Dylan Wheeler w/ Rhett Embry
About the artist: The “Broke Ass Kid” Dylan Wheeler exemplifies the evolution of the Texas Independent Music Scene. With singer-songwriter depth that lyric lovers crave and a unique blend of Rock and Alternative influences, his music feels both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly innovative in a scene often rooted in Country traditions. Add in a powerful voice shaped by influences like Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder, and Layne Staley, and it’s clear why Wheeler is a standout. His genre-defying sound has the broad appeal that turns dreams into reality, and though his journey is just beginning, his future looks incredibly bright. Hailing from Edgewood, Texas, Dylan cut his teeth playing dive bars across the state, following in the footsteps of many East Texas legends. However, he set himself apart by building a loyal fanbase early on, even before releasing any official music. Posting acoustic videos of originals and covers on social media, such as a viral rendition of “Strawberry Wine” in 2017, he reached a wide audience and caught a glimpse of his potential. By the time he released his debut EP Tell Me If I’m Wrong in late 2018, the anticipation was palpable. The EP quickly amassed tens of thousands of streams, marking the beginning of his musical career. In 2019, Dylan quit his job in the Oil & Gas industry to pursue music full-time. From that point, his career took off—playing bigger shows, making trips to Nashville to write and record, and releasing music that reflected his artistic growth. Each new release showcased another layer of his talent, earning him more fans and deepening the connection with his existing audience. In just a few years, Dylan has gone from acoustic videos gaining thousands of views to racking up tens of millions of streams across platforms. He’s transitioned from tiny dive bars to selling out major venues across Texas and beyond. For Dylan Wheeler, this is just the beginning, and as he puts it, “the sky is the limit.” Not bad for a “broke-ass kid beating on his guitar.
Tyler Halverson w/ Kenney Feidler
About the artist: Born and raised in the tiny town of Canton, SD (pop. 3054), Tyler Halverson isn’t just any cowboy. He’s got the hat and the boots, but he also plays a mean guitar and writes an even meaner tune. He has no problem bouncing around the country chasing adventure (or a girl), and is telling his different kind of cowboy tale with his self-described “Amerijuana Music,” bridging honest storytelling with songcraft inspired by country powerhouses Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Hayes Carll as much as Boyz II Men, Taking Back Sunday, and The Used. Halverson fell in thrall to music at an early age, receiving his first guitar while in middle school. A local bluegrass festival convinced him to focus on music, throwing down at 4H and FFA festivals before heading to Nashville to attend the prestigious Belmont University. Upon graduation, he decided to hit the road and spent an extended run traveling around South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, all the while writing and playing his songs on social media. Halverson’s original approach caught fire with a string of independent releases including “Beer Garden Baby,” “Mac Miller,” and “Your Bar Now” (with Kylie Frey), amassing tens of millions of streams. Now, with his Atlantic Records debut single “Her” and more to come, Tyler Halverson is eager to take the next step on what has already proven an amazing journey. “I’m finding myself,” says Halverson. “I feel like I’m an artist and I’m finally about to do something.”
Ben Nichols w/ Oliver Peck & Joe Bassa
About the artist Bikeriders Tour is a chance for a couple of old friends, Lucero lead singer Ben Nichols and tattoo artist Oliver Peck, to hit the road doing what they love… riding motorcycles around the country, singing songs, and tattooing. In each city, Oliver does tattoos at local shops during the day and each night Ben plays an acoustic solo show at a nearby venue, with Oliver acting as host and MC. Ben did the first Bikeriders Tour by himself in 2011, riding his ‘07 BMW R1200GS. The following year Oliver and a handful of other tattooers joined on their Harleys and since then they’ve carved out a week or two each year to travel together. Music, motorcycles, tattoos, and good times. This year renowned Cleveland tattoo artist Greg Christian will be coming along as well. Simpson Motorcycle Helmets was kind enough to sponsor the tour, providing motorcycle helmets to be raffled off each night, with the money raised going to American Core, a nonprofit involved in veterans mental health. The tour is named after a Lucero song called “The Bikeriders” which was based on Danny Lyon’s famous book of photographs from the ‘60’s. The book inspired the song and the song inspired the tour. Ben still rides the same bike he started the tour on in 2011
Kaitlin Butts w/ Ken Pomeroy
About the artist: A truly one-of-a-kind artist, Kaitlin Butts has a deep affinity for country music’s more theatrical side: the extravagant storytelling, dazzling showmanship, and songs embedded with both unbridled emotion and quick-fire humor. After discovering her passion for performing as a little girl, the Tulsa native later brought her boundless energy and radiant voice to her own unapologetic yet soulful songwriting. When it came time to create her third album, the Nashville-based musician leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The result: a high-concept but candidly autobiographical LP called Roadrunner!, whose 17 powerhouse songs show the full force and extraordinary depth of Butts’ artistry for the very first time. “Every summer when I was a kid my parents would take me to see a performance of Oklahoma! at a local amphitheater, and I’ve felt such a strong connection to it my entire life,” says Butts, who first conceptualized Roadrunner! during a pandemic rewatching of the film with her husband, Flatland Cavalry frontman Cleto Cordero. “It’s a love story but there’s also a murder and a little bit of an acid-trippy feel to it at times; it’s set in the same place where I come from. Once I got the idea for this album I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before, and it turned into something that completely encompasses who I am and what I love.” Produced by Oran Thornton (Brent Cobb, Logan Brill), Roadrunner! marks a major tonal shift from Butts’ 2022 sophomore LP What Else Can She Do, a character-driven exploration of complex matters like addiction, domestic violence, and generational trauma. “With the last album I wanted to write about the struggles I’d seen people go through or experienced myself, so a lot of the songs had a sadness or darkness to them,” she says. “I feel like Roadrunner! is much closer to what I’m like onstage, where there’s real emotion and truth but also humor and a tendency to poke fun. It’s all those different versions of me at once.” Made with A-list musicians like multi-instrumentalists Russ Pahl (Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves) and Lex Price (Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum), Roadrunner! ultimately matches that multidimensionality with a lush and fiery sound informed by Butts’ eclectic influences (outlaw country, strong-minded country-pop, timeless rock-and-roll, and more). As Butts reveals, the making of Roadrunner! served as an essential milestone in her journey as an artist, allowing for the fullest expression yet of the larger-than-life vision she’s long brought to her work (e.g., her cinematic videos, high-wattage stage presence, exquisitely curated costumes reflecting her fondness for sequins and fringe). “Some artists get up onstage in their T-shirts and jeans and do their thing, but what comes naturally to me is the drama and going that extra mile to try to create an immersive experience,” she says. “The more I pull from my musical-theater background, the more emboldened I am. Making this album showed me that little ideas can grow and take on a life of their own, and it’s so exciting to know that sticking with my vision can lead to something bigger than I ever even imagined.”
Erin Viancourt w/ Karen Choi
About the artist: Full-hearted, free-spirited, and irresistibly genuine, Erin Viancourt’s take on country music is both timeless and entirely attuned to the chaos of modern life. On her debut album Won’t Die This Way, the Cleveland-bred singer/songwriter/ guitarist brings her lived-in storytelling to a gritty but gorgeously detailed batch of songs, encompassing everything from Americana to Western swing to classic outlaw country. Rooted in the warm and radiant vocal presence she’s shown onstage in touring arenas with Cody Jinks (who recently made Viancourt the first signing to his Late August Records), Won’t Die This Way ultimately reveals her rare capacity to soothe the soul and leave the listener newly empowered to live each day to the absolute fullest.
American Aquarium w/ Justin Bloss
About the artist: For nearly two decades, American Aquarium have pushed toward that rare form of rock-and-roll that’s revelatory in every sense. “For us the sweet spot is when you’ve got a rock band that makes you scream along to every word, and it’s not until you’re coming down at three a.m. that you realize those words are saying something real about your life,” says frontman BJ Barham. “That’s what made us fall in love with music in the first place, and that’s the goal in everything we do.” On their new album The Fear of Standing Still, the North Carolina-bred band embody that dynamic with more intensity than ever before, endlessly matching their gritty breed of country-rock with Barham’s bravest and most incisive songwriting to date. As he reflects on matters both personal and sociocultural—e.g., the complexity of Southern identity, the intersection of generational trauma and the dismantling of reproductive rights—American Aquarium instill every moment of The Fear of Standing Still with equal parts unbridled spirit and illuminating empathy.
Taylor Hunnicutt w/ Tim Lloyd of Western States
About the artist: Taylor Hunnicutt makes old-school southern music for the modern world. She’s a proud daughter of Alabama, writing songs that nod to the state’s tradition of country storytelling, rock ‘n’ roll rebellion, and guitar-driven grit. Sharpened by a touring schedule that’s kept her on the road for roughly 200 days a year, she makes her full-length debut with Alabama Sound — an album that unfolds like a love letter to the American South, written by a road warrior who’s spent most of the decade far away from home. “It’s a little country, a little singer/songwriter, a little Americana, and a lot of soulful southern rock,” says Hunnicutt, an opera-trained vocalist who began writing songs after dropping out of music school, landing a waitressing job at a blues juke joint, and sitting in with the bands that came through town. She’s no longer the guest artist, though — she’s the main act, and Alabama Sound showcases her high-energy, hellraising brand of southern stomp, country-rock twang, and amplified attitude.
Silverada w/ Jason Scott & The High Heat
About the artist Evolution. It’s what keeps the best bands afloat — song after song, show after show, record after record. Mike Harmeier formed Mike and the Moonpies in his early 20s, a workingman’s country band, honing their craft with five-hour sets on Austin’s dancehall circuit before expanding across America. By the early 2020s, they’d become global ambassadors of Texas music, from Abbey Road Studios to the Grand Ole Opry. The growth led to introspection. As their music changed, why not their name too? Silverada marks this evolution. “Back in the day, all we wanted to do was play the Broken Spoke,” says Harmeier, reminiscing about the Austin honky-tonk where Silverada found its roots. The album, their ninth, showcases their accumulated strengths — sharp songwriting, pedal steel melodies, and a versatile rhythm section — while breaking old rules. “Radio Wave” and “Eagle Rare” demonstrate their sonic exploration. Harmeier penned Silverada in his backyard studio, drawing inspiration from diverse sources. Recorded at Yellow Dog Studios, the album balances progression with roots, honoring their past while looking ahead. “We spent the first part of our career figuring out who we are,” says Harmeier. “Now we want to evolve not only the sound of the band but the dynamic of the live show too. Silverada sets the stage for the next leg of the journey.”
Chuck Briseno
This show offers free admission to veterans and active duty military upon presentation of proper ID at the door.About the artist:Chuck briseno is an independent artist and songwriter hailing from the small south texas town of george west, hometown of world champion cowboy phil lyne and the national “Storytelling capitol of texas”. The love for music, songwriting and storytelling has always been deeply rooted in chuck’s life. His grandfather “tata” had a guitar in the house, and he would record himself singing love songs in spanish about his grandma ofelia. This true love of music would define and shape him into the writer and performer he is today. Soon after graduating high school, he joined the military and was deployed to afghanistan in 2007 for 15 months with the 173rd airborne brigade. He served as a paratrooper and team leader while simultaneously applying to west point. In 2012 he graduated and served as a tank commander and combat engineer until 2018. Beginning in 2019, chuck shaped his career as a road warrior, logging over 150,000 miles and 600 shows to date. Along with releasing his debut album “you should be mine” and multiple singles to include “find her with me,” and “she’s my home,” he has built a reputation of hard work and dedication to not only his music but most importantly to his fans. Along with headlining his own shows across the country, chuck has been the supporting act for many artists including the turnpike troubadours, pat green, granger smith, muscadine bloodline, wade bowen, stoney larue, josh ward, jackson taylor, and uncle kracker. In the last 3 years he has recorded at the legendary sun studio as well as east avalon recorders in muscle shoals, al. With new music on the verge of release in 2024, you will find chuck on more festivals and bigger venues throughout the country.
Rob Leines w/ Honky Tonk Airlines
About the artist: “It’s hard for me to sit still,” admits Rob Leines, the country-rock frontman and blue-collar road warrior who regularly spends more than 200 nights a year onstage, bashing out a mix of Telecaster twang, guitar-driven grit, and southern storytelling. Long before he paid tribute to the touring lifestyle with albums like 2021’s Blood Sweat and Beers, Leines crisscrossed the country as a child. The son of a military man, he was born in Georgia and spent time in both Utah and California before returning to the motherland, where he graduated high school and began working as a whitewater raft guide. Leines loved the South — its waterways, mountains, and and although he’d eventually move back to California, those southern roots would always play a role in his music. Following his 2018 debut, Bad Seed, and the 2020 concert album Live in Richmond at the National (recorded during a rowdy night in Virginia, opening for Whiskey Myers), Blood Sweat and Beers finds Leines occupying the intersection between outlaw country and southern rock. It’s a record that mixes tattooed twang, hardscrabble honky tonk, Appalachian rock & roll, and roadhouse roots music into the same pot, filled with songs that spotlight the highs, lows, victories, vices, and vixens that come with a life spent on the move. “Won’t find me on the radio, no late-night TV show / You’ll find us in a smokey bar somewhere on the go,” he sings in “Rock & Roll Honky Tonk Life,” a celebration of the roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic that’s steered his entire career. A longtime welder who spent years working in the oil and gas industries along the Pacific Coast, followed by a traveling gig repairing components of turbine engines at power plants across the world, Leines understands the value of long days and hard work. Blood Sweat and Beers is the product of that same perseverance, written and recorded after his long climb from the dive bars of California – where Leines played some of his earliest shows, giving up his metalworking gig in order to pull triple-duty as the frontman, lead guitarist, and booking agent of his own power trio – to cross-country gigs, national acclaim, opening slots for country legends like Dwight Yoakam. “A lot of these songs are about blue-collar pride,” he says. “They’re about the workingman’s experience. I’m trying paint a picture of what it’s like on the road, and what it’s like in the South. My roots are still very much tied to the area, and you can hear that in the sound.” Co-produced by Leines and Eric Rennaker, Blood Sweat and Beers doubles down on the raw, rowdy stomp of Leines’ live show. For years, he’s described his sound as “if Skynyrd and Cash had a baby,” although Blood Sweat and Beer explores the wider orbit of country-rock, too. “Patty Lynn” is a murder ballad fit for campfires and front-porch pickin’ parties, “Hold On” is an acoustic love song, and “Good Time” spotlights Leines at his funkiest, trading the amplified twang of Bad Seed for something soulful and greasy. At the center of Blood Sweat and Beers, though, are songs that rip, riff, and roar, from “Bailing Hay” — a four-on-the-floor rabble-rouser that’s equal parts ZZ Top and Waylon Jennings— tO
