording! It’s called “Snow On The Wineglass” and it’s already being played on the radio. You can order it here on this site, or click here to go to bandcamp.com to listen and order it there. The cover art was painted by my dear friend Janie Camp Hjortsberg. Go check out her other work by clicking here.

September 2023 - A song that my pal Joe Newberry and I wrote called Old Pard won 2nd place in the International Western Music Association’s 2023 Songwriting Contest!

November 2022 - Won “Working Cowboy Song Of The Year” from the International Western Music Association for Angus MacKenzie. Click Here

October 2022 - Nominated by the International Western Music Association for (1) Album Of The Year for She’s Leaving Cheyenne, (2) Songwriter Of The Year, and (3) Song(s) Of The Year for Angus MacKenzie and The Lonesome Western Trail (by Jim Schulz but I helped a bit).

February 2021 - Won the Grand Prize in the Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest. Click Here
December 2021 - Wyoming Public Radio named She’s Leaving Cheyenne as the #1 album of the year. Click Here
May 2021 - KULR 8 Television in Billings, MT did a segment on She’s Leaving Cheyenne’s award. Click Here

Praise for “SNOW ON THE WINEGLASS”
”It’s western through and through. Listen, you can hear crisp Montana mornings, and feel the red hue of unbounded mountains at dusk. In an age where music has flash but can be asshallow as a tea cup saucer this is something with a depth of locale, history, and abounding musicality. Here’s a toast to John Lowell and place-based music at its finest.”  
~Hal Cannon~ Songwriter and folklorist

 “John Lowell’s new album ‘Snow on the Wineglass’ is a wonderful blend of Bluegrass instrumentation and melodies with cowboy/Western lyrics. I love it!”
~Doug Figgs~ Singer/songwriter/IWMA Award winner

 “If you like well-crafted story songs about cowboys, outlaws, homesteaders, prospectors, hard times and mustangs, you’ll love John Lowell’s new album, Snow On The Wineglass.  Combining frontier themes, vibrant lyrics, acoustic bluegrass style picking, and stellar vocals, these tunes unfold like scenes from a classic western movie.”
~Mike Blakely~ Western author/singer/songwriter

 I finally had a block of time today to sit and listen...and listen...and listen again. This is a remarkable album on so many levels. Jaunty and expressive music with lyrics that capture the listener’s attention, this is entertaining storytelling. And something for everyone - tales of love lost and savored, of miners and farmers, of outlaws, of horses, and even the life of the traveling musician. Although we may be familiar with these storylines of the “Old West,” you breathe into them a new life in a fresh way. This is music to enjoy over and over. A new John Lowell album is always worth the wait, and you delivered it! Now, these songs need airplay!  
~Bobbi Jean Bell~ Equestrian Radio

Praise for “SHE’S LEAVING CHEYENNE”
Bluegrass Unlimited - Click Here
The Lively Times - Click Here

Praise for “THIS LONG STRETCH OF GRAVEL”
Bluegrass Today - Click Here
Bluegrass Unlimited - Click Here
The Lively Times -Click Here
Minor 7th - Click Here

Praise for “I AM GOING TO THE WEST”
Bluegrass Unlimited - Click Here
Minor 7th - Click Here
Bluegrass Today - Click Here