[Cover photo credit to Dave McClister]

Singer/songwriter Colby T. Helms has released his new single “Young and Dumb”, a personal song that “explores substance abuse through the eyes of someone struggling to reckon with the consequences of his choices.”

Written from the perspective of an addict, the song “confronts the complicated realities of addiction, including the ways it can affect one’s relationships, judgment, and perception of reality.”

Helms says:

If you are struggling with substance abuse or have been affected by a loved one’s substance abuse, this song will hit close to home. ‘Young and Dumb’ is told from the perspective of an addict coming to terms with his life choices and shortcomings. Through his eyes, you can see how addiction can warp someone’s mind and distort their sense of reality.

Though still in his early twenties, Helms carries forward a tradition that stretches back generations. Raised among the culture and communities he writes about, his songs “serve as both preservation and progression, honoring the stories, sounds, and spirit of Appalachia while introducing them to a new audience.”

Raised in the Blue Ridge foothills of Southwest Virginia, Helms began writing songs as a teenager. With his upcoming album, One For The Losers, Helms explores themes of “loss, resilience, addiction, identity, and survival.”

One for the Losers is due out October 23, 2026, via Photo Finish Records. Helms is currently on the road headlining a Fall tour with notable stops in Nashville, Pittsburgh, Charleston, and Richmond and will be making his Mountain Stage debut in December.

Tour Dates

Fri, Sep. 25 – Beaufort, NC – Backstreet Pub

Sat, Sep. 26 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Pour House – Deck Stage

Thu, Oct. 8 – Nashville, TN – Analog @ Hutton Hotel

Fri, Oct 9. – Chattanooga, TN – The Woodshop Listening Room

Wed, Oct. 14 – Richmond, VA – Tin Pan

Thu, Oct. 15 – Charlotte, NC – Petra’s Bar

Fri, Oct. 16 – Greensboro, NC – Flat Iron

Sat, Oct. 17 – Galax, VA – The Rex Theater

Thu, Oct. 22 – Spring City, PA – The Gem Music Hall

Fri, Oct. 23 – Winchester, VA – Bright Box Theater

Thu, Oct. 24 – State College, PA – The State Theatre (The Attic)

Fri, Oct. 25 – Wheeling, WV – Waterfront Hall

Wed, Nov. 4 – Morgantown, WV – The Encore

Thu, Nov. 5 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe

Fri, Nov. 6 – Cumberland, MD – Loft 129

Sun, Nov. 8 – Coeburn VA – Wandering Hills Music Festival

Mon, Nov. 9 – Lexington, KY – WoodSongs @ SCOTTISH RITE Concert Hall

Sun, Dec. 6 – Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage