Full Breakdown
Margo Price Releases Protest Mixtape “Days of Unrest” on Independence Day
7/4/2026, 1:02:09 PM
Core Event: Surprise Independence-Day Release of a Protest Mixtape
Singer-songwriter Margo Price surprise-released the mixtape *Days of Unrest* over the July 4 weekend. The ten-track collection, issued on streaming services and vinyl, blends protest covers with two originals and a three-part instrumental suite. Produced by Matt Ross-Spang and recorded in Nashville, Memphis and San Francisco, the release precedes her Farm Aid appearance.
Data & Statistics: Tracklist Overview and Proceeds
*Days of Unrest* includes covers of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” (featuring Joan Baez and Memphis Mariachi), Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm,” Charlie Daniels’ “Long Haired Country Girl” (with Billy Swan), Blaze Foley’s “Oval Room,” the Spanish folk anthem “De Colores,” the original “Can’t Stand Still,” and a three-part instrumental “San Marcos” suite. A portion of vinyl sales will benefit the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project.
Official Statements & Responses
Price described the mixtape as a “direct protest tool,” noting that covering “Deportee” continues a decades-long performance habit and reflects her admiration for Baez’s career. She said songs like “Oval Room” expose a system that “keeps the rich in power and divides the people.” Price also highlighted her upcoming Farm Aid set and reiterated her Grammy nomination for *Hard Headed Woman*.
Why It Matters / Impact
*Days of Unrest* revives the 1960s protest-song tradition while targeting contemporary immigration policies and economic inequality. Directing vinyl proceeds to the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project links artistic expression with material support for vulnerable communities, underscoring music’s role as a catalyst for social change.
What's Next
Price will debut mixtape selections at Farm Aid in September and is expected to continue advocacy through performances and collaborations.
Verbatim Quotes
> “I’ve been singing ‘Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)’ for a couple decades now, so it’s only fitting that I would cover it on Days of Unrest. I first heard it when I was watching Joan Baez and Bob Dylan sing it on The Rolling Thunder Review. Joan Baez has inspired me beyond words, so to have her voice on this recording feels surreal. I’ve taken cues from her career both musically and as I’ve moved into the role of ‘cultural worker.’” — Margo Price, Singer-songwriter
> “He wrote the song about another famous movie star turned politician—President Ronald Reagan—back in 1984, but it feels like it could have been written for any president, especially Trump. The system has always been set up to keep the rich in power and divide the people. Covering this song, as well as the other tracks on Days of Unrest, is how I protest. I’m showing up at the Capitol too, I’m marching beside my brothers Representative Justin Jones & Representative Pearson, but singing this in my live shows has felt cathartic for me and I think it has for my fans too.” — Margo Price, Singer-songwriter
> “He wrote the song about another famous movie star turned politician—President Ronald Reagan—back in 1984, but it feels like it could have been written for any president, especially Trump. The system has always been set up to keep the rich in power and divide the people. Covering this song, as well as the other tracks on Days of Unrest, is how I protest. I’m showing up at the Capitol too, I’m marching beside my brothers Representative Justin Jones & Representative Pearson, but singing this in my live shows has felt cathartic for me and I think it has for my fans too.” — Margo Price, Singer-songwriter
> “The mixtape follows Price’s 2025 Grammy-nominated album Hard Headed Woman and lands ahead of her September performance at Farm Aid, where she’ll debut songs from the new release.” — The Line of Best Fit
