Lookout Tower are out but not down in their poignant single and live video Valley Song — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Written during the heart of a Cape Breton winter, Valley Song captures the delicate tension between clinging to lost love and embracing the freedom of letting go. It’s an evocative journey through emotional valleys, where lush string arrangements by Blue Lobelia and heartfelt harmonies reminiscent of The Band blend seamlessly into Lookout Tower’s signature sound.
“There is beauty in relationships, even once they have run their course,” the bandmemers say in a press release. “Valley Song is our ode to love which once was, and the fear of what is to come.”
Valley Song was recorded deep in the woods at the genre-defying Americana, soul, blues, folk-rock, and alt-country band’s own Foxglove Studios and mixed by Grammy-nominated Nashville engineer Jon Estes (Langhorne Slim, John Paul White). The result is a track that feels both intimately handmade and timeless, a song that could have emerged from the Laurel Canyon scene of the 1970s just as easily as it could soundtrack a misty Cape Breton morning.
The band’s core lineup features four musicians whose chemistry is as natural as the tides: Rankin MacEachern (vocals), Bryan Picard (guitars, vocals), Franzi Habith (bass, vocals) and Bethany June (guitar, banjo, vocals). Together, they weave elements of folk, soul, blues, and rock into something deeply their own, blending old-time influences with modern storytelling.
Rooted in the vibrant cultural landscape of Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Lookout Tower draw from hard times, coastal memories, and Acadian roots to create their distinct sonic identity. They call it Winter Swamp Sound — a no-holds-barred approach where soulful ballads, rousing blues rock, hypnotic funk, and old-time harmonies meet.
If you’re a fan of artists like Jason Isbell, Nathaniel Rateliff, Shovels & Rope or The Felice Brothers, Lookout Tower belong squarely in your musical collection. Their songs are built on the belief that heartache, hope, and joy all occupy the same room — and Valley Song is the perfect key to open that door. The lyrics reveal the full emotional sweep:
“Gone are the days, trapped inside the horrors of my mind
Found are the ways to leave the thoughts of you so far behind.”
It’s a raw, relatable depiction of learning to find freedom in moving forward, even when part of you longs to stay behind.
Beyond the studio, Lookout Tower has built a strong reputation on stages across Atlantic Canada, playing festivals like and even organizing their own annual event, The Middle River Stomp. Their live performances are a celebration — soulful, communal, and impossible to forget. Fans will have a chance to experience Valley Song and more as Lookout Tower hit the road this year, with a run of shows across Nova Scotia.
Check out Valley Song & watch Lookout Tower play the tune above, hear more from the band and see their upcoming live dates below, and take a gander at their website and Instagram.
Lookout Tower Tour Dates
June 7 | Maritime Mania | Margaree, NS
June 21 | Fish Out of Water | Margaree, NS
July 26 | Island Folk | Sydney, NS
Sept. 19 | Iona Heights | Iona, NS
Oct. 25 | Bearly’s | Halifax, NS
Nov. 22 | The Middle River Stomp | NS
