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.