A devastating flood destroyed Thom Bishop’s home in 2013, and a later near-fatal accident prompted him to reconsider his priorities. Those experiences deepened his commitment to creativity, spirituality and purpose. Now influenced by meditation and Kriya Yoga, the American songwriter continues to write and record, with his next album, Train Leaving Dallas, scheduled for July 31, 2026.
The release reunites Bishop with longtime collaborator Billy Panda for twelve tracks: six originals and six covers. Their shared goal was not simply to place new and familiar songs side by side, but to approach each group differently. “We wanted the originals to sound like classics and the covers to feel fresh and new,” Bishop says. The original songs were co-written during their years in Nashville, while the covers came from their longstanding live repertoire.
A growing connection with Ireland has brought another source of encouragement. Visiting with his wife while their daughter studies at the University of Galway, Bishop has found inspiration in the country’s street performers, pub traditions and reception of American music. His own Irish heritage adds to that connection. The album’s lead single, “Here Comes the Night,” emerged from an evening in Galway when he reached for a song associated with his earliest memories of hearing Van Morrison.
Alongside the album, Bishop is preparing Branches & Blades, a forthcoming collection of lyrics and reflections on his songwriting career. The two projects extend a body of work that also includes novels published under the name Junior Burke and years of teaching at Naropa University. Rather than leaving those earlier chapters behind, Train Leaving Dallas brings Bishop’s accumulated experience into a new period of recording, reflection and creative discovery.