There’s no denying that Americana has made a lasting impact on the country music scene. Check this C&I playlist with some of our favorite Americana artists.
Call it what you want — Americana, underground country, country blues, bluegrass, rockabilly — but there’s a plethora of outstanding American roots musicians managing to make a name for themselves without the help of mainstream radio or record labels.
We’ve gathered a dozen of our recent favorites, some of whom, like Billy Strings, have gone on to make it big and others, like Nat Myers and Cristina Vane, who are on the cusp of greatness.
Billy Strings
For years Billy Strings wowed fans as an undercard on festival lineups before blowing up proper during the pandemic with a handful of livestreamed and socially distanced shows that sent him skyrocketing. This led to multiple wins at the Americana Music Awards and International Bluegrass Music Awards along with a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2021 courtesy of his album Home.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy Dana Trippe
Charles Wesley Godwin
A drove of fans were introduced to Charles Wesley Godwin through his feature spot on Zach Bryan’s song “Jamie,” but others in the know had already been following him since his 2019 album Seneca, and some even before that. The past two years have only solidified Godwin’s place among country music’s new rising stars as the artist continues to tour in support of 2023’s Family Ties that’ll include a handful of stadium shows with Luke Combs this summer.
Cole Chaney
A viral success who’s roots took hold during the heart of the pandemic, Cole Chaney has built up a cult following around his native Kentucky and throughout Appalachia thanks to his ballads overflowing with raw emotion and blue-collar spirit. This sentiment is exemplified with songs like “Coalshooter” and “Ill Will Creek” that highlight the both sacrifices faced by those in Appalachia and the thrills of living there.
Cristina Vane
Born in Italy, Cristina Vane is a master of her craft on both the electric slide guitar and banjo, resulting in forays into the world of bluegrass one moment and blues rock the next. This double threat also integrates well into her live show, which can be anything from a solo setup to a full string band repertoire or entirely plugged in outfit with drums.
Kat Hasty
A West Texas firebrand who’s drawn comparisons to Miranda Lambert, Kat Hasty broke out during the pandemic after struggling to even land herself a gig before it. Despite not being “your southern Texas wannabe beauty queen,” the singer has amassed a legion of listeners with her refusal to fit into a box, earning her gigs with everyone from Tanner Usrey to Morgan Wade.
The Local Honeys
Formed at Morehead State University’s Kentucky Center for Traditional Music, the collective starring Linda Jean Stokley and Montana Hobbs toe the line between sweet and sass with songs like “Little Girls Actin’ Like Men” and “First Church Of God” in a manner that’s become revered by traditionalists and progressive roots music fans alike. Beginning as a strictly bluegrass band, the group has gone on to include drums and electric arrangements in recent years as they expand their sound.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy Erica Chambers
Lost Dog Street Band
Perhaps one of the most recognizable bands in today’s underground country movement, Lost Dog Street Band has become a YouTube darling with several tearjerkers from frontman Benjamin Tod taking off on the platform. This has led to a barrage of shows that often sell out, with fans singing along to every gut wrenching lyric at the top of their lungs, a trend the group looks to continue with April’s release of the 10-song album Survived.
Nat Myers
Kansas-born Korean-American Nat Myers’ sound harkens back to the pre-war country blues compositions of Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, and Lead Belly paired with modern day topical references that serve up the best of both eras on his debut album Yellow Peril. The album’s success led to his recent inclusion in the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s “American Currents” exhibit that runs through February 2025.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy Jim Herrington
Sierra Ferrell
Sierra Ferrell’s signature warble and heartwarming charisma have carried her from the mountains of Charleston, West Virginia, to iconic venues like Red Rocks, the Ryman Auditorium, and even the big screen with her song “The Garden” being included in 2023’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Her forthcoming album Trail Of Flowers (out March 22) will only add to her breakout success.
Willi Carlisle
Folk singing poet Willi Carlisle isn’t just an A-list wordsmith but also an otherworldly multi-instrumentalist who moves between guitar, banjo, harmonica, fiddle, button-box, rhythm-bones, and more. A mix of southern backwoods hospitality and Midwestern rust belt ingenuity, Carlisle’s music brings together people from all walks of life by engaging humor to bridge the gap between clashing ideologies like few other artists can.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy Madison Hurley
We’ve gathered a selection of choice cuts from each artist into one Spotify playlist. Listen to Best Of The West: Modern Grassroots Americana below:
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