Almost Almost Famous: First-Run Hand-Numbered Hardcover

(Almost) Almost Famous: The Tall Tales Behind the Stories from a Lifetime Spent Chasing Roots Music

(Almost) Almost Famous is a collection of stories, essays and memories showcasing Red Dirt, Americana, roots rock and independent country music. All direct orders will come signed by the author.

The First-Run Hand-Numbered Edition is the premier souvenir edition of this book. It contains a packed bonus chapter as well as early e-book access, all of our souvenir merch and more, outlined below. Orders for this edition will close on March 15, 2026.

Josh Crutchmer says:
These are tales from my days in the wings, behind the scenes, and in the crowd. We'll dodge an Oklahoma summer storm with Wyatt Flores and stumble upon the news of last year's Cross Canadian Ragweed reunion in the most random way possible. I'll tell you about how a simple act of professional journalism with The Turnpike Troubadours changed everything for me. We'll talk about Oklahoma! with Kaitlin Butts and smoke weed with Margo Price. Vandoliers and Jenni Rose will tug at your heartstrings, and we'll walk through the creative process with Ryan Bingham. We'll go catfish noodling with Koe Wetzel and into the studio with Whiskey Myers. We'll ride Charley Crockett's bus after the Houston Rodeo, and we'll learn how to navigate independent music from American Aquarium.

(We may have a word or two for those who don't exactly enjoy our work in there, too).

There will be one exception: The final chapter will be a fresh, new artist profile, complete with exclusive quotes, photos and news to break when the book drops.

Don't call this book a memoir. In the immortal words of Roger Clyne, there ain't no moral to this story at all. I just want you to have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

Here is the complete timeline for this book:
November 5: Pre-sale opens
November 24: Full chapter list revealed
January 10: (Almost) Almost Famous merch goes live
February 1: Foreword writer revealed and online retailer pre-sales open
March 15: Early e-book access shared with qualifying orders
March 23: Pre-sales begin shipping
April 1: Official release

First-Run Hand-Numbered Edition
These will be the very first official copies ever printed of this book. Each copy will be hand-numbered in the order it was printed.

This edition will take the original book and add on an additional 30-page chapter that adds to the lore of the stories in (Almost) Almost Famous in painstaking detail:

• Two brand-new concert reviews: Cain's Ballroom Hangover Ball 2026 and a very special set at Mile 0 Fest 2026.
• Inside the Notes App: We'll empty the reporting vault from the most memorable concerts we've ever covered.
• We'll reprise and update the "To (The People Who Ruined) A Band That I Loved" essay written after sitting through an incredible Tyler Childers concert next to a few people whose conversation overshadowed the music.
• You'll also get a pair of stickers: The official (Almost) Almost Famous logo sticker and the Red Dirt Relief Fund circle sticker.
• You'll get an official 1x1 logo pin.
• You'll get an official logo bookmark.
• You'll get access to the digital edition of the book starting on March 15, 2026.

Red Dirt Relief Fund
Once again, the pre-sales of this book will benefit the reddirtrelieffund.org Red Dirt Relief Fund. $10 from the sales of this edition will benefit the fund.

Red Dirt Unplugged supports the Red Dirt Relief Fund, which operates an Emergency Assistance Fund that provides individual grants to help music people recover from accidents, cancer treatment, medical emergencies, natural disasters, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and other unavoidable emergencies that prevent them from making music in our communities. These grants typically cover immediate living expenses and medical bills.. Please consider adding a $10 donation to your order, and we will throw in a one-of-a-kind sticker as a thank you. The donation is tax deductible and will include a receipt confirming your donation. The Red Dirt Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit.

When ordering, choose one:
• Paperback
• Hardcover (add $10)

These orders will ship USPS Priority Mail, UPS Ground, or the equivalent. Tracking information will be shared via email when the order has been scanned for shipping.