The Belleville Outfit is geared to release TIME TO STAND (May 12), the second album of its signature Americana roots sound, a blending of swing, country, jazz, gypsy, jamgrass and blues, and will preview cuts at Southwest by Southwest 2009 in March and at its second appearance at MerleFest in April.

TIME TO STAND is full of what The Belleville Outfit is becoming known for: sharp songwriting, bright high-octane vocals, and incredibly intricate instrumentation of strings and keys on tracks such as "Sunday Morning," "Once and for All" and the title track, which is packed with Appalachian and bayou sound and imagery.

As is so apparent onstage, when the six-piece band performs, the new record captures the collaborative spirit among members Rob Teter (lead vocals; acoustic and electric guitars), Phoebe Hunt (lead vocals; fiddle), Jeff Brown (upright and electric bass), Jonathan Konya (percussion; vocals), Connor Forsyth (keys; vocals) and Marshall Hood (acoustic and electric guitars; vocals) - each bringing their unique experiences and distinct talents to every song.

Hunt penned the title track, which is dedicated to slain journalist-musician Daniel Pearl (whose memorial foundation awarded her a John Cooper violin to play for a year). As timely as can be, the final verse advises: "So listen ... All who walk our broken land/You've crawled, you've walked, you've run away/But now it's time to stand, now it's time to stand."

Teter and Forsyth co-wrote the sweet love song "Sunday Morning," which features a clever lyrical set-up and remarkable ivory-tickling by keyboardist Forsyth. Teter's "Once and For All" tells of engaging in love ("So I quit being scared, once and for all"), and Hood's "Love Me Like I Love You" laments waiting on love.

The Belleville Outfit sound, said No Depression, "... captures the best of the hippie-friendly roots string band zeitgeist, without succumbing to it," and Nashville Scene said the band's "instrumental virtuosity, tricky arrangements and sophisticated songwriting touch moves their music beyond fun revivalism. ... They're capable of moving in most any direction they wish."

The band's debut, WANDERIN', spent months on the Americana radio airplay chart, reaching #10, and was #23 out of the top 100 releases for most spins in 2008.

TIME TO STAND, which the band's supporters have helped fund via an "Adopt a Song" exchange for mention in the album liner notes or a house concert, will be backed by festival dates through the spring and summer, including a return appearance at MerleFest on April 25 and Bonnaroo in June.