A blast from the past. Over the past decade or so, Tyler Childers has emerged from the hollers of Eastern Kentucky to become one of the most compelling voices in country music – and he’s done it all without mainstream support or radio play. Childers has paved his own way with his unique and authentic sound that mixes country with bluegrass, and has proven to be one of the greatest songwriters of our generation by telling the stories of both the struggles and the beauty of Appalachia. Beyond his legendary discography that contains the likes of “Feathered Indians,” “Lady May,” “In Your Love,” “Nose On The Grindstone” and his latest viral hit, “Bitin’ List,” the Kentucky native has influenced many of today’s country stars, ranging from Zach Bryan, Wyatt Flores, Charles Wesley Godwin and more. With seven studio albums, six certified platinum singles and a whole bunch of underrated deep cuts, Childers has placed himself firmly among the greats of today’s country scene. But not so long ago, he was just a kid playing music in Huntington, West Virginia. Childers built his career – and much of his band – in the small college town bordering Kentucky, home to (my alma mater) the Marshall University Thundering Herd, a small live music club that was then-known as the V Club (I think it’s changed names since then), and…well, not a ton else. Just outside of Huntington there’s a music store in Barboursville, West Virginia called the Route 60 Music Co., which recently announced that it will be closing its doors early next month. Over the past couple of decades, the store has welcomed musicians ranging from students to Grammy winners – and one of those who spent time in the store was Tyler Childers. Back in 2015, Route 60 Music Co. shared a video of the then-up-and-coming Childers sitting down to play an unreleased song called “22nd Winter,” a song that he used to play live with relative frequency but one that’s never received an official studio cut. (It looks like the last time it appeared on his setlist was back in 2018). While Tyler never officially released the song, fans still fell in love with it through videos of the live performances and a version posted to YouTube by Red Barn Radio. And once you hear the song, you’ll understand why. The lyrics tell the story of being snowed in with his then-future wife, Senora May, in a cabin during the winter. (That cabin was on the property of a fan who allowed him to stay on his property in exchange for labor when he was first getting started in music, and as fate would have it, it’s now where he and his wife call home). As Tyler fondly sings about in the song: “Sally Ann Mountain is mule-faced steep And covered in a sheet of ice And we’re already here and the fire’s warm So I reckon we should stay the night Very Old Barton and Guinness on the porch It’s cold enough to keep ’em chill And for a pair of thieves like you and me I believe that’s a damn good meal” The video shared by Route 60 Music Co. is no doubt a blast from the past for early Tyler Childers fans, and also a reminder of just how far he’s come since the days of playing music shops and clubs around Kentucky and West Virginia. The post Watch Tyler Childers Deliver Acoustic Performance Of An Unreleased Song At A Music Store In West Virginia Back In 2015 first appeared on Whiskey Riff.