Imagine that notification popping up on your phone. Love it or hate it, there’s a lot of great music out there on TikTok these days. Whether it’s established artists turning to the social media platform to share performances and new music directly with fans, or aspiring singers hoping to build a following, or even just people who post videos of themselves singing just for fun, there’s a lot of talent to be discovered if you can sort through all the other trash on there. Of course over the past few years we’ve seen quite a few country artists parlay their TikTok videos into a career in music. You never really know who’s going to see those videos when you post them. You might even catch the attention of Luke Combs. During a recent appearance on the Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music, Luke was asked about his TikTok algorithm, and honestly his feed sounds a lot like mine: “There’s always golf stuff in there. It’s so dad. It’s like barbeque videos and it’s like farts, a lot of fart humor. It’s like the most boring – like, video game stuff. It’s the most uninteresting algorithm.” I’m glad I’m not the only dude in his mid-30s who’s still laughing at fart videos on TikTok. (Luke, if you’re reading this, @gilstrap has some of the best fart pranks on TikTok). But aside from those, there are some videos in Luke’s algorithm that catch his attention: “Here’s the thing I love about my algorithm. I have a tendency to love to comment on new artists’ music. I mean like, artists that don’t have anything going on sometimes. Like, kids sitting on their parents’ back porch that are 18 years old playing guitar, and I’m like, ‘This person is an absolute genius, and they have no idea.'” Luke says that when he sees these aspiring artist showcasing their talent, he likes to drop a comment on their post to hopefully encourage them to keep at it: “Sometimes I’ll get stuff come across and it’s got 2, 300 likes on it, and I’ll fire a comment on it and I’m like, ‘Hey man, you’re unbelievably talented, you need to hear this.’ Not that my opinion really matters. I do it as a fan, but also I can’t imagine if 10 years ago, if Eric Church would have commented on my video and said, ‘Hey man, you’re super good.’ The confidence that would bring you or could bring a kid – is that the difference between them going, ‘Well should I give up or not?’ Even if it gets them another week of keeping going. In some ways it feels like a superpower, to be able to just go in and say, ‘Hey man, I’ve done what you did and I’ve made it to where I made it to, and just keep going.'” Gotta admit, that’s pretty cool. It’s a tough business, and it’s easy to get discouraged chasing your dreams when you see so many others around you chasing the same thing. There’s no doubt that a word of encouragement from Luke Combs can do wonders for somebody’s confidence, and I can’t imagine how it must feel to see that notification pop up on your phone that one of the biggest country artists in the world commented on your TikTok. Just yet another reason that Luke Combs is one of the best dudes in country music. You can watch his full interview here: The post “It Feels Like A Superpower” – Luke Combs On Why He Likes To Comment On Young Artists’ TikTok Videos first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Sam Stoane somehow managed to release her debut album amidst the busiest year of her life. On the latest episode of the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast (which was actually a double episode), California native Sam Stoane spoke on the pressure she sometimes feels to defend the state she was born and raised in. The rising country singer then covered how it feels being one of the only Greek artists in the genre, and the legendary influences that shape her sound – like Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline That old country sound shines through in Stoane’s debut album, Tales of the Dark West, which could best be described as a love letter to the western stylings of the genre. And it came during what Sam referred to as a “big year,” because in 2025, she released that project, got married, and had a baby. When we asked Sam about all of those things happening all at once, she described just one week of 2025 that was incredibly slammed… but at the end of the day, brought her a lot of joy: “The week of my record being released, we did an album release show, a baby shower, and then I think it was my birthday. It was just a lot in one week. It was awesome. Everybody came to town and it felt like a wedding.” So that week felt like a wedding… and they still had their actual wedding to come. As for the rest of the busyness of 2025, Sam Stoane says her marriage to husband, Gareth Bell (who plays guitar in her band), her debut album release, and the birth of her little girl – Janie – all happened from March through August. Both her and Bell had been married once before, so they opted for elopement because they wanted the moment to feel more personal and focused on each other: “We just eloped in Franklin and then went on an overnight getaway. That was in March, and then May was everything else. And it was just any way that I could push it from there or get on the road. Then my baby girl came in August.” @whiskeyriff @SAM STOANE #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff ♬ Close To You – Sam Stoane Talk about a whirlwind. Obviously, because of the order in which things happened, Stoane wasn’t able to get out on the road as much as she would have liked to. She plans on getting out in front of her fans more in the near future, and has been comforted by lots of messages from fans saying they love everything about Tales of the Dark West. And though the music on the road stopped for a bit so that she and her husband could focus on their daughter, the music has continued within Sam Stoane’s household. Because of that, the rising country singer has discovered that her little girl has a great taste in country music: “One of us is always humming or singing or whistling, and our daughter loves it. When we sing, she’s like fixated. She loves watching him play guitar… Something musical is always happening in the house, or we are playing music. So far, Janie loves George Strait and Cody Johnson. If she’s having a fit, we put them on and she (calms down). It’s really cute.” First off, Strait and Johnson are stellar favorites to have before turning one. And second… what a tool Bell and Stoane have in their parenting tool belt. You can hear Sam speak more on being a mother and crafting her country music career by downloading the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here. We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts. Cheers, y’all. Audio Video The post “It Was A Big Year”: Sam Stoane Details How She Released Her Debut Album, Got Married & Had A Baby All In 2025 first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Don’t sleep on these bands. It’s safe to say that The Red Clay Strays are one of the hottest bands on the planet right now. Between frontman Brandon Coleman’s killer vocals, the flawless blend of country, gospel, roots and southern rock influences and the sheer musical talent present from each of the six members, it was more than apparent that the Alabama group was bound to break out into the stratosphere at some point sooner or later. And it looks like that day has finally come for the band. If you’ve been paying any attention to the alt. country scene over the past three or so years, you’re keen to the fact that they’ve already scored some major career accomplishments, including the likes of winning Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2024 Americana Awards, winning New Vocal Duo or Group at the 2025 ACM Awards and scoring a 3x platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for their breakout “Wondering Why” along with a gold certification for their debut album, Moment of Truth. Back in November, however, it seems as if the Alabama band cemented themselves as mainstays both in the minds of alternative country fans and the mainstream alike with their huge night at the 59th annual CMA Awards, delivering a killer performance of their current single, “People Hatin’” and, more importantly, dethroning Old Dominion as Vocal Group of the Year en route to their first-ever CMA win. Though many like us here at Whiskey Riff have been big fans of the Alabama natives dating back to the release of Moment of Truth in 2022, there’s no doubt that they’ve procured a lot of newer fans over the past year or so. If you’ve recently been introduced to the Strays and want to find some more bands that provide an incredible mix of country, blues and rock, you’re in luck. Without further ado, here are five bands to check out if you love the Red Clay Strays. 49 Winchester Between the combination of their perfect blend of southern rock and country, their tight live band and world-class vocals from frontman, Isaac Gibson, it’s become more and more apparent every year that the Virginia group is becoming one of the most overlooked bands in the genre today. Though they debuted back in 2014 with their self-titled album, 49 Winchester has recently caught fire over the past five years with stellar ballads like “Everlasting Lover,” “Anchor” and “Hays, Kansas.” If you’re a fan of Brandon Coleman’s vocals and want to hear someone who can rival his soul from release to release, look no further than Gibson and 49 Winchester. Key Tracks: “Anchor,” “Everlasting Lover,” “Fast Asleep” Whiskey Myers It should go without saying that Whiskey Myers has been one of the forefathers of this modern southern rock renaissance we’ve seen pop up over the past few years, beginning all the way back in 2011 with their debut album, Firewater, which features their smash hit, “Broken Window Serenade” as well as other career staples such as “Ballad Of A Southern Man” and “Virginia.” Over the years, they’ve cemented themselves as one of the quintessential country-rock bands of this era with stellar records such as 2016’s Mud, their 2019 self-titled album and, most recently, 2025’s heavy-hitting Whomp Whack Thunder. Of course, this is thanks to frontman Cody Cannon’s incredible vocals and the band’s rock-first sound. If you’re looking for a band that leans harder into the rock scene while still delivering plenty of soul, look no further than Whiskey Myers. Key Tracks: “Broken Window Serenade,” “Stone,” “Break These Chains” Blackberry Smoke In many ways, you cannot talk about the current country-rock scene today without talking about Blackberry Smoke. Up there with the likes of Drive By Truckers, Lucero and Cross Canadian Ragweed, they’ve paved the way for a lot of the younger bands you see in the genre today in the early 2000s. Though their discography isn’t quite as large as you’d expect from a band that’s been around 2004, the Georgia band has continually delivered stellar album after stellar album for the past 22 years. Flawlessly going from straightforward southern rock on tracks like “Waiting for the Thunder” to blues on “Sleeping Dogs,” there’s a lot to love from Blackberry Smoke. Key Tracks: “Ain’t Much Left Of Me,” “Run Away from It All,” “One Horse Town” Shane Smith & the Saints As time passes, it’s become increasingly clear that Shane Smith & the Saints are the most underrated bands not only in the Red Dirt scene but in music in general. Backed by their patented blend of southern rock, stylings from Appalachian country and even some Cajun influences, the Texas band scored early hits with the likes of “All I See Is You,” “Dance the Night Away” and “Lord Bury Me in Texas.” Over the past decade, it’s been easy to see that they’ve just gotten better with age. The sound has remained nearly the same, in the best way possible, of course. However, frontman Shane Smith’s voice has simply improved with every subsequent release. In particular, last year’s stellar record, Norther, portrayed this the best, showcasing a more mature, raspy vocal performance from the frontman. Feeling somewhere between late-career Johnny Cash and fellow alt. country star, Charles Wesley Godwin, he’s proven he has one of the most dynamic voices in the genre. If you’re looking for a band that doesn’t quite sound like any other group working today, much like the Strays themselves, check out Smith and Co. Key Tracks: “Adeline,” “Coast,” “We Were Something” The Band of Heathens Similar to Blackberry Smoke, The Band of Heathens are one of those groups that have never quite gotten the flowers they deserve. Forming in 2005 in Austin, Texas, the five-piece group may be best known for their cover of Levon Helm’s “Hurricane,” which eventually scored them their first-ever gold certification from the RIAA back in 2023. Over the years, however, with co-founders and frontmen Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist at the creative helm, they have amassed a spectacular catalog of originals that proves both their lyrical and sonic prowess. Much like Red Clay, the Heathens aren’t a band that you can truly assign one genre to. They dabble a bit in country, a bit in roots, a bit in rock. In other words, they aren’t too concerned about whatever genre Spotify wants to label them under and, instead, create some of the most soulful tracks in the ever-widening country-rock scene. For years, they’ve been one of the most underrated bands working, and you do not want to overlook them. Key Tracks: “Hurricane,” “Don’t Call On Me,” “Medicine Man” The post If You Love The Red Clay Strays, Here’s 5 Bands You Need To Be Listening To first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Luke Combs thinks one artist’s album in particular is the perfect gateway into country music. The “Back in the Saddle” singer is currently on a press tour for his upcoming album The Way I Am, which is set to release March 20. The forthcoming project is expected to be a return to the old Luke Combs, musically speaking, and will deliver 22 songs to a fanbase that’s been waiting for new music (outside of Fathers and Sons) for quite some time. Getting the word out about the album led him to the popular YouTube series Track Star, where Jack Coyne interviews celebrities and artists in an on-the-street style while simultaneously testing their music knowledge. It’s a cool concept centered around music, and in the latest episode, Luke Combs was put to the test. After Coyne played the Brooks & Dunn track “Red Dirt Road,” he and Combs got to talking about the timelessness of Brooks & Dunn, and how their music could easily be dropped into the contemporary country of today. That led the host to ask the country music superstar about a definitive country music album: what project within the country music genre should non-country music listeners take a chance on? It didn’t take long for Luke Combs to think of an answer: “Gosh, there’s so many… I mean, Eric Church’s ‘Chief.'” Great answer. Luke Combs explained that there was just something about Eric Church’s third studio album (released in 2011) that connected with him. He thinks that very same thing could happen to those who don’t consider themselves fans of country music: “‘Chief’ is very digestible. There’s all this what’s country, what isn’t? What’s contemporary? What’s real country, or whatever? You could kind of get into (anything), but Chief was the album to me that rode the razor’s edge of the rock sound and the country sound perfectly. His first two albums to me are 10 of out 10 as well.” After shouting out Eric Church and his first three albums (the other two being Sinners Like Me and Carolina), Combs did have some other suggestions for albums to try out. The country music star said that anything by Brooks & Dunn could win over a non-country fan, and Combs even felt good enough about his upcoming album to throw The Way I Am in the running: “If you’ve never listened before, some of the Brooks & Dunn (albums). Give me a shot if you are out there. This one’s for you. Great album, I’ve heard.” Shameless plug… that’s what he’s there for. Oh, and before Combs and the Track Star host moved on to another portion of the video, the “Hurricane” singer laid out a beautiful argument for why people should give country music a chance. “There’s a lot of great albums out there, and I think country is more for everyone than everyone realizes or thinks. I think it’s been highly stigmatized for a long, long time (as) music for rednecks and people who live in middle America. And it is all of those things, but it’s not exclusively that thing. It’s for everyone. I mean, I would say six of biggest cities demographic wise for tickets and streaming wise are all international. The streaming age, I think, has ushered in the ability for people to hear music that maybe they wouldn’t have. And I think that’s a great thing.” Check it out: The post Luke Combs Reveals The One Country Album That Non-Country Fans Need To Listen To first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Vince Gill might not seem like the fighting type… but he was willing to throw hands back in the early 2000s. The “Go Rest High on That Mountain” singer evidently threatened to send legendary radio host Don Imus to that mountain himself during an on air interview back in the early 2000s. During a recent interview with television writer, producer, and Somebody Feed Phil host, Phil Rosenthal, on the Naked Lunch podcast, Gill explained that the radio personality had previously been a big fan of his. For some reason, when Gill married Amy Grant in 2000, Don Imus suddenly started bashing both him and Grant: “After Amy and I got married, he flipped on me. He kinda turned on me and started running me down, ragging me on his show every morning. He said, ‘I can’t believe my favorite singer, Vince Gill, lost to baby Jesus, married that Christian girl.’ He was just wearing my a** out.” Vince Gill heard all of that noise, and remembered it. When it came time to promote a new album that he had coming out, the country singer requested that his publicist get him booked for an interview on Don Imus’ show – Imus in the Morning. As he tells the story, the visit went according to plan until the radio host brought up his wife: “I went on there and got up and sang a song. We had a little small talk and then finally, Amy’s name came up. He said something about Amy and I said, ‘I’m glad you brought Amy up. I’ve been hearing you say some pretty ugly things about my wife, and I’m just kind of curious why. You used to be a great supporter of mine… If you ever met her, you’d never say an unkind word about her.” Then Vince Gill brought the hammer down. Once it was clear that he was on conversational offense in defense of his wife, Gill threatened to come over the desk that divided he and Imus in order to really drive his point home: “I said, ‘I’m gonna shoot you straight. I really only came on this show for one reason. We’re either gonna talk this out, straighten this out, or I’m gonna crawl across this desk and I’m gonna kick your a**.’ His eyes got big and he goes, ‘Well let’s figure this thing out. Let’s talk it out.’ I said, ‘Good choice, Don,’ you know, and so we had a great visit.” Who knew that Vince Gill was such an enforcer? That last line he added there – “we had a great visit” – is a hilarious touch to an already great story. Yeah… what is the radio host going to do once he knows that his guest is willing to crawl on to the table and kick some a**? That kind of tone setting from Gill completely changed the tone of the interview, and apparently led to Imus softening up his criticism of Gill and Grant from then on out. You can hear the country music legend talk more about the radio interview incident in the video below: The post Vince Gill Once Threatened To Fight Radio Host Don Imus While On Air… Here’s Why first appeared on Whiskey Riff.