Midland

Midland have sought to reintroduce the Western plains, Laurel Canyon-cum-Bakersfield and Lone Star juke joints to Country music since coming together at a friend’s wedding over common influences and the need for a return to this sort of post-Urban Cowboy Country. For lead singer/guitarist Mark Wystrach, bassist/vocalist Cameron Duddy and lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson, the double platinum hit “Drinkin’ Problem” set the stage for their critically acclaimed “On The Rocks” and No. 1 Billboard Top Country Albums debut “Let It Roll” to unite classic country fans, hipsters and media including Entertainment Weekly, GQ, The Washington Post, Vogue, Esquire, Variety, Rolling Stone Country and NPR. Based in Dripping Springs, Texas, the trio of songwriters who developed their sound at Tornillo, Texas’ storied Sonic Ranch have been building a following that’s sold-out the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show, packed a multiple-night stand at Ft. Worth’s iconic Billy Bob’s and re-opened North Hollywood’s legendary Palomino Club for one night only. Bringing listeners a resurgence of their thick harmonies, sad melodies, tart lyrics, and steel guitar with their latest album “The Last Resort: Greetings From” (Big Machine Records), the retro-Nuevo trio has grown from bar band to an in-demand headliner who have even put together their own cruise.

Pug Johnson grew up on the outskirts of Beaumont, Texas, listening to the multicultural soundtrack of a city flanked by Louisiana, the Big Thicket, and the Gulf Coast. With his second album, “El Cabron,” Johnson salutes his homeland's traditions while creating his own musical geography. Released on the heels of his acclaimed debut, 2022's “Throwed Off and Glad,” “El Cabron” is an album for roadhouses, dance halls, and the long drive from sin to redemption, anchored by timeless country twang, humor, and plenty of greased-up groove. Johnson doesn't just nod to his influences; he reshapes them into something new, finding room for Tejano, barroom boogie-woogie, and southern soul, too. Tying that diverse sound together is the sharp songwriting of an artist who's built his audience on the road, playing shows with headliners like Steve Earle, Eli Young Band, Midland, and Hayes Carl.