The Avett Brothers Release New Single, “Roses and Sacrifice”

It's their first new music since 2016

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The Avett Brothers Release New Single, “Roses and Sacrifice”

The Avett Brothers have officially released their new single, “Roses and Sacrifice.”

The North Carolina-based foursome have continually debuted new material during live shows, including “Roses and Sacrifice,” which they first played last summer. The track was revealed to wider audiences last month, when The Avett Brothers made an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. The band finally released the studio version on Friday.

Seth Avett takes lead vocals on the track, alongside brother Scott, cellist Joe Kwon and bassist Bob Crawford.

But don’t let the upbeat sound and untroubled strumming fool you: In a move that can only be described as “Avett-esque,” the ballad manages to seamlessly combine delight and sadness, hope and despair.

The track opens: “Words only won’t suffice / Roses and sacrifice for you.”

Seth continues to muse on love and compromise, and the devotion we have for one another. While the tone remains optimistic, it becomes increasingly clear that an unnamed strain is weighing upon this relationship.

In the most heartbreaking slice of the song, the Brothers croon: “Can’t always disagree / We’ll find somewhere to meet, I know / Between our wildest dreams / And where reality seems to fall.”

The bluegrass luminaries really deliver with this long-awaited single, with more intoxicating crescendos and fuller harmonies than ever before.

“Roses and Sacrifice” is the most recent music from The Avett Brothers since their 2016 album True Sadness.

In other recent Avett news, Seth and Scott appear on the track “Willie Got There First,” a collaboration with Asleep at the Wheel. The latter’s LP New Routes came out in September.

Listen to “Roses and Sacrifice” (also available via your streamer of choice here) and see the Avetts perform the song on Late Night below, and find an Avetts performance from the Paste archives and a list of The Avett Brothers’ upcoming live shows further down.

The Avett Brothers Tour Dates:

November
16 – Key West, Fla. @ Key West Amphitheater
17 – Key West, Fla. @ Key West Amphitheater

December
30 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Bojangles Coliseum
31 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Bojangles Coliseum

January
12 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena

March
07 – St. Augustine, Fla. @ St. Augustine Ampitheatre
09 – Tampa, Fla. @ Gasparilla Music Festival
10 – Tallahassee, Fla. @ Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
12 – Mobile, Ala. @ Saenger Theatre
14 – Houston, Texas @ Revention Music Center
15 – New Orleans, La. @ The Fillmore New Orleans
16 – New Orleans, La. @ The Fillmore New Orleans

April
19 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Sweetwater 420 Festival
20 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Sweetwater 420 Festival
21 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Sweetwater 420 Festival

May
10 – New Braunfels, Texas @ Whitewater Amphitheater
11 – New Braunfels, Texas @ Whitewater Amphitheater

July
05 – Morrison, Colo. @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
06 – Morrison, Colo. @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
07 – Morrison, Colo. @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

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