In more ways than one, it's been a great year for country music. https://twitter.com/WhiskeyRiff/status/1824198425388150874 No, I'm not just talking about the commercial success of the genre at large. I have many problems with the Morgan Wallen-ification of the mainstream, which admittedly is better than the Bro-Country days of the mid 2010's, but you won't hear me complain one bit about Zach Bryan becoming a stadium act, Luke Combs continuing to dominate, and Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney leading the charge to bring women back into the spotlight. As always, much of 2024's best music hasn't come out of Nashville but instead from a number of artists, many independent, who won't sacrifice substance for "success", and in turn, have started to realize some real victories. The Red Clay Strays may be the overall winners of 2024 when all is said and done (
Made By These Moments is absolutely one of the best albums I've ever heard) and Colby Acuff's
American Son is sure to be near the top of many "Best Of" lists. Add in the fact we got new Sturgill Simpson, Sierra Ferrell, Shane Smith & The Saints, Charley Crockett, John Moreland, Carly Pearce, Koe Wetzel, and many others and it starts to get a bit overwhelming trying to process it all. I'm always on the lookout for a new artist to dive into and this year I've found a few that have become mainstays in my rotation, so without further adieu, and in no particular order, here's my favorite artist discoveries of 2024.
Note: Just because I started listening in 2024 doesn't mean they started making music in 2024 and I apologize in advance to anyone who will be offended by the fact that I was late to the party. Leon Majcen
Whether it's the fact that lately I've been missing life in Florida or that Leon is able to paint a deep, vivid world for his songs to live in, I've been letting his self-titled album loop top to bottom since it came out. His style reminds me of Hemingway and, if you close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, will make you feel the gentle rocking of a sailboat on the Gulf as a lazy cloud drags across a clear sky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNDKTFpORsI
Jack Browning
Who said the UK isn't country?
Jack Browning released his killer debut album
Red Eye Radio in 2023 and is gearing up for a sophomore project. He recently released "High Hopes", a contemplation on getting older and trying to find meaning while time flies by that will make all the late-20 something's like me feel an uncomfortable, but needed, kick deep in your gut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg1Bthx_asw
Noeline Hofmann
Shoutout to Zach Bryan for bringing Noeline Hofmann into my world. The Canadian made an appearance on
The Belting Bronco Sessions early this year before her song "Purple Gas" was featured as a duet on
The Great American Bar Scene. Just this month she released a new single titled "Lightning In July (Prairie Fire)" as well as her own version of "Purple Gas", setting the springboard for when a full length project comes our way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INoABMNaqf0
Wyatt Flores
It took me a second to realize that Wyatt Flores belongs on this list because admittedly I was a tad late to the party and he's blossomed into a feature act so quickly. "Please Don't Go" was released back in 2022 but it was the fan favorite "Milwaukee" that first grabbed my attention. At just 23 years old (born in 2001, can you believe it?), Wyatt has all the makings of a future superstar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1ShYyjy_R8
Kashus Culpepper
Good luck finding an artist with more depth in their voice than Kashus Culpepper. He's probably the best example of viral social media posts leading to something real and his song "After Me?" is absolutely one of the best of the year. Fingers crossed we get more music from him soon because he's got something really special going for him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVv6RrkB-8
Josiah & The Bonevilles
I used to be a pretty big
American Idol fan but somehow didn't recognize Josiah Leming at first. Once I did, a flood of memories came rushing back and the dive through his catalogue began.
Endurance has been a mainstay in my rotation and if you don't believe me, ask my wife, who got pretty tired of me walking around our apartment singing "Strike that match and watch me, BUUurn, bUrn, burnnn" over and over and over again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79TIFpz6KTE
Willow Avalon
Willow Avalon is the most recent addition to this list; Her song with Maggie Antone "Yodelayheewho" is one of the catchiest things I've ever heard. Sonically there's few if any comparisons and her personality and steadfastness to making the type of music she wants too deserves an immense amount of credit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwze7mq0RBc
Fox N' Vead
I saw these North Carolina country-rockers open for Pecos & The Rooftops back in May and let me tell you, these boys know how to put on a show. It's not all style though, they've got some great songs and do the whole alt-country thing so well. If you get a chance to see them I can't recommend it enough; their studio stuff is good but in person it's an entirely different level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCB6-1iclYU
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