Whiskey Myers didn’t get the memo that the world has moved on from the days of uninhibited rock and roll, especially when it’s dipped in batter and fried up Southern style.
As fall breaks and the end of the year fast approaches, it’s time to look at what’s on tap for the rest of 2025 in country before Christmas music ushers the music industry into the Holidays.
No rest for independent country music fans in the second half of 2025. Some excellent country music projects will be coming at you, and this is your updating guide too get you through it all.
The name will probably be familiar to independent country fans. Whether you’ve seen it ascribed as TJ McFarland, or his stage name Tennessee Jet, he’s a primary member of the Cody Jinks songwriting collective.
Now that it’s all in the books—and after four long days of humpin’ around from stage to stage in the middle of a late season Ohio River Valley heat wave—here are some of the things that were seen and heard.
Fans of the staunch country music Outlaw will have ample opportunities to see him in 2024 as Whitey will be hitting the road hard and heavy this spring and summer, including opening some big shows for close friends.
Feeling distraught about the state of the world? Need a realignment of your perspective? There’s about nothing better for this prognosis than the music of Brent Cobb. The best way to get your Brent Cobb fix is to see him in the flesh.
Nobody needs to be told how incredibly awesome this 2024 Bourbon & Beyond Festival lineup is. Announced on Wednesday (1-24), the lineup set to transpire at the Highland Festival Ground in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hank Williams Jr. doesn’t tour very often. He’d rather spend his time in a deer blind or out on a dock these days. But the Country Music Hall of Famer is always good for a couple of weeks of tour dates each year.
The appeal for independent country has become so robust, we now have megafestivals sprouting up all across the country to cater to the fans of this music. But the first, and still the biggest of these events is Under The Big Sky Festival.
If you’re heading to Whitefish, Montana or are already there, congratulations, you’re about to experience one of the greatest assemblages of talent in independent country and roots music that happens all year.
Brent Cobb comes across as one of those country music performers who’s not particularly interested in country music superstardom. He’s cool with just writing and singing good songs for good people.
There is yet another massive music festival that has emerged to cover the surging interest in independent country, roots music, and Americana, putting deserving artists in headliner spots as opposed to just opening slots, and has fans from across the country rearranging vacation plans.
Few artists or bands in independent country are getting the same opportunities as 49 Winchester at the moment. Not only is reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs walking around in one of their T-shirts, he’s booked them to open a bunch of his shows in Europe later this year.
Over the last few years, Born & Raised Fest in Pryor, Oklahoma has distinguished itself as one of the leading festivals in the independent country music space with an emphasis on the Texas and Red Dirt artists that were born and raised in the region. The 2023 installment will be no different.
Eric Church is a fan of country music’s “Outsiders” if you will. That is why for his “Outsiders Revival” tour, Church will be reviving the practice of featuring some of the cooler folks in country music as opposed to whatever boilerplate star the industry is trying to shove down the public’s throats at the moment.
Zach Bryan and the Paramount TV show Yellowstone rekindled their affinity for each other and in a big way on Sunday night, December 18th. The 7th episode of Season 5 included not one, not two, but three Zach Bryan songs via the official soundtrack, and not through a superimposed backing track.
We’ve seen the hit TV show series Yellowstone help wing a dozen or so worthy independent country artists into the stratosphere through the show’s soundtrack. Now we’re seeing a reversal of roles as one of the primary cast members of Yellowstone has just signed a major label record deal.
Once again, Under The Big Sky Festival outside of Whitefish, Montana has wowed us all with their lineup announcement, and it underscores once again why this is arguably the premier event in independent country and Americana. With two stages, some 20,000 fans, and a curiously excellent curation of headliners…
What was supposed to be the most joyous day of his life ended up being his final one, as tears of happiness turned to tears of sorrow for his friends and loved ones. 37-year-old Oklahoma-based Red Dirt artist and songwriter Jake Flint passed away on Saturday, November 26th, only hours after getting married.
This is 2022, and artists like Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Zach Bryan, and the Turnpike Troubadours are exploding in popularity. Add on top of that then pent up demand due to the pandemic, and we’re living in an era when you’re favorite independent artists are arena stars.
The band is most certainly due for a new album, and anyone who’s seen them live will confidently attest they’re one of the most spirited live bands to see at the moment as they’ve been steadily climbing the ladder of recognition toward top headliner status. But all of this might be in store for a massive jolt sooner than later.
“Not a lot moves the needle these days. But this show moves the needle.” That was Hayes Carll, putting it out there as succinctly as possible about the impact the Paramount TV series Yellowstone has had on independent country music now for four seasons, with the fifth set to commence.
Tyler Childers continues to rack up the milestones and the precious metal as the popularity of his album ‘Purgatory’ continues to defy odds. Released five years ago last week, ‘Purgatory’ continues to be one of the most popular titles in all of country music, and it continues to rack up the certifications.