Northern Lights
Self-Released, 2026
9/10
This sophomore album from the Kentucky native Jonathan Pennington sees the troubadour taking help from the producer Greg D. Griffith for these personal tales of Appalachian storytelling under the moniker Moonlight Mile.
The thumping drums from Asher Pennington opens the rugged yet tuneful ideas of the title track, where Pennington’s sturdy voice guides the rawness, and “Dancing In The Rain” follows with Rachel Baiman’s elegant violin and backing vocals adding much beauty to the gritty climate.
“Marigold” lands in the middle and is an intimate moment of poeticism that allows for Pennington’s forthright singing to tug on the heartstrings as he also plays keys, while "No Heroes” welcomes Phillippe Bronchtein’s aching pedal steel to the vulnerable moment of emotional cleansing.
Later on, Matt Pittman’s guitar acrobatics across “Headed Back To Omaha” see William Wallace handling Hammond B3 and Wurlitzer via the dense rocker, and “The Beautiful Parts” exits with a tenderness that blends Grayson Griffith’s bass amid pedal steel, guitar and drumming into an introspective and gorgeous finish.
A family affair that uses Pennington’s and Griffith’s sons on bass and drums, there’s plenty of anthemic qualities and emotional resonance to absorb here, as Moonlight Mile make their own kind of roots rock with authenticity.
Travels well with: Joey Frendo- Bound For Heartache; William Matheny- That Grand Old Feeling