Sha-La Music has announced the worldwide release of the new 'Mystic Highway Road Trip' EP by US Roots Rocker DownTown Mystic. The EP will be released to all streaming services on July 10, 2026, via The Orchard/Sony Music, just in time for summer road trips. A US College Radio release follows on July 21, with Brandon Day/Tinderbox Music handling radio promotion.
The EP contains six songs described as modern day rockers filled with positive vibes and energy, a hallmark of DownTown Mystic's music. Tracks like 'Live' featuring harpmeister Jerry Fierro and 'Losing My Mind' featuring guitar virtuoso Lance Doss deliver a message of hope in turbulent times. The songs feature the same ace rhythm section from last year's 'Mystic Highway' EP: drummer Steve Holley (Paul McCartney, Elton John) and bassist Paul Page (Ian Hunter, Dion). Also included is the previously unreleased unedited version of 'Somebody's Always Doin' Something 2 Somebody (Uncut Mix)', with a standout performance by keyboardist Jeff Levine on piano and B-3 organ.
The inspiration for the 'Road Trip' release came from reviewers who described the earlier 'Mystic Highway' EP as a great soundtrack for a road trip. DownTown Mystic writer/producer Robert Allen said, 'There are so many talented reviewers out there who write with such cool insights that it blows my mind. I kept seeing reviews saying that Mystic Highway was a great soundtrack for a road trip, which I never thought about. It got me thinking, why not a summer road trip release?'
The EP was recorded at Shorefire Studios in W. Long Branch, NJ, under the direction of Joe DeMaio, who engineered and contributed guitar solos on 'Superstar' and 'Shadow Walk'. Mastering was handled by Leon Zervos (Crowded House, Maroon 5, Pink) at Studios 301 in Australia, adding a special sonic boost to the tracks.
DownTown Mystic follows the success of the 'On E Street Remix' EP, which featured Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famers Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent from the E Street Band. Released in April, that EP included remixed songs from the 1980s, recorded concurrently with Bruce Springsteen's 'Born In The USA' album. The remixes modernized the tracks while preserving an historic element. Robert Allen noted, 'Even though the remixes were of older material, the reviewers pointed out that I'm making rock music for today. Thanks to them, it seemed like the perfect time to segue from the past to the present and release some new rock'n'roll.'
DownTown Mystic has been on a roll with 'The Wish' and 'Mystic Highway' releases in 2025, continuing the trend in 2026 with 'On E Street Remix' and now 'Mystic Highway Road Trip'. Considered one of the top sync-licensed artists in Rock, with music featured in over 250 TV shows and films, his talents are on full display on the new EP. The EP has garnered praise from music publications, with The Big Takeover stating, 'It's the sound of rock-and-roll tradition moving with the times. It's a showcase of everything that made the genre so popular, proving that it still counts.' JamSphere Magazine added, 'The band's infectious unmistakable vibe, wrapped up with ace musicianship, topped with great songwriting, and delivered with powerful, heartfelt vocals. This is the place to start for timeless rock n' roll!' And Rattler Magazine noted, 'It's not just about recapturing a sound; it's about reaffirming what makes it endure: strong songwriting, human rhythm, and a refusal to overproduce the soul out of the music.'
Listeners can stream the EP at this link. For more information, visit the DownTown Mystic website at https://downtownmystic.net or Sha-La Music at https://sha-lamusic.com/.
