"Lion’s Den," the debut EP from Newtime Stringband, is a bold introduction to the project's genre-blending vision. From intimate fingerstyle songwriting to reimagined Appalachian ballads, the album moves fluidly between humor, heartbreak, and bold experimentation. Highlights include a bluegrass ode to a lost dog, a moving tribute to the pain of watching a loved one face Alzheimer’s, and electrified takes on tradition—like a charged-up version of Jean Ritchie’s Now is the Cool of the Day and a hip hop-infused arrangement of Dock Boggs’ Lovin’ Nancy featuring members of Gangstagrass. The title track, Lion’s Den, driven by trancey strings and African-inspired percussion, delivers a psychedelic stringband sound that captures the album’s spirit: fearless, rooted, and entirely its own.