NASHVILLE, TENN.– Today, the rising starStephen Wilson Jr.released a poignant official video for“Grief is Only Love,”an emotional centerpiece to his critically-acclaimed debut double albumsøn of dadout now. At its core,søn of dadis a tribute to Stephen Wilson Sr., and was released on September 15, 2023, five years to the day that his father passed away.
The official video, directed by Stephen Kinigopoulos and Alexa Stone, channels Stephen Wilson Jr.’s life story into a highly intense and emotional video that pulls from his experience of living with, loving, and ultimately losing his father unexpectedly. Similar to the main character in the video, Stephen raced to be by his father’s side in his final moments and was forced to say goodbye to him in his car on an iPhone 8 in the middle of Kentucky. “His last words to me were ‘Write a good song for me’ and then he said, ‘I love you’ four times,” he reflects.
Wilson Jr. shared a poem to accompany the video’s release:
“Brevity is a theme and life is only brief
grief is only love and love is only grief
the gravity of this epiphany
from a life’s mission to what seems like to the moon
Standing proud with my sad flag in a dune of a cratered heart
Unable to tell between the
two at times
One plus one equals
through at times. Learning.
Trying to understand & accept that I won’t understand
Whilst accepting that letting go is perhaps the best heavy hand. Learning.
Life down here is a line far from straight
And this song was a gift to help lighten up the weight.”
Following a completely sold out debut headline tour, tours withThe Cadillac ThreeandHARDY, and his Stagecoach debut earlier this year, Stephen Wilson Jr. is currently in the midst of a tour supportingBrothers Osborneand a handful of summer festivals. In July, Wilson Jr. will head to Europe for a run of dates supportingJoss Stone, including Royal Albert Hall on July 8, and a date supportingMiranda Lambertin Memphis on Sept. 28.
This Saturday, June 15, Wilson Jr. will make his U.K. television debut with a performance onLater… withJools Holland.Earlier this year, he made histelevision debuton NBC’sLate Night with Seth Meyerswith a raucous performance of his viral hit “Cuckoo” and performed “Year To Be Young 1994” onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s#LateShowMeMusic series.Wilson Jr.’s 22-song opus was one of the most acclaimed albums of 2023, appeared on year-end lists fromRolling Stone,Whiskey Riff,Wide Open Country,Billboard, andGrady Smith, as well as the No. 1 album of the year in bothHollerandAll Country News.
Acclaim forsøn of dad:
“The most existential release of the year goes to relative newcomer Stephen Wilson Jr….if you listen closely, you’ll hear the work of a master craftsman versed in all manners of pop music.”
–Rolling Stone
“…the next iconoclastic leader of country’s rock revival.”
–The Tennessean
“Throughout the album, Wilson Jr. offers the kind of nuanced storytelling that has helped make stars of artists like Eric Church and Chris Stapleton, and he has the vocal prowess to back it up. An extremely promising debut.”–Billboard
“…the album ultimately feels like a declaration of creative independence — intriguing and insightful at all levels.”–Nashville Scene
STEPHEN WILSON JR. 2024 TOUR DATES
6/13: Columbus, Ohio – KEMBA Live! Outdoor Amphitheater *
6/14: Buffalo, N.Y. – Terminal B at The Outer Harbor *
6/15: Sterling Heights, Mich. – Michigan Lottery Amphiteater *
6/20: Mack, Colo. – Country Jam Colorado
6/21: Colorado Springs, Colo. – Black Sheep – SOLD OUT
6/22: Fort Collins, Colo. – Agge Theater
6/27: LaFayette, N.Y. – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards Summer Concert Series *
6/28: Newark, N.J. – New Jersey Performing Arts Center – Prudential Hall *
6/29: Cleveland, Ohio – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica *
7/6: Madison, Ind. – Roostertail Music Festival
7/8: London, U.K. – Royal Albert Hall %
7/10: Paris, FR – Casino de Paris %
7/11: Ostende, BE – Kursaal Oostende %
7/20: Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Stache at The Intersection
7/21: Brooklyn, Mich. – Faster Horses Festival
7/25: Three Forks, Mont. – Headwaters Country Jam
8/1: Detroit Lakes, Minn. – WE Fest
9/1: Weston, Colo. – Caveman Music Festival
9/13: Pryor, Okla. – Born & Raised Festival
9/28: Memphis, Tenn. – Autozone Park #
10/24: Birmingham, U.K. – O2 Institute
10/25: Newcastle, U.K. – Think Tank
10/26: Glasgow, U.K. – King Tut’s
10/27: Manchester, U.K. – The Deaf Institute
10/29: London, U.K. – Oslo
10/30: Cardiff, U.K. – The Globe
11/1: Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg Upstairs
11/2: Groningen, NL – Take Root Festival
11/4: Köln, DE – Club Volta
11/5: Berlin, DE – Passionskirche
* – withBrothers Osborne
% – withJoss Stone
# – withMiranda Lambert
CONNECT WITH STEPHEN WILSON JR.
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ABOUT STEPHEN WILSON JR.
Stephen Wilson Jr.’s journey from the hollers of southern Indiana to Nashville, Tenn. has been a winding road that’s taken many detours: He’s been an Indiana State Golden Gloves boxing finalist, a scientist, and a lead guitarist and songwriter in an indie rock band. In 2016, he ditched his laboratory nine-to-five and signed a publishing deal with BMG Nashville where his alchemic song craft immediately made waves, earning cuts from Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion, Tim McGraw, Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash, and more. 2023 proved to be Wilson Jr.’s breakthrough year, signing with Big Loud Records and releasing his debut double albumsøn of dad: a triumphant, genre-spanning set of 22 songs dedicated to his late father and given to the world on the five-year anniversary of his death. The album was named the No. 1 album of 2023 byHollerwho called it “a record for the ages,” and earned a spot as one of the best albums of the year fromWhiskey Riff, Wide Open Country,music critic Grady Smith, andRolling Stone.Last year, he toured with Brothers Osborne, The Cadillac Three, Midland, Hailey Whitters, and The Lone Bellow, with debuts at the Grand Ole Opry, Stagecoach, the Ryman Auditorium, CMA Fest, and Red Rocks. This year, he’s hit the road with HARDY, Brothers Osborne, Charles Wesley Godwin, and The Cadillac Three with festival appearances at C2C, Tortuga, Stagecoach, Country Thunder, and more.
