The Lone Bellow's upcoming sixth album, What A Time To Be Alive, captures the band’s signature harmonies and heartfelt storytelling while boldly stepping into new sonic territory with their full touring ensemble. The band now embarks on a bold new chapter while honoring the deep bonds that have defined their journey. Written collaboratively for the first time with their full touring band—founding members Zach Williams, Brian Elmquist, and Kanene Pipkin joined by drummer Julian Dorio and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Geertsma—the album channels the raw, ecstatic energy of the band’s live show into a dynamic collection of songs that pulse with warmth, honesty, and human connection.

Recorded live in Muscle Shoals, AL, after a writing retreat in a converted Kentucky firehouse, the album is both a celebration and a reckoning: of friendship, loss, love, and resilience. From the gritty, Stones-tinged opener “After The Rain” to the soul-stirring closer “What A Time To Be Alive,” the record captures the joy and vulnerability that have long defined The Lone Bellow’s sound—lush harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and genre-blurring arrangements steeped in folk, rock, and gospel.

The album’s creation was marked by setbacks, including the theft of early recordings, but the outpouring of support from their fanbase reaffirmed what the band has always known: their music is a shared experience. That spirit echoes throughout the album, whether in anthems like “Common Folk” and “I’m Here For You,” or in intimate reflections like “You Were Leaving” and “Night Goes Black.”

Since their acclaimed 2013 debut, The Lone Bellow has appeared on The Tonight Show, Austin City Limits, and The Late Show, topped Americana charts, and headlined storied venues from Carnegie Hall to the Ryman Auditorium. But with their next album, they reaffirm their commitment not just to making music, but to building community—on stage, in song, and around the table.

Eli Kollman was born and raised in West Texas, where he first developed a deep love for the arts. During high school, he began to seriously pursue that passion, drawing inspiration from artists across disciplines—actors, poets, and musicians alike—who shaped his desire to create.

Kollman's dedication led him to acceptance into The Juilliard School, and while there, he immersed himself in the rich history and roots of the New York folk scene, studying both its legacy and its evolving sound. Blending these influences with his own West Texas upbringing, he began crafting a style that honors his inspirations while creating something entirely his own.

Kollman believes the purpose of music is to give young listeners something they can discover for themselves, and older listeners something they can remember themselves through. With his debut album on the way, he hopes to bring listeners back home—to the honesty, connection, and truth that a great song can hold.