Blankets features songs by Nirvana, Temple of the Dog, The Postal Service & The Smashing Pumpkins
Indiana-born, Nashville-based rising star Stephen Wilson Jr. will release Blankets EP, featuring covers of alternative bands. His moving interpretation of Nirvana’s “Something In The Way” is available now via Big Loud, ahead of the August 29th release that also features covers of Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike,” The Postal Service’s “Clark Gable,” and The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight.”
“I used to listen to this song 100 times a day. There was ‘something in the way’ it was recorded. Kurt sang it laying down on his back, not an easy thing to do. It’s magic. There’s also something in the way that he transported this hillbilly kid from southern Indiana to Seattle, Washington,” Wilson Jr. explains about the Nirvana track.
This week, Wilson Jr. announced a headline show at Denver’s Mission Ballroom on April 18, 2026, following his recent Red Rocks debut last month, where he supported Eric Church across his three-night run. He also made his Newport Folk Festival debut in July, where he performed a headline set and was a featured performer in the festival’s finale set. Throughout the rest of the year, Wilson Jr. will support Hardy on his Jim Bob Tour, showcase at AmericanaFest for the first time, support Lukas Nelson on October 12th in Wilmington, NC, and continue on his wildly successful sold-out Søn of Dad Tour. On November 23-24, he will headline Ryman Auditorium for the first time with two sold-out shows.
In May, he released the “Star Spangled Banner (Live from the 2025 NFL Draft)” on streaming platforms following his performance of the national anthem at this year’s NFL Draft. He also released the gritty music video for “Cuckoo” starring Hardy and Joey Breaux, as well as a deluxe edition of Søn of Dad, his critically-acclaimed debut double album, featuring two new tracks taken from his viral Live at the Print Shop performance – the moving dedication to his late father “I’m A Song” and a gripping reinterpretation of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” – and ten acoustic versions of fan favorites from the LP.
1. Something In The Way
2. Hunger Strike
3. Clark Gable
4. Tonight, Tonight
