Watch The Farewell Drifters Cover Wilco’s “California Stars”

Last year, we brought you The Farewell Drifters’ gorgeous cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy In New York.” Now the Nashville-based string band, who are about to hit the road for their first tour of the west coast, are tackling a new song — “California Stars,” one of the best loved songs on Billy Bragg and Wilco’s Mermaid Avenue album.

The lyrics were penned by Woody Guthrie and set to music by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett. Sing along with Farewell Drifters below, and if you’re out west, go out and sing it with them in person.

“We’ve been fans of this song for a long time,” the band tells American Songwriter. “Woody is probably best known for his politically charged folk songs, but I love the imagery he uses as he captures a hopeful kind of longing in this one. And Wilco captured that same spirit as they set it to music. I hope we did too. It seemed like the perfect song for us to do as we embark on our west coast tour this month.”

Tour Dates:

7.11    Knuckleheads Saloon        Kansas City, MO
7.12    Strings & Wood Concerts            Denver, CO
7.14    Bluegrass on the Bay       Great Falls, MT
7.15    Pilgrim Church                       Bozeman, MT
7.17    Downtown Crossing                  Sandpoint, ID
7.18    Tractor Tavern                     Seattle, WA
7.19    Green Frog Cafe                    Bellingham, WA
7.20    Dante’s                            Portland, OR
7.21    Axe & Fiddle                   Cottage Grove, OR
7.22    Les Schwab Amphitheater      Bend, OR
7.25    The Palms Playhouse         Winters, CA
7.26    Hotel Utah                         San Francisco, CA
7.27    McCabe’s Guitar Shop        Santa Monica, CA
7.29    Music Near the Hearth       Sunnyvale, CA
8.01    Steve’s Guitars                   Carbondale, CO
8.02    Avogadro’s Number                 Fort Collins, CO
8.03    Keystone Bluegrass Festival   Keystone, CO
8.04    Conifer Community Park      Conifer, CO