Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has announced his return with a new album featuring his band Saving Grace. The album is set for release on September 26 through Nonesuch Records, as revealed in an official announcement on Robert Plant’s Instagram.
The announcement detailed the album’s creation and the band’s formation during the pandemic lockdown period.
“Robert Plant’s ‘Saving Grace,’ his first album with a new collective of distinguished players, is due September 26 on Nonesuch Records,” the official announcement stated. “You can pre-order the album, hear RP and the band’s take on Low The Band’s ‘Everybody’s Song’ from the album, and get tickets for RP and the band’s just-announced debut US tour at link in bio.”
The statement further explained the album’s origins and recording process.
“The album’s genesis was during lockdown, when RP’s customary wandering was all but forbidden,” it continued. “It was in the English countryside that he connected closely to this diverse group of musicians—Suzi Dian, Oli Jefferson, Tony Kelsey, Matt Worley, and Barney Morse-Brown. Produced by RP and the band and recorded over six years in the Cotswolds and on the Welsh Borders, ‘Saving Grace’ features songs by Memphis Minnie, Bob Mosley (Moby Grape), Blind Willie Johnson, The Low Anthem, Martha Scanlan, Sarah Siskind, and Low.”
Plant also shared his perspective on working with the new collective.
“We laugh a lot, really,” Plant said about his new project. “I think that suits me. I like laughing. You know, I can’t find any reason to be too serious about anything. I’m not jaded. The sweetness of the whole thing…These are sweet people and they are playing out all the stuff that they could never get out before. They have become unique stylists and together they seem to have landed in a most interesting place.”
The album marks Plant’s first collaboration with this particular group of musicians. It also includes a debut US tour.
This latest project represents another chapter in Plant’s diverse post-Led Zeppelin career. He has explored various musical territories and collaborated with different artists over the decades.
Led Zep News reported that cellist Barney Morse-Brown joined the band in late 2024, initially as a guest. He has since become a full member, adding a fresh dimension to the group’s evolving sound. Morse-Brown is known for his work with Birdy and Amy Macdonald. He debuted with Saving Grace at a show in Harrogate, UK, where he performed on cello and even improvised on the instrument as a stand-up bass.
The band’s live performances have showcased their versatility and willingness to experiment with different musical styles. Led Zep News noted that the band’s live set has included new original tracks like “Higher Rock” as well as covers of the Levon Helm song “Move Along Train,” Ted Daryll’s “She Cried,” and even a version of Plant’s own “The May Queen.” This demonstrates the band’s approach to blending old, new, and unexpected material into their repertoire.
The album announcement may seem recent, but the collaboration has deeper roots than initially apparent. Consequence of Sound revealed that Plant and Saving Grace have actually been working together for the past six years, refining their chemistry and experimenting with a wide range of styles. This extended period of collaboration explains the cohesive sound and natural chemistry evident in their performances.
The upcoming release continues Plant’s tradition of exploring diverse musical landscapes, from his solo work to collaborations with artists like Alison Krauss and the Band of Joy. The six-year development period and the band’s evolution, including the recent addition of Morse-Brown, suggests that Saving Grace represents a carefully crafted artistic statement rather than a rushed project.
You can listen to Robert Plant’s new release on YouTube below.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/tfcRe8NyFjE
