Giving an update on what’s next. Last night, Morgan Wallen played a very special, intimate show at The Pinnacle in Nashville, which helped celebrate the launch of his forthcoming new SiriusXM channel, Morgan Wallen Radio. They will replay the performance on launch day, April 7th at 4pm CT on his channel (64), but in addition to playing 16 fan-favorite songs, Morgan gave some insight into what he’s been up to during his first show of 2026: “I haven’t played a show in a few months. I’ve been hanging out with my family, hanging out in the woods a little bit, making some new music. Every time I get on stage after a few months off, I think to myself, ‘Man, why did I take so much time off?’ because I always enjoy being up here. I appreciate you guys showing up everywhere I play.” He also talked about how special it was to be getting his very own SiriusXM station, explaining that he still remembers the first time he ever heard one of his songs on SiriusXM way back in the day: “Big shout out to SiriusXM as well. I remember the first time I ever heard my song on the radio was on SiriusXM. I didn’t even know that artists had their own radio stations at that point when I was listening to it. So, to fast forward ten years from that to be able to say that they’re letting me have a radio station that’s going to be on 24 hours, 7 days a week – it’s an honor and a privilege for me, for my team. It wouldn’t be possible without every single one of you here tonight. I just want to say thank you for all the milestones that you’ve given me during my career so far.” Separately, Morgan spoke with Cody Alan, who hosts Highway Mornings with Cody Alan, and he was asked about the recent photo update he shared on Instagram, where he said it was time to come out of “hibernation”: View this post on Instagram That photo dump also included a picture of him in the studio, leading fans to wonder if new music is on the way sometime soon too… Morgan first explained that he probably shouldn’t have used the word “hibernation,” because he’s been busy working and hanging out with his son: “Hibernation’s probably not the best word I could have used, I worked a lot. I’ve been hanging out with my son, making music and that’s about it.” And when asked about the prospect of new music, Morgan said he’s still in the “early stages” in terms of a new album, adding that his current Still The Problem record is nearing the end of its cycle and he will start showing “sneak peaks” of new music soon: “I’m still in the early stages with it. I don’t know exactly what I’m gonna do as far as this album, I think I’m on seven or eight singles right now. So it’s probably nearing the end for this album. I’m trying to figure that out. I’m at a place to where, I’ll start showing little sneak peeks soon.” Morgan also brought out Ella Langley, one of his openers on the Still The Problem stadium tour, for a surprise performance of “Sand In My Boots”: View this post on Instagram Stay tuned… with the new tour kicking off next weekend, I have a feeling the Morgan Wallen news is going to be non-stop over the next several months as he embarks on what is undoubtedly the biggest country music tour happening this summer. ‘Still The Problem’ Tour Dates April 10 || Minneapolis, Minn. || U.S. Bank Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason April 11 || Minneapolis, Minn. || U.S. Bank Stadium w/ HARDY, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason April 18 || Tuscaloosa, Ala. || Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Vincent Mason, Zach John King May 1 || Las Vegas, Nev. || Allegiant Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason May 2 || Las Vegas, Nev. || Allegiant Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason May 8 || Indianapolis, Ind. || Lucas Oil Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Hudson Westbrook, Zach John King May 9 || Indianapolis, Ind. || Lucas Oil Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Flatland Cavalry, Zach John King May 15 || Gainesville, Fla. || Ben Hill Griffin Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King May 16 || Gainesville, Fla. || Ben Hill Griffin Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King May 29 || Denver, Colo. || Empower Field at Mile High w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason May 30 || Denver, Colo. || Empower Field at Mile High w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason June 5 || Pittsburgh, Penn. || Acrisure Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King June 6 || Pittsburgh, Penn. || Acrisure Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King June 19 || Chicago, Ill. || Soldier Field w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King June 20 || Chicago, Ill. || Soldier Field w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King June 26 || Clemson, SC. || Clemson Memorial Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat June 27 || Clemson, SC. || Clemson Memorial Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat July 17 || Baltimore, Md. || M&T Bank Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat July 18 || Baltimore, Md. || M&T Bank Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat July 24 || Ann Arbor, Mich. || Michigan Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Hudson Westbrook, Blake Whiten July 25 || Ann Arbor, Mich. || Michigan Stadium w/ HARDY, Hudson Westbrook, Blake Whiten July 31 || Philadelphia, Penn. || Lincoln Financial Field w/ ​​Brooks & Dunn, Hudson Westbrook, Blake Whiten August 1 || Philadelphia, Penn. || Lincoln Financial Field w/ Ella Langley, Hudson Westbrook, Blake WhitenThe post Morgan Wallen Says “Little Sneak Peeks” Of New Music Are Coming Soon first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

In a few years, as the 2020s are coming to an end, we’ll look back at 49 Winchester as one of the most important bands of the decade. Some may find that to be a hot take, but if you ask me, these boys from Castlewood, VA have been on an absolute tear ever since the release of their 3rd record III, and with the music they’ve released thus far in 2026, it’s clear they are showing no signs of letting up. In fact, they’re just pressing harder on the gas. The origins of 49 Winchester date back to the early 2010s when a group of childhood friends formed a band, named it after the address of their lead singer’s childhood home where they practiced, and started playing their music for anyone who would listen. They released their self-titled debut album 49 Winchester in 2014, and followed that up with their sophomore effort The Wind in 2018, but it was the next record that would alter the band’s trajectory. When III was released in October 2020, and touring resumed post-covid in the Southeast a few months into 2021, 49 Winchester were a relatively unknown regional band on the rise. But then “Everlasting Lover” started gaining streaming traction, word began to spread regarding their killer live show, and the rest is history. By the time Fortune Favors the Bold was released in 2022, and “Russell County Line” quickly became their biggest hit, it was apparent that 49 Winchester were one of the heirs apparent to the non-mainstream country music throne. And although their 2024 album Leavin’ This Holler hasn’t experienced the same streaming success as the previous records, it received rave reviews from critics and the band’s peers alike, and solidified the band’s status as a sought-after opening act in arenas and amphitheaters as well as a headliner that will graduates to a bigger venue every time they come through your city. All that to say, 49 Winchester’s rise has been slow but steady, and with each album as a stepping stone to another realm of success, they’re poised to take another leap as they gear up for the release of their sixth record Change of Plans in May. And with their brand new single “Slowly” dropping today, they’ve conveyed this slowly but surely sentiment applies to many aspects of their lives, not just their path as a band. Written by the band’s frontman and chief songwriter Isaac Gibson, along with Chris Tompkins and Jessie Jo Dillon, “Slowly” is a coming-of-age track that addresses growing up and maturing in a lighthearted manner that is sure to resonate in particular with all of the 20 and 30-somethings who find their hangovers getting worse and their responsibilities getting bigger. Give “Slowly” a listen here: “I’m slowly growing up, slowly slowing down I’m slowly shakin’ off the thoughts that trail me like a hound Yes, I’m slowly inching towards the day my soul is glory bound Yeah, I’m slowly but surely coming around” Produced by the great Dave Cobb, Change of Plans is shaping up to be the best, and perhaps most important, record in 49 Winchester’s catalog thus far. Change of Plans Tracklist: “The Window” “Bluebird” “Changes” “All Around Me” “Slowly” “All Over Again” “Oh Savannah” “Bringin’ Home the Bacon” “Pardon Me” “Heavy Chevy” 49 Winchester has been one of my favorite live shows in the business ever since I witnessed them burn it down at The Radio Room in Greenville, SC back in 2021. The venues are much bigger now than they were back then, but these guys still bring the energy, and they put on a show you do not want to miss. Check out 49 Winchester’s tour dates here: 49 Winchester Tour Dates 4.09.26 Washington, DC 9:30 Club+ 4.10.26 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE+ 4.11.26 Newport, KY MegaCorp Pavilion! 4.13.26 Albany, NY Empire Live! 4.16.26 Columbus, OH KEMBA Live!# 4.17.26 Cleveland, OH Globe Iron# 4.18.26 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre# 4.24.26 Lexington, KY The Burl Outdoors% 4.25.26 Lexington, KY The Burl Outdoors% 4.29.26 New York, NY Webster Hall 5.02.26 Santiago, MX DuckFest~ 5.09.26 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet’s= 5.15.26 Pelham, TN The Caverns@ 5.16.26 Pelham, TN The Caverns@ 5.29.26 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Ponte Vedra Concert Hall& 5.30.26 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live& 5.31.26 Panama City Beach, FL Gulf Coast Jam~ 6.02.26 Wilmington, NC Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre& 6.05.26 Dewey Beach, DE Bottle & Cork& 6.06.26 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom& 6.26.26 North Platte, NE NebraskaLand Days~ 6.27.26 Lubbock, TX Cotton Fest~ 7.09.26 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts^ 7.10.26 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center^ 7.11.26 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium^ 7.16.26 Toronto, ON RBC Amphitheatre^ 7.17.26 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center^ 7.18.26 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake 7.23.26 Camden, NJ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion^ 7.24.26 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach^ 7.25.26 Saratoga Springs, NY Broadview Stage at SPAC^ 7.30.26 Boston, MA Fenway Park^ 7.31.26 Syracuse, NY Empower FCU Amphitheater^ 8.01.26 Darien Center, NY Six Flags Darien Lake^ 8.06.26 Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans^ 8.07.26 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music park at Walnut Creek^ 8.08.26 Charleston, SC Credit one Stadium^ 8.13.26 Birmingham, AL Coca-Cola Amphitheater^ 8.14.26 Charlotte, NC Truliant Amphitheater^ 8.15.26 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live^ 8.21.26 Kansas City, MO Richard L. Berkeley Riverfront Park^ 8.22.26 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre^ 8.23.26 Minneapolis, MN Target Field^ 8.27.26 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center^ 8.28.26 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre^ 8.29.26 Grand Rapids, MI Acrisure Amphitheater^ 9.04.26 Louisville, KY Hot Country nights @ Fourth Street Live 9.10.26 Austin, TX Moody Center^ 9.11.26 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion^ 9.12.26 Rogers, AR Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion^ 9.17.26 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheater^ 9.18.26 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center^ 9.19.26 Tinley Park, IL Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre^ 9.24.26 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre^ 9.25.26 Tampa, FL Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre^ 9.26.26 West Palm Beach, FL iThink Financial Amphitheatre 10.03.26 Grant, OK Choctaw Casino & Resort ~festival date +w/ Jack Wharff Band !w/ Owen Rieglin #w/ Wesko %w/ Sons of Habit =w/ Flying Mojito Brothers @w/ Miles Miller &w/ Marfa *supporting Eric Church ^supporting Tim McGrawThe post 49 Winchester Continues Their Hot Streak With Latest Single “Slowly” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

The world lost a bluegrass legend when Ronnie Bowman passed away a couple of weeks ago, but Billy Strings intends on keeping his memory alive. Born in Mount Airy, NC in 1961, Bowman grew up playing music and singing in church before starting his first bluegrass band Lost & Found in the late 1980s. A few years later, he became the lead singer of Lonesome River Band, playing alongside Dan Tyminski and others for most of the 1990s. Simultaneously, Bowman pursued a solo career that started with the release of his seminal record Cold Virginia Night in 1994, and would continue well past his departure from the band in 2001. While he may not be a household name for most casual country music fans out there, Bowman was an influential figure in both the bluegrass and Nashville songwriting scenes for decades, and there’s a high probability you’ve heard his work and just didn’t know it. Having collaborated with a lengthy list of country music stars over the years, we have him to thank as a songwriter for songs like Chris Stapleton’s “Nobody to Blame,” Kenny Chesney’s “Never Wanted Nothing More,” and many others. Tragically, Bowman was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident on March 22 in Nashville at 64 years old, but he leaves behind loads of music that will not be forgotten, and his legacy lives on in all of the artists he has influenced and inspired throughout his career. One of those artists, bluegrass savant Billy Strings, paid homage to Bowman with a special encore in St. Augustine, FL last night. Kicking off his spring tour with a three-night run at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, a venue that has facilitated some iconic Billy Strings shows over the years, Strings shredded through two killer sets before saying goodnight to the crowd and retreating backstage with his band. A few minutes later, as the crowd’s cheers grew louder, Strings and company returned to the stage, and the ecstatic energy quickly took a somber turn. Addressing the crowd, Strings provided some context for the special encore that ensued. “Well, a couple weeks ago the entire bluegrass community was rocked with the tragic loss of the great Ronnie Bowman. He was a friend of ours, a friend of yours, and he was a friend of bluegrass music and country music. And he wrote a lot of amazing songs. I had the pleasure of writing one song with Ronnie Bowman, and I’ve never played it before. I think we probably started a couple songs, but this is the one we finished. So we’ll try to give it a shot. We send this out to Ronnie Bowman.” And with that Billy and the boys ripped in to the unreleased “Something To Look Forward To,” a road dog’s bluegrass anthem he wrote with Bowman before his passing. Man, I hope that one makes Strings’ next album. To close out the show, Strings played “Drifting With The Tide,” a Ronnie Bowman original he’s been known to cover from time to time off of that legendary Cold Virginia Night record. I wasn’t able to find any footage of this one from last night’s show, but here’s a clip of Strings’ playing the same track in Portland, ME back in 2023. Shout out to Billy Strings for honoring a late legend. Rest in peace Ronnie Bowman. And while we’re on the subject, check out Strings and Bowman teaming up for a beautiful rendition of “I’ll Fly Away” at The Ryman Auditorium back in March 2025. The post Billy Strings Performs Unreleased Song He Wrote With Ronnie Bowman In Honor Of The Late Bluegrass Legend first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

He’s not just an actor… he’s also a dang good country artist. Today, Yellowstone and Marshals star next evolution of Luke Grimes released his sophomore album Redbird, which was once again produced by Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb. Grimes says making the 10-track project was a “cathartic experience in many ways,” calling it a “deeply personal” project: “‘Making Redbird’ was a cathartic experience in many ways. Sometimes the highs and lows of life are too much to express with words, so song becomes necessary. As deeply personal as it is, the themes are simple and universal: love, loss, and learning along the way.” It looks like Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon and Grimes wrote almost the entire album together, which is a great sign because they’re incredibly talented musicians and writers, and it was recorded primarily at Georgia May Studio in Savannah and Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A. In addition to writing, Grimes contributed his acoustic guitar, percussion, and drum-playing talents throughout the sessions, and it once again promises to lean into his love for more traditional country that inspires his love for music. It goes without saying that the popularity of country music is at an all-time high, and we’ve seen tons of artists from other genres try to come in and make something happen in this genre for themselves. So far, we haven’t seen many other Hollywood actors do it, but Grimes has set an impressive precedent in terms of what fans should expect, and he has definitely delivered some solid stuff both on this new album and on his 2024 self-titled debut album as well. Of course, it’s not his first time in the music space as he actually got into music before he became an actor and played in a band called Mitchell’s Folly back in the day, so he’s always had a thing for country and it does seem genuine in terms of his reasons for putting out music. Though it sounds like the whole getting on stage in front of thousands of people to sing hasn’t exactly been easy to get back into, which is understandable, especially with him as a solo artist now. I was impressed with Grimes debut, he really did have a great team working with him and the music was good, especially considering I had no idea what to expect because let’s be honest, it usually doesn’t work out when a successful Hollywood actor tries to go country… but he has continued to impress with great lyricism and truly country production and arrangements, and I have enjoyed having someone make this transition and do it right and pretty darn well. We all know Grimes as the hunky cowboy Kayce Dutton, but there’s a lot more to him and I think this musical venture has proved that he’s not just a pretty face (well, he’s that too and I totally respect Ella Langley for casting him as her boyfriend in her recent “Choosin’ Texas” music video), and he has some serious musical chops and a talent to put out good country music. Check out some of my favorites below. “High Rise Jeans” “Come Home” “Hummingbird” “Love Me That Way” Redbird Tracklisting 1. High Rise Jeans (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 2. Come Home (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 3. Love You Now (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 4. Hummingbird (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 5. Drink Drink Drink (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 6. Love Me That Way (Luke Grimes, Nick Walsh, Wolf Mahler) 7. I’m Not Gonna Leave You (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 8. Without You (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 9. Haunted (Luke Grimes, Dave Cobb, Jessie Jo Dillon) 10. A Little More Time (Luke Grimes, Natalie Hemby)The post ‘Yellowstone’ And ‘Marshals’ Star Luke Grimes Releases Impressive Sophomore Country Album, ‘Redbird’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Remember those shrimp feasts that had diners piling their plates high? They might just be back on the menu soon. Continue reading…