Brit Taylor
About the artist: With the critically acclaimed release of her sophomore album, Kentucky Blue, singer-songwriter Brit Taylor is striding positively into her future. The Kentucky native — with her captivating lyrics and arresting vocals — is stepping boldly ahead with one foot firmly grounded in her Appalachian roots and the other plowing through new ground. It is rewarding, but it hasn’t been easy. Kentucky Blue, produced by Grammy winners Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson and released in 2023, is a happy, upbeat record that is feisty, funky and pure country and reflective of her life today. Its success — debuting No. 4 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums and climbing to No. 18 on Americana Music’s album chart — follows the success of Brit’s 2021 debut album Real Me and its complement, Real Me Deluxe, which chronicled her self-reflective journey from the depths of despair to honest self-awareness. The highly acclaimed Real Me opened as the highest-ranking debut album on the AMA/CDX Radio Chart at No. 37 and garnered positive reviews from American Songwriter, Rolling Stone, NPR’s World Cafe and others. The 2022 AMERICANAFEST featured her at an official artist showcase, and she headlined The Burl’s 2022 official after-party for Kentucky Rising, an all-star concert in to raise money for East Kentucky flood victims. Taylor’s list of recent live performances includes opening for Dwight Yoakam, Ian Noe, Alabama and Robert Earl Keen and touring in support of both Kelsey Waldon and Blackberry Smoke. PBS featured her on “The Caverns Sessions,” a musical series from deep within a subterranean amphitheater in Tennessee’s Cumberland Mountains. She has released new music with Dee White, Mike and the Moonshines and others. She will tour in support of Brent Cobb this spring. Born where the famed Country Music Highway 23 slices through Kentucky, life was good for the young singer who spent her childhood years on the Kentucky Opry. Because she was singing before she could read or write, songwriting came later. It took the end of a teenage puppy love to lure her to put pen to paper and words to her emotions. Her first lyrics were born, and her love for songwriting was unleashed. High school graduation was followed by a move to Nashville, a college degree, a music deal, marriage, and a mini-farm. And then it all went bad. A husband gone AWOL, a band that dissolved, a beloved dog that died, a music deal gone sour and a bank that wanted her home made for a winter of despair. After a brief wallow in self-pity, Brit went to work, determined to be true to herself and to make music her way. Tired and broken hearted by the “new Nashville,” she walked away from her song writing deal. Declaring she’d rather “clean toilets than write shitty songs any longer,” Brit cleaned houses to pay the bills, successfully turning her side hustle into a bona-fide small business. At the same time, she served as “general contractor” for her self-financed Real Me, pulling together a cast of professionals to co-write and play with her, all while recording on her own newly created record label, Cut A Shine Records. Life is good again. She signed a collaborative deal between Cut A Shine Records and Thirty Tigers and a publishing contract with Reservoir and One Riot. Wasserman Music serves as her booking agent. She has a new love and marriage and two new miniature donkeys and a rescue dog added to her zoo of one cat, two dogs, five goats and a bunch of chickens. Today, Brit is bravely standing out as her own self. It isn’t an easy path to navigate, but Brit learned that the best GPS is her inner self. Always true to herself, Brit Taylor continues to tells stories which manage — whether they are dramatic, humorous or heartfelt — to be downright honest. It is who she is.
Alex Williams w/ Hunter Peebles
About the artist: Waylon Jennings said it best back in ‘78, realizing the line between his life and art had all but vanished. “Don’t you think this Outlaw bit’s done got out of hand?” the legend sang – and it’s a feeling Alex Williams knows all too well. Portrayed in 2017 as the heir to the Outlaw Country throne, the Lightning Rod Records artist played his part to perfection, living out the words to gritty hits like “Little Too Stoned” and the rest of a Nashville-produced album debut, Better Than Myself. But after five years of waging war against himself, it’s time to put the guns down. “It’s all I knew at that point. When I made the first record, I didn’t have a band, I didn’t have a lot of writing experience, and overall a very surface level sense of what I wanted to do,”Williams says of his early days, and the tunnel vision which eventually led to his new LP, Waging Peace. Matching a cold look in the mirror with a newly liberated sonic style, the set marks a brand newchapter for an artist once pushed into a creative corner. A small-town Midwestern kid who’s now amassed more than 5 Million global streams, and toured throughout North America and beyond, those words reveal a man who’s lived and learned, finding a way to put his truth in song. And how he ended up here is a story of its own. Raised in Pendleton, Indiana, Williams grew up assuming he’d follow his father into criminal justice – but was laying down the law onstage by high school. It was actually his dad who encouraged his early songwriting, Williams says, and fusing hard hitting heavy metal with guitar-driven rock with a deep-beyond-his-years baritone, he was soon gigging between Indiana and Texas, where a cousin had a bar. Soon the old soul was enrolled in Nashville’s prestigious Belmont University, but he quickly left for an education on the road – connecting with Outlaw heroes like Waylon and Willie, Billy Joe Shaver and more along the way.
***CANCELLED*** Breland with Ryan Charles
About the artist:Boundary-shattering breakout star, BRELAND is pushing the possibilities of Country music on a global scale. Since the arrival of his PLATINUM-certified debut single “My Truck,” the New Jersey-bred singer/songwriter/producer has amassed over 1.1 BILLION career streams, brought his crowd-thrilling live show to an international headline tour, and gained acclaim from many of the world’s leading music publications (with Rolling Stone hailing him as “a symbol of Country music’s ongoing evolution” and Billboard calling him a “keen, visionary solo artist”). On his critically acclaimed 2022 debut album CROSS COUNTRY, the Bad Realm Records/Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville artist introduced a high-energy sound that blurs the barriers between Country, Pop, Hip-Hop, Soul, and Southern Gospel, offering up smash hits like the GOLD-certified “Praise The Lord (feat. Thomas Rhett).” A blockbuster year for BRELAND, 2023 included such triumphs as teaming up with superstar Keith Urban to open the 16th annual Academy of Country Music Honors by performing their GOLD-certified collaboration “Throw It Back” and — immediately following the performance — receiving the ACM Lift Every Voice Award, recognizing his role in “elevating underrepresented voices throughout the Country music genre, transcending demographics and geography.” Released in September, CROSS COUNTRY: THE EXTRA MILE delivered a star-packed bonus version of his full-length debut, with the expanded album’s six fresh tracks including a brand-new feature with Brittney Spencer as well as longtime live favorite “Cowboy Don’t.” With his high-profile TV appearances to date including Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Voice, and TODAY, he also spent much of 2023 on the road as support for the legendary Shania Twain’s QUEEN OF ME TOUR in the U.S. and U.K. (with stops at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden), in addition to taking his THE EXTRA MILE TOUR across the U.K., Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. A truly magnetic live performer, BRELAND has also graced the stage at major festivals like Stagecoach and C2C: Country to Country Festival, fulfilling his mission of uniting audience members from all walks of life with his wildly joyful music.
Wonder Women of Country : Mellissa Carper + Kelly Willis + Brennen Leigh
When Kelly Willis, Melissa Carper and Brennen Leigh – three accomplished singer-songwriters who have forged their own unique lanes in country music – joined forces as a power trio, there was no more appropriate moniker than Wonder Women of Country. At the end of 2021, after serendipitously sharing bills separately several times, Willis approached Leigh and Carper about teaming up and playing some shows together. Wanting more than your standard songwriter-in-the-round arrangement, the three learned each other’s songs to create a more integrated, band approach. Those first few shows together were so much fun and so well-received that they decided to continue. Wonder Women of Country have discovered that, together, their own individual superpowers come alive. (One of their superpowers is being able to find hidden treasures in any thrift or vintage store.) With Leigh playing lead guitar and mandolin, Carper on upright bass, and Willis playing rhythm guitar, they support each other’s distinctive original material with beautiful three-part harmonies. “At every show, folks were asking if we had records together,” says Willis. “After months and months of that, we finally found a chance to go make one.” Their forthcoming, six-song EP, Wonder Women of Country: Willis, Carper, Leigh, was recorded at Bismeaux on the Hill in Austin, TX in December of 2023. It features two songs by each artist, including a couple of Carper/Leigh co-writes, and one reimagined John Prine tune. Each track captures the magic these three create night after night on the road. Wonder Women of Country are the super heroes we’ve all been waiting for.
Briscoe with Max McNown
West of It All, the debut album from Americana folk-rock band Briscoe, is a coming-of-age soundtrack set against the backdrop of the Texas Hill Country. Written in the Lone Star State and recorded in North Carolina, it’s an album that charts its own musical geography, with production from Grammy nominee Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats) and adventurous songwriting that bridges the gap between classic American roots music and its modern-day incarnation. From free backyard performances on the outskirts of UT Austin’s campus to sold-out gigs at Antone’s Nightclub and The Continental Club Gallery, Briscoe’s growth — like the group’s music itself — has been organic. Bandmates Truett Heintzelman and Philip Lupton met as teenagers, reunited as students at UT Austin, and built their grassroots following the old-school way: by carving out a sound that nodded to the golden era of folk, rock, and pop music, then getting onstage and building a genuine relationship with their audience. Signed by ATO Records while still pursuing undergraduate degrees, the Texas natives wrote West of It All as graduation loomed in the distance, funneling the stories of their college experience — from heartbreak to hard-won lessons to weekend trips into the rural countryside — into a raw, rugged blend of classic and contemporary influences. With contributions from drummer Matt McCaughan (Bon Iver) and multi-instrumentalist Phil Cook (Megafaun, Hiss Golden Messenger), West of It All offers a singular version of genre-fluid folk music, from rootsy rave-ups like “The Well” to brainy, literary songs like “Sparrows.” It’s a self-assured album that follows no directions but its very own, stacked organic performance and sharp songwriting that negotiates the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Meet Briscoe VIP Upgrade • Pre-show Meet & Greet and photo opportunity• Access to a 2-song soundcheck performance• Tour poster, signed by Briscoe• Early entry into the venue
The Wilder Blue with The Jenkins Twins
“There is music. And then there is The Wilder Blue, who feel so transcendent, they’re in a category all of their own.” —Saving Country Music The Wilder Blue began in 2019 when Zane Williams, already a seasoned troubadour with seven solo albums under his belt, pulled together a select group of multi-talented musicians from theTexas music scene. Their debut album HillCountry(2020) and its follow-up TheWilderBlue(2022) garnered comparisons to early Eagles and 80’s-era Alabama by interweaving five-part harmonies with bluegrassy arrangements of folk-rock and country songs.For their newest release Super Natural in the fall of 2023, the band enlisted Grammy-nominated Brent Cobb to produce the album and perform on the title track, a song he and the band co-wrote in the studio. Brent’s groovy, vintage sensibilities proved a naturalfit for a bandwith influences as diverse as Little Feat, Del McCoury, and Robert Earl Keen. A cover of the Eagle’s classic “Seven Bridges Road” also features band admirer Luke Combs, who has addedThe Wilder Blue to his 2025 stadium tour lineup.Twenty years before he was fronting a break-out band, Zane Williams was a solo coffee-house performer and aspiring songwriter in Nashville. After moving back to his native Texas in2008 he eventually became a dancehall staple and respected songwriter with cuts by the likesof Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, and Cody Johnson. To the surprise of his fans (and the bemusement of his booking agent), Zane announced the formation of the new group in 2019by soliciting band names from his fans and promising lifetime free tickets to anyone whose suggestion was picked. (The winning name “Hill Country” had to be changed just after the release of their first album due to a trademark conflict, but the winner is still on the guest list for life!)Multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Andy Rogers was the only member of Zane’sformer band to join the new group. Born and raised in Lebanon, TN, Rogers learned bluegrasschops from an early age and excelled on bass, banjo, dobro, guitar, and just about anythingwith strings. Rogers moved to Denton, TX in 2004 to study jazz bass at the University of NorthTexas and made a long-term home in the eclectic arts community he found there. Playing in aseries of rock and country gigs eventually led him to join the Zane Williams band on bass andvocals in 2016.Looking over the Texas music scene for likely bandmates, Williams sent a text to a singer-songwriter and lead guitar player whose voice had caught his ear a few years before on localradio. Paul Eason was ensconced at the time in a comfortable guitar gig with Texas stapleKevin Fowler but was immediately intrigued by the notion of joining forces. Originally fromHouston, TX but living at the time in San Antonio, Eason fronted various bands beginning in his teens and released two solo albums in the early 2000’s before joining the Fowler band full time.A third solo album followed in 2016, which showcased his distinctive lead vocals, southwestern aesthetics, and impeccable guitar playing.Eason, in turn, vividly recalled meeting a singing drummer named Lyndon Hughes who had been with the Roger Creager band. Eason and Williams paid a visit to the studio in theWoodlands, TX where Hughes was working as an engineer, producer, drummer, and vocalist.Singing together that day on a new song Williams had written called “Dixie Darlin’,” the threerealized they were onto something special. Hughes, a Houston native, brought a wide range ofskills to the new band. His effortless harmony vocals, his versatile drumming, and his ears asan engineer and producer would end up having a major affect on the shaping the sound of the band.
Dylan Wheeler with Matt Williams
About the artist:East Texas native, Dylan Wheeler dropped his debut EP “Tell Me If I’m Wrong” in November of 2018 and since, his name has continued to be added to lists of emerging singer/songwriters to watch in the Texas/Red dirt music scene. The 25-year-old out of Edgewood Texas didn’t begin his musical journey until age 22 after leaving the oilfield to pursue his dream of becoming a touring musician. The dynamic singer/songwriter spent the last two years playing solo acoustic shows in and around college towns, helping him gain popularity amongst college crowds. Wheeler’s musical influences range from Rob Thomas and Jared Letto, to Aaron Lewis which has influenced his own sound. Wheeler’s vocals are packed with emotion, season and come out smooth, that, combined with his relatable lyrics and catchy tunes have certainly been the cause of his rapidly growing fan base. His newest tune, “Broke A$$ Kid” now sits at more than 2.3 million streams and has given Wheeler the momentum he needed to take his career to the next level. Wheeler has curated his own sound and style, whether it’s full band or solo acoustic, it’s certainly a show you won’t want to miss. Wheeler is already back in the studio pushing to release new songs before the end of the year.About Matt Williams:Matt Williams is an independent artist from Ponca City, OK. Matt was born and raised in Ponca City, then moved to Stillwater in 2018 to pursue music in a town that was known for it. Five years & hundreds of shows later, Matt & the band have started to make a name for themselves in the ever-evolving red-dirt scene, opening for powerhouse bands like Treaty Oak Revival & Giovannie & the Hired Guns among others, while also beginning to headline small rooms throughout the region. The band is rounded out with Clayton Peliti on drums, Ian Smith on bass, & Matt’s brother Mason Williams handling lead guitar duties while also serving as a main songwriter and singing background vocals. Matt and the band strive to put on an entertaining live show, pulling influence from red-dirt, metal, and many other genres. Putting an emphasis on genuine songwriting, Matt & the guys hope their listeners connect with the lyrics on the same level they do.
Pony Bradshaw
On his new album North Georgia Rounder, Pony Bradshaw leads the listener on an exploration of the woods, rivers, and mountains of Appalachia, more specifically, the area for which the album is named and he’s called home for the past 15 years. “It’s got its hooks in me,” Bradshaw says of North Georgia, and it shows, with songs that quickly establish a setting, much like the one he initiated with the album’s predecessor, Calico Jim. The sonic excursion includes stops along the Conasauga River, visits to the holler, and a few diversions—nearby Knoxville plays a supporting role, as do Louisiana and Arkansas. It’s an impressionistic journey of introspection and connection all at once.
Corb Lund
Corb Lund has received multiple CCMA, JUNO, and international award nominations and wins. A rural Albertan hailing from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with a long family lineage of ranchers and rodeo people, Lund is about as authentic as they come. Embracing both his Western heritage and his indie rock past through his music, Lund has been known to filter a range of cowboy themes past and present through his unique lens – from rough-and-tumble tales of lawless frontier saloons to the somber realities of running a modern family ranch
