Byron Isaacs records and tours with The Lumineers. He met the band through producer Simone Felice and first contributed bass and backing vocals to their platinum-selling Cleopatra. He’s on their 2019 album III that explores themes of addiction, and on their newest crowd-pleasing release, Brightside. He’s currently on The Lumineers Brightside World Tour which is selling out shows throughout 2022.
The New York City-based band Isaacs shares with guitarist Peter Cole, called Lost Leaders, released two singles in 2022, “Long Way Down” and “Foolish Heart.” Their new EP, Jealous Sun, is due out July 29. It follows their third album, Promises Promises, which debuted in March 2019. The band enjoys radio play and performs with drummer Lee Falco and keyboardist Will Bryant, who each also contribute vocal harmonies.
Isaacs was one of the six founders of the legendary Americana band Ollabelle, which toured with Diana Krall and was featured on the Great High Mountain Tour. For years after he played bass for Levon Helm’s famous Midnight Rambles, and played on both of Helm’s Grammy-winning albums (writing the song “Calvary” on Dirt Farmer). Isaacs played and toured with Amy Helm, and produced her first solo album, Didn’t It Rain.
In June 2018, Isaacs released his debut solo album, Disappearing Man, to rave reviews. Recently Isaacs has enjoyed songwriting collaborations with Jim Keller. He’s also played on recent music from Noah Kahan and David Baron, and is on Carry Me Home, the 2022-released collaboration between Mavis Staples and Levon Helm.
During his decades-long career, Isaacs has recorded and/or performed with Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, Roseanne Cash, Jackson Browne, Nina Nastasia, Ryan Adams, Chris Smither, Richard Shindell, Mary Fahl, The Weight Band, and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, and many others.
