Glasgow blues/rock four-piece Highway 491 will release 'These Places, In This City' via Rock & Roll Traffic Records in January 2019. The 10 track record is their first full-length release and follows 2015's Extended Play EP and 2017's 'In The Loop - The Acoustic Sessions.' The album will be launched on January 11th 2019 with a gig at the long-running Dreadnought Rock club in Bathgate, Scotland.

The first music from has now been released in the form of a video for the short, sharp rock track Feet To The Fire.

You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Ssj1jWemVGc

Evolving from a blues jam in 2012, Highway 491 took their lead from some of the classic blues of old, covering artists like Son House, Robert Johnson and Howlin' Wolf in their early days as a guitar/drum two-piece. Since then the band has grown and changed, with the new record containing eight original heavy-hitting blues/rock cuts, chiefly written by bandleader Cameron Arndt. The album is rounded out by two covers - nodding to both the band's history and that of the music they play with a supercharged version of John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom and a stirring, evocative acoustic take on Hownlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightnin' - recorded live in the studio with Arndt on vocals/harmonica and guitarist Leo Barrie (also of thumping bluesy two-piece Taped Live) on acoustic slide guitar.

The current line up - certainly the most powerful version of the band yet - is completed by drummer Derek Whiteford and bass player Jack Oliver (both members of top Glasgow alt-rockers The Naked Feedback). Together the group have crafted a dense, exciting album where muscular blues songs (In The Loop) mesh seamlessly with catchy epics (A Lie Agreed Upon) and punchy rockers (Feet To The Fire). Lyrically, many of the songs (thundering opener The Record for example) focus on personal struggles, but Moscow and 3rd Time Lucky tell stories of incident and adventure and, elsewhere, the band hold a mirror up to the idiosyncrasies of society on Crime & Punishment.

Highway 491 are also delighted to feature two of their favourite musicians in guest slots on two of those tracks: Red Pine Timber Co member and solo artist Chris Small brings his electrifying harmonica skills to Crime & Punishment and former King King keyboard player (now working with both Joanne Shaw Taylor and Sari Schorr) Bob Fridzema adds a whole new dimension to 3rd Time Lucky with some stunning Hammond organ and Rhodes electric piano.

The album was recorded at the newly-renamed Ice Breaker Studios (formerly Clearwater) in Perth, with engineer/producer Dave Macfarlane (Red Pine Timber Co, True Gents) manning the desk and spurring the band on to create their best work yet. It was mastered by Pete Maher who has worked with top acts including U2, Jack White and The Rolling Stones.

'These Places, In This City' Tracklist:

2. In The Loop
3. Boom Boom
4. Feet To The Fire
5. 3rd Time Lucky (feat Bob Fridzema)
6. Moscow
7. Fool
8. Crime & Punishment (feat Chris Small)
9. A Lie Agreed Upon
10. Smokestack Lightnin'

The album launch will take place at Dreadnought Rock, Bathgate on 11th January 2019 with Highway 491 playing a full set along with some special guests, and support from Chris Small (www.facebook.com/chrissmallmusic/). Entry is only £3, simply pay at the door on the night. For full details visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/487645355097078/

For more info on Highway 491: www.highway491.com

Follow the band on social media at: www.facebook.com/highway491

For review copies, download links, interview requests or other information please email highway491@outlook.com.