FRESH from producing wife Connie Smith’s comeback The Cry Of The Heart, Marty Stuart returns in April with Altitude, his first album since signing to SNAKEFARM. He’s backed by his longtime band The Fabulous Superlatives – guitarist Kenny Vaughn, drummer Harry Stinson and bassist/steel guitar player Chris Scruggs – who help steer the songs between country, bluegrass and fiery rock’n’roll. Stuart’s directive is made pretty clear on teaser “Country Star”: “Glad to be alive/All I need is a motor in my car/ Crank it up, hit the road/Be a country star”. At the other end of the career spectrum, promising newcomer Nate Smith offers up his self-titled debut ARISTA NASHVILLE/SONY MUSIC NASHVILLE that same month. The Californian native, now resident in Nashville, deals in an engaging mix of Southern soul and classic country rock, with fervent vocals to boot. “I’m not trying to be cool, or reinvent the wheel, or chase musical trends,” he insists. “I’m going after the heart of the matter.” Look out, too, for the imminent arrival of a bluegrass-themed album from Dan Tyminski. Details are still a little thin on the ground, but Alison Krauss’s Union Station stalwart (and George Clooney’s actual singing voice on the O Brother… soundtrack) is joined by his five-piece band on a set that follows on the heels of their recent tribute EP to the late Tony Rice.