Kentucky rock band Black Stone Cherry is set to release a new EP titled 'Celebrate' on March 6, 2026, via Mascot Records. The project features six original tracks and a cover song, reflecting the band's desire to adapt to faster music consumption trends. Singer Chris Robertson explained the decision in a recent interview.
Black Stone Cherry, a rock band from Kentucky with two decades in the industry, has announced its upcoming EP 'Celebrate,' scheduled for digital release on March 6, 2026, through Mascot Records. The EP includes six original songs—'Celebrate,' 'Neon Eyes,' 'Caught Up In The Up Down,' 'I'm Fine,' 'Deep,' and 'What You're Made Of'—plus a cover of Simple Minds' 'Don't You (Forget About Me),' featuring guest vocals from Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman. The band produced the effort themselves and recorded it at High Street Studios in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
In an interview with Meltdown on Detroit's WRIF radio station, singer and guitarist Chris Robertson discussed the choice to release an EP rather than a full-length album. 'We've gotten to a point as a society... where we want something new faster than we ever have,' Robertson said, noting how annual product cycles like new iPhones contrast with traditional two-year album tours. He added that after 20 years and eight full records, plus blues EPs and live albums, the band wanted to experiment: 'We just wanted to try something different this time... to see how that kind of goes over with the way we all consume stuff now.'
Robertson highlighted shifts in listening habits, where full albums are less common amid playlist culture and singles. Reflecting on his youth, he shared a fondness for cassettes: 'Cassettes sound better than vinyl or CDs, in my opinion. There's something about that tape.'
In another conversation with Terrie Carr of Barrett Media, Robertson described the songwriting process, which took place at guitarist Ben Wells' house rather than on tour buses, yielding a 'different energy' while retaining the band's sound. This follows their 2023 album 'Screamin' At The Sky' and a Record Store Day release earlier in 2025. The band recently wrapped a month-long U.S. tour named after the EP, supported by Them Dirty Roses and Ayron Jones.
Black Stone Cherry consists of Chris Robertson on vocals and guitars, Ben Wells on guitars, John Fred Young on drums, and Steve Jewell Jr. on bass.
