When her contract with label
Razor & Tie
ran out, folk darling
Dar Williams
decided to try a D.I.Y. approach to her tenth studio album,
Emerald
, before signing with UK label
Bread and Butter
shortly before its release in the spring of 2015. It features an impressive lineup of guests, including British folk-rock legend
Richard Thompson
, country's
Jim Lauderdale
, alt-pop's
Jill Sobule
, and indie folksters
the Milk Carton Kids
,
Lucy Wainwright Roche
, and
Angel Snow
. Inspired by collaborations and long-term friendships, the album also features an unexpected and spirited cover of
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
' "Johnny Appleseed." ~ Marcy Donelson