Another one down. Watershed Festival, the largest country music festival in Washington and one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest, has announced that they wouldn’t be returning in 2026. The festival released a statement announcing the cancelation on social media: “After 13 incredible years of Country Music and Community at The Gorge, we wanted to be the first to let you know that Watershed will be taking a hiatus in 2026. Any future plans will be announced accordingly.” View this post on Instagram Produced by Live Nation, the festival had been held annually at The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington since 2012, and in years past had featured headliners like Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, and many more. No reason was given for the cancelation, but it’s the second festival in the region to announce this month that it won’t be returning: Earlier this month, FairWell Festival in Oregon announced that they would not be returning after a three year run. And these are far from the only festivals we’ve lost in the past couple years. Faster Horses, an annual festival in Michigan that was also owned by Live Nation, announced last year that they would be taking a “pause” in 2025, and as of right now there’s been no announcement that they plan on returning in 2026. The Iron Hills Country Music Festival, a planned festival in Birmingham, Alabama last year, was canceled before their inaugural event even happened because of what organizers called “increased production costs combined with softer-than-expected demand.” (Translation: They didn’t sell enough tickets). And in 2024, Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Fest Texas was canceled after announcing a bizarre lineup including Nelly, Vanilla Ice, Color Me Badd and Hinder. Then in 2025, Gordy’s also canceled the 2025 edition of their flagship Idaho festival, citing current “circumstances out of our control, economic uncertainty and Gordy’s continued decline in health.” This comes after concerns from artists about still being owed money from previous festivals, and ticket buyers who were still owed refunds from canceled festivals, with Gordy’s announcing that the future of the festival is still uncertain. So what’s going on? Is the festival market oversaturated, or is there something else behind so many festivals going away? I think market saturation likely plays a role, although the cancelation of two major festivals in the Pacific Northwest seems like a bigger issue than fans simply choosing one or the other. The bigger issue, to me, is the lack of variety coming from these festivals. There are typically only so many artists playing festivals in any given year. Some artists are on their own tours and aren’t doing festivals, some artists are taking time off from touring altogether, and the result is a limited list of major artists for festivals to choose from. The result is that the same artists often end up on the lineups for many different festivals throughout the summer, giving fans multiple options within their travel distance for which festival they want to go to. That forces festivals to compete with others that have largely the same or similar lineups, and naturally brings down the demand for all of the festivals. I mean, tell me a festival that featured a lineup of Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Turnpike Troubadours, and other artists along those lines wouldn’t crush ticket sales records. But for some reason, these major festivals insist on rotating through the same cast of artists every few years, and often feature the same lineup as a half dozen other festivals around the country. Where’s the draw in that? Fans are also more selective about where to spend their money right now because of the struggling economy. I don’t have to tell you how expensive everything’s become, and consumers are no doubt questioning purchases that wouldn’t have been questioned a few years ago. Rising costs means that not only does it cost more to put on one of these festivals, but fans are expecting more for their money. That’s why a festival like Morgan Wallen’s Sand In My Boots Festival last year succeeded despite the tough climate: Not only did they provide a unique lineup, but it was on the beach and had plenty of other things to offer in addition to the music. The festivals that we’re seeing succeed right now are those that feature unique lineups. Rock the South and Rock the Country are killing it right now, because they’re usually not getting the same lineup as every other festival in the area. Same with festivals like Two Step Inn in Georgetown, Texas. The festivals that are able to set themselves apart from others are doing just fine: The others, it seems, not so much. Having the same artists perform at 5 or 10 Live Nation festivals a year just isn’t going to cut it anymore, and neither is having a less-than-exceptional fan experience. Whether it’s camping or nearby lodging, or activities for festivalgoers to do throughout their trip, festivals clearly need to do more to deliver the kind of experience that fans are willing to pay to attend. There are plenty of festivals out there still showing the others what it takes to succeed: Unique lineups and a great fan experience that makes people want to travel and spend big bucks for a weekend. Unfortunately, it seems like too many organizers aren’t learning their lesson.The post Another Major Country Music Festival Announces They’re Not Returning In 2026 – What’s Behind All The Cancellations? first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

He's been a sought-after hitmaker for years. Continue reading…

William Clark Green is one of a kind. A native of Eastland, TX, Green has built a devoted following and earned respect from his peers over the past two decades on the strength of his sharp songwriting and creative approach to his craft. Primarily a solo artist – but also an integral part of the four-man Texas supergroup The Panhandlers – Green has consistently proved just how powerful his music is through his lengthy catalog of originals. Ever since releasing his debut record Dangerous Man back in 2008, Green has masterfully toed the line between heartfelt and humorous. But no matter the tone, he has never shied away from hard truths or vulnerability, always putting himself out there to connect and bring joy to his listeners. Now, as the March 6 release date of his seventh studio album approaches – and his first since Baker Hotel in 2022 – it’s clear Green shows no signs of changing course. Perhaps his most vulnerable project yet, Watterson Hall finds Green reflecting on the things that really matter in life, often from his own viewpoint as a husband and new father. But don’t worry, the record is still laden with his signature humor and clever lyricism, and he closes things out with a bang in that regard with the final track. As great as all of the singles released thus far have been, though, his latest single “Man on the Moon” might just be the best. In a press release circulated by his PR team at All Eyes Media, Green set the scene for the listener and explained what “Man on the Moon” is all about. “‘Man on the Moon’ is just about gettin’ away from it all for a while – shutting out the noise, finding a private, intimate spot, and soaking it in with someone who means something to you. No plans, no pressure, just a night that feel right. Sometimes that’s all you need – me, her, and the man on the moon.” With that context in mind, I am sure everyone is immediately transported to a time and place as they listen through Green’s latest track, “Man on the Moon.” Check out the lyric video here: Man, that’s a heater. And there’s plenty more where that came from, too. Written alongside Muscadine Bloodline’s Gary Stanton, Green released the album’s lead single and ode to his college town “Whole Lotta Lubbock” all the way back in August 2024. Slowly building suspense thereafter with periodic single releases including the title track love song “Watterson Hall (Me & You)” and the comedic closer “Drinkin’ and Drivin’,” among others, Green has left fans heavily anticipating the record’s release. March 6 will be here before we know it, but in the meantime, check out the tracklist for Watterson Hall below, and give the other singles released thus far a listen while you’re at it. Watterson Hall Tracklist: “Stubborn and Remains” “Watterson Hall (Me & You)” “Whole Lotta Lubbcok” “Where the Wild Things Are” “Dear Life” “Something You Would Die For” “Good Time” “I Am The Kite” “Cowtown” “Hawks Don’t Fly With Chickens” “Fight To Love Another Day” “Let You Go” “Man on the Moon” “Drinkin’ and Drivin'” Clark has plenty of tour dates lined up for the next six months or so, many of which are at massive arenas and amphitheaters supporting his buddies in Treaty Oak Revival. I highly recommend getting to a show and hearing these new songs live if Green is making it to a city near you. William Clark Green Tour Dates: 1/29 – Aztec Theatre – Albany, TX 1/30 – The Palace theater – Bryan, TX~ 1/31 – Luckenbach Dancehall – Fredericksburg, TX= 2/4 – Main Street Crossing – Tomball, TX^ 2/5 – Main Street Crossing – Tomball, TX^ 2/7 – The Rock – McKinney, TX# 2/19 – Schottenstein Center – Columbus, OH+! 2/20 – Ford Center – Evansville, IN+! 2/21 – Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY+! 2/27 – The Tumbleweed – Stillwater, OK 2/28 – The Majestic – Fort Smith, AR 3/12 – Great Southern Bank Arena+! 3/13 – Simmons Bank Arena – North Little Rock, AR+! 3/14 – Brookshire Grocery Arena – Bossier City, LA+! 3/20 – Rodeo Austin – Austin, TX* 3/26 – First Horizon Coliseum – Greensboro, NC+! 3/27 – Thompson-Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN+! 4/26 – Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA+$ 4/30 – WAMU Theater – Seattle, WA+$ 5/1 – Spokane Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Spokane, WA+$ 5/2 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Portland, OR+$ 5/14 – BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove – Southaven, MS+% 5/15 – Coca-Cola Amphitheater – Birmingham, AL% 5/16 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN+% 5/29 – Atrium Health Amphitheater – Macon, GA+! 6/25-6/27 – Cotton Fest – Lubbock, TX* 7/1 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO+! 7/11 – Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NE+! 7/18 – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre – West Valley City, UT+! *festival/rodeo/fair ~w/ Cam Allen =w/ Lane Bricker ^w/ Seth Van Dover #w/ John Baumann +supporting Treaty Oak Revival !w/ Gannon Fremin & CCREV $w/ Huser Brothers %w/ Parker RyanThe post William Clark Green Transports Listeners To A Special Time & Place With Latest Single “Man On The Moon” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

I mean, I get it… Megan Moroney has a brand new album Cloud 9 coming out which consists of 15 songs in total, and it has two features from two huge artists in Kacey Musgraves and Ed Sheeran, the latter of which is called “I Only Miss You.” She wrote it with Ben Williams, Mackenzie Carpenter, Micah Carpenter, and Sheeran, and a couple days ago on Instagram, Megan shared a teaser of the song which is a slow ballad that finds her singing about how much she misses her ex, hence the title: “I only miss you when I’m breathing, When my face is far from you, I only miss you when it’s raining, This downpour outside ain’t nothing new, I only miss you when I’m drinking, These days I’m barely getting by, I only miss you when I’m drinking, And baby I’ve been drinking, Because I miss you all the time, Why don’t you come over, My bed keeps getting colder, Put your pretty head on my shoulder, See if over’s really over” During a recent interview, she explained how much detail and effort went into finding the perfect song for them, and in fact, it was Sheeran who wanted to do something much more traditionally country: “At first I was nervous to talk to Ed Sheeran, of course, but he’s an e-mailer, so that takes, kind of, the pressure off. Because I would just not check my email for two weeks, and wouldn’t worry about it. But Ed and I would send back and forth songs… he would send me one and I would be like, ‘I don’t know of this is it.’ I’d send him one and he’s like, ‘Eh, I don’t know.’ After the Bluebird show, he told me that his wife and kids love me and he loves my songwriting, and I’m obviously such a fan of his. So I think we just really wanted to collab together. I definitely trusted Ed after it’s done, like, he made the right decision. The song that we cut is a traditionally country song, it’s not a pop song. From what I know about collabing with pop artists, usually, it’s a tempo pop song with a country voice on it. But he wanted to go the opposite route and do a really traditional country song with his modern pop voice on it. So it made it really interesting, and I ‘m really excited for everyone to hear that one.” It has a beautiful melody and I’m sure Sheeran will have a bigger feature once we hear the full song, and you can listen to it here: View this post on Instagram But the funny part of it is that it got her so much into her feels that Megan says she called her ex after writing it: “You think you can hurt me? I wrote this song then I called him.” It happens… And I don’t think she’ll be one in that once this full song is actually released. after hearing the teaser, it’s probably one of the ones I’m looking forward to hearing the most, and I love the traditional direction they went in with it. Until February 20th when Cloud 9 is released, you can check out the most recent release “Wish I Didn’t” below: “Wish I Didn’t” Cloud 9 Tracklist 1. “Cloud 9” (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Ernest Keith Smith)* 2. “Medicine” (Megan Moroney, Connie Harrington, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Jessi Alexander)* 3. “6 Months Later” (Megan Moroney, Ben Williams, Rob Hatch, and David “Messy” Mescon)* 4. “Stupid” (Megan Moroney, Amy Allen, and David “Messy” Mescon)* 5. “Beautiful Things” (Megan Moroney, Connie Harrington, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Jessi Alexander)* 6. “Convincing” (Megan Moroney, Connie Harrington, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Jessi Alexander)* 7. “Liars & Tigers & Bears” (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, and Jessie Jo Dillon)* 8. “I Only Miss You (ft. Ed Sheeran)” (Megan Moroney, Ben Williams, Mackenzie Carpenter, Micah Carpenter, and Ed Sheeran)* 9. “Wedding Dress” (Megan Moroney, Ben Williams, and Colin Healy)+ 10. “Change of Heart” (Megan Moroney, Ben Williams, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Micah Carpenter)* 11. “Bells & Whistles (ft. Kacey Musgraves)” (Megan Moroney, Ben Williams, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Micah Carpenter)* 12. “Table for Two” (Megan Moroney, Ben Williams, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Micah Carpenter)^ 13. “Wish I Didn’t” (Megan Moroney, Emily Weisband, Hillary Lindsey, and Luke Laird)* 14. “Who Hurt You?” (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, and Jessie Jo Dillon)* 15. “Waiting on the Rain” (Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, and Jessie Jo Dillon)* * Produced by Kristian Bush + Produced by Luke Laird and Megan Moroney, additional production by Kristian Bush ^ Produced by Luke Laird and Megan MoroneyThe post “Then I Called Him”: Megan Moroney Confesses To Calling Her Ex After Writing The Country Heartbreaker “I Only Miss You” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

If Leah Blevins isn’t already on your radar, it’s time to change that. The Sandy Hook, Kentucky native is gearing up to release her sophomore album All Dressed Up on March 20th, 2026, which finds her expanding the next chapter of her musical journey with heartfelt songs that explore themes of fear, self-discovery, and leaving the past behind, in addition to relatable stories about life, love, and loss. She grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky, which we all know is the hotbed of the best country music in the world right now, and Leah has an incredibly unique and interesting sound that pulls from gospel and classic country, with a modern twist, that is wrapped in a beautiful vintage, throwback sound that feels very 60s and I can’t get enough. It’s feels so fresh and authentic, and so far, she has released several singles from the album including the title track, “Be Careful Throwing Stones,” and a new one as of yesterday, “Diggin’ in the Coal.” It blends Southern rock with country while still maintaining that vintage sound, and pulls very much from her own personal life as her great-grandfather and her grandmother worked in Kentucky coal mines. She knows you can find “good things in dark places,” and it’s important to hold onto the people and relationships even in dark times. The metaphor and example of a coal mine is very much intrinsic to her story, which certainly works very well on this song: “But if you stick around I just might make it Whenever I get down you help me shake it from soul I guess I found a diamond while I was digging in the coal” She says she always loved the imagery of the “‘canary in a coal mine,” which helped inspire this song she wrote with Dan Auerbach and Pat McLaughlin: “My great grandfather and my granny worked in the coal mines of Kentucky. I remember hearing stories growing up, and there was something about the ‘canary in a coal mine’ imagery that seemed ripe for a song about relationships to me… being a sounding board and support for each other even in dark times.” All Dressed Up was produced by Dan Auerbach, and follows her impressive debut album First Time Feeling that was released in 2021. Blevins says she just writes what she feels, and at the end of the day, her goal is to write honest music that other people can relate to: “I write what I feel, what I think other people feel, too. Dan is someone who gets there’s more to a song than what’s on the surface. He’s not afraid to leave room on the tracks for the emotions to spread out and really color the recording. As a co-writer and producer, he creates something that is almost beyond honest, which I love.” All Dressed Up is slated for release on March 20th, and Leah is certainly an artist to keep your eye on in 2026 if you love honest, authentic country that comes from the heart and is written with an honesty that can only be done through the lens of someone’s lived experiences. You can listen to all of the pre-released singles below. “Diggin’ In The Coal” “All Dressed Up” “Be Careful Throwing Stones” The post Leah Blevins Finds Hope In The Darkness In Next Single From Forthcoming Album ‘All Dressed Up’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.