Sam & Ruby release 'Press On' EP + 2010 tour dates

This week, Nashville pop-folk duo Sam & Ruby release their new six-track EP, Press On, on Ryko.

The digital release features two original new tracks, "I Hope You're Well" and "Taking Memories," and a new version of "Never Surrender" (previously available as an iTunes bonus track), mixed by legendary producer/engineer, Ed Stasium.

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These three tunes are presented alongside live versions of "The Here And The Now," "This I Know" and "Heaven's My Home" recorded at NPR's Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour.

"The songs coincidentally fit so well together," states Ruby. "The lyrics encourage the listener to take the good from the bad and keep pressing on. Life and relationships can be really hard, but we seek and hope to find a blessed gift in the end."

Sam & Ruby felt that their live performance set from NPR's Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour was the perfect way to break down some of their songs acoustically from their debut album, The Here And The Now. "We wanted people to see the bare bones of where these songs came from - without the full sheen production - simply with lyrics, guitar and melody," Ruby adds.

Sam & Ruby are kicking off 2010 in grand fashion. The pair recently made their debut performance at the Sundance Film Festival's ASCAP Music Café event, wrapped up tour dates with bluesman Jackie Greene and made an appearance on Acoustic Café. On Feb 9th, Sam & Ruby released a new digital single on Ryko, "I Can't Stop Loving You", which is their unique interpretation of the Ray Charles classic, produced by Charlie Peacock and featuring guest vocals by Flynn, a key member of the hip-hop collective LA Symphony. What's more, the duo was recently announced as the winner of Sirius-XM's coveted contest, "Coffee House Singer-Songwriter Discovery Of The Year," which earned them a live performance for the channel on Feb 18th in Nashville, TN and an upcoming opening slot for the Indigo Girls.

These events follow on the heels of Sam & Ruby's successful Ryko debut, The Here And The Now, named Associated Press' Album Of 2009 by Nekesa Moody. Moody noted in her year-end AP piece: "their blend of acoustic folk, country and soul sounds homespun, as though they've been making music together for a lifetime. And they've reached near-perfection with this CD."

Since their 1999 meeting at a writer's night in Nashville, Wisconsin born-and-bred Sam and the Ghana-born and Nashville-raised Ruby's gentle blend of R&B, folk and pop earned a 2007 Grammy nomination for their song "Heaven's My Home" (co-written by Ruby Amanfu with Katie Herzig and performed by The Duhks).

In addition, an early Sam & Ruby recording of the track was featured in the film adaptation of the beloved, acclaimed best-seller, "The Secret Life of Bees."

Previous years have seen Sam & Ruby performing at SXSW and for the past four years at New Orleans' Voodoo Experience music festival. Last year, NPR featured them on the "Tell Me More" show and in the fall, they hit the road with Eric Hutchinson.

Sam & Ruby are elated with the acclaim for their debut album. Press On deepens their musical message and presence.

"We want to let the fans know that it is only getting better. We aren't done yet. We are pressing on," Ruby said.

Sam & Ruby tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

March 2010

March 17-18 in Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere with Bobby McFerrin

April 2010

April 28 in Boston, MA @ Café 939
April 30 in New York, NY @ BB Kings with Delbert McClinton

May 2010

May 1 in Foxborough, MA @ Showcase Live w/Delber McClinton*
May 22 in East Lansing, MI @ East Lansing Art Festival

June 2010

June 26 in Brentwood, TN @ Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary

July 2010

July 2-4 in New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Superdome at the Essence Music Festival
July 31 in Truckee, CA @ Martis Camp

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