Willis returns with "Don't Step Away"

"We've played it a few times live, and it has this kind of magical thing about it," Willis said. "It really lifts the audience, and everyone gets happy and starts dancing. It's really exciting to have a song like that."

"Back Being Blue" is out May 18 on Premium Records/Thirty Tigers, and Willis begins her much anticipated North American tour on April 19 in Austin.

This is Willis' seventh full-length studio album and her first solo project since her 2007 LP "Translated from Love." Willis' husband, Bruce Robison produced the new album analogue style in his rural recording studio in their home state of Texas. Willis wrote 6 of the 10 tracks herself, with help from Rodney Crowell and others on the additional four. Notable guests on the record include Eleanor Whitmore (of The Mastersons and Steve Earle and the Dukes), Mark Spencer (of Son Volt) and Trevor Nealon (of Band of Heathens

"I attempted to make music that could fit in any era but leans on the simplicity of the music that first inspired me," Willis said. "Roots rockabilly country blues, to narrow it down for you/ Kind of a Nick Lowe meets Skeeter Davis meets Crystal Gayle. Sounds that were in full blaze when I first moved Austin."

Tour dates are:
April 19- Austin, TX-KGSR's Unplugged at Shady Grove
April 25-Fort Worth, TX-The Yard
May 18-Bastrop, TX-Bastrop Music Festival
May 19-Houston, TX-Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck
May 20-Gruene, TX-Gruene Hall KNBT Music Festival
May 26-Dallas, TX-Kessler Theater
June 2-Austin, TX-Stateside Theater
June 4-Cambridge, MA-Atwoods
June 5-New York City, NY-The Loft at City Winery
June 6-Pawling, NY-Daryl's House
June 8-Alexandria, VA-Birchmere
June 9-Norfolk, VA-North Point House Concerts
June 10-Annapolis, MD-Rams Head On Stage
June 16-Eden, TX-Green Apple Arts Center
June 22-Gruene, TX-Gruene Hall
June 23-Franklin, TN-The Franklin Theatre
June 24-Atlanta, GA-Smithe's Olde Bar
June 29-Columbus, OH-Natalie's
June 30-Chicago, IL-TBD
July 1-St Louis, MO-Off Broadway
July 21-Gateshead, UK-Sage Gateshead
July 23-Bristol, UK-Redgrave Theatre
July 24-London, UK-The Lexington
July 25-Nottingham, UK-The Maze
July 27-Bury, UK-The Met
July 28-Leeds, UK-Seven Arts
July 29-Edinburgh, UK-Voodoo Room