Shelter Valley sits between the mountains and the badlands - hard, desolate and remote. People dont really go there but, somehow, they end up there. Rick Shea is no stranger to Shelter Valley nor to the tough San Bernardino truck stop bars where he spent his early years playing, singing and keeping his eyes open for trouble. His life in Southern Californias honky-tonk back country has exposed Rick to multiple musical worlds, from the traditional folk and country of The Carter Family and Merle Haggard to Roots Rock and southwest Norteno. His previous albums have been called "dazzling" and "stunningly good". Shelter Valley Blues, a poignant and stirring collection of songs from an extraordinary writer and musician, is a reflection of Ricks life experiences. The songs travel between the dark and the light and feature some well known guests including David Hidalgo from Los Lobos, Heather Myles and Russell Scott.