{"id":72561,"date":"2019-12-29T12:00:40","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T10:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/whisnews21.com\/?p=72561"},"modified":"2020-07-31T19:27:45","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T19:27:45","slug":"new-country-artists-to-watch-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/2019\/12\/29\/new-country-artists-to-watch-in-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"New Country Artists To Watch Out For In 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"New Country Artists To Watch In 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Keep your eyes on these budding stars to be…<\/strong><\/h2>\n

2019 saw a batch of amazing artists hit the country mainstream, many of which were featured on our\u00a019 New Country Artists to Watch in 2019. But now, we\u2019re back with a complete list to keep your playlists full of Nashville\u2019s brightest new performers.<\/p>\n

Here are 20 acts to keep on your radar in 2020 (in alphabetical order).<\/p>\n

AVENUE BEAT<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Avenue
Avenue Beat; Photo Credit: Lance Goodman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Country\u2019s newest all-female trio instantly grabs one\u2019s ear with their engaging melodies and harmonies. The Gen Z group of Sami Bearden, Savana Santos and Sam Backoff recently made their way on to the country scene and are already garnering attention with such charmers as \u201cDelight\u201d and \u201cRuin That For Me,\u201d while their animated personalities that pour through on screen are enough to uplift your spirits. But the feminist edge of \u201cBe a Bro\u201d and lyrics like \u201cIf you hold a sister down \/ It\u2019ll all come back around \/ So be a bro \/ Know the girl code<\/em>,\u201d prove that they\u2019re the future of country music.\u00a0– Cillea Houghton<\/em><\/p>\n

CHRIS BANDI<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Chris
Chris Bandi; Photo credit: Matthew Berinato<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though there\u2019s a smooth charm in Bandi\u2019s voice like that of a member of your favorite boy band, he balances this vocal ability with the sensitivity he pours into his music. This\u00a0gives his songwriting an intriguing effect, as demonstrated by the way he vulnerably lets his guard down on tracks like \u201cMan Enough Now\u201d and \u201cWhy I Don\u2019t Drink.\u201d \u201cCause I know what I feel ain\u2019t love \/ Only time I open up \/ Is when I\u2019m drunk \/ Standing at your door,\u201d he croons on the latter, yet is just as smooth and suave on such grooves as \u201cRain Man\u201d and \u201cOnly One.\u201d With his open-hearted nature, Bandi is sure to swoon listeners as his collection grows along with his talent.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

RENEE BLAIR<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Renee
Renee Blair; Photo credit: Ford Fairchild<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s a cinematic element to Blair\u2019s music that makes it so enticing. The Missouri native brings a pop flair to her compositions while unveiling the insecurities and mistakes that come with being a 20-something. Love affairs that are in a gray area and going back to someone you know you shouldn\u2019t are just some of the topics she tackles honestly in her songwriting. But if you really want to hear her vulnerability, turn to \u201cGotta Quit Drinkin.\u201d With a dreamy voice that she utilizes with precision, Blair is one of Nashville\u2019s most dynamic young artists.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

LARRY FLEET<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Larry
Larry Fleet; Photo credit: Matthew Paskert<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before he was runner-up on the country music competition show\u00a0Real Country\u00a0<\/em>in 2018,\u00a0<\/em>Fleet had already won over fans in\u00a0Willie Nelson<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Jake Owen<\/a>\u00a0with his undeniable voice. The Chattanooga-based singer who mellifluously blends blues and country impressed Owen so much during his performance at a mutual friend\u2019s party that the hit maker offered him an opening slot on his tour, eventually landing him a guest spot opening for Nelson. With a rugged, but comforting voice and lyrics that touch on blue collar life, Fleet is always speaking to the common man in a way that\u2019s artistic, yet relatable.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

KYLIE FREY<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Kylie
Kylie Frey; Photo Credit: Rachael Mason<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With just one hit of Frey\u2019s voice, you\u2019d think she\u2019d been transported from the 90s era of country music, as she\u2019s quipped with a voice that\u2019s as crisp and nostalgic as power women like\u00a0Faith Hill<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Trisha Yearwood<\/a>. Frey carries this sense of timelessness into songs like \u201cOne Night in Tulsa\u201d that reflect the storytelling of the 90s country era that makes it so beloved, using images of walking through the scorching hot desert and riding a buck wild mustang bare back to convey the pain of longing, while songs like \u201cToo Bad\u201d draw one in with their pure, traditional country identity. With this unbeatable combination, Frey is sure to continue to attract fans in the new year.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

JOHNNY GATES<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Johnny
Johnny Gates; Photo credit: Joshua Shultz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With a voice that\u2019s soulful and distinctive, it\u2019s no wonder Gates landed a coveted slot during season 12 of\u00a0The Voice\u00a0<\/em>on Gwen Stefani\u2019s team.\u00a0<\/em>Gates originally launched his career as former frontman of Rhode Island-turned-Nashville-based pop rock band Runaway Saints, but has since struck out on his own with an intoxicating voice and sophisticated songwriting palette. You hear this on such vulnerable tracks as \u201cDive Bar,\u201d \u201cBandit\u201d and \u201cBrooklyn Nights\u201d that put the listener at the center of his heartache. With an impressive resume and bold voice serving as his aces in the deck, look for Gates\u2019 star power to rise in 2020.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

CAROLINE JONES<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Caroline
Caroline Jones; Photo credit: Tyler Lord<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jones\u2019 bubbly charisma shines through across her dynamic body of work. Her infectious smile matches that of such catchy numbers as \u201cChasin\u2019 Me\u201d and \u201cThe Difference,\u201d while her endearing flair has won over fans across the musical spectrum. She was hand picked to open for the likes of\u00a0Zac Brown Band<\/a>,\u00a0Kenny Chesney<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Jimmy Buffett<\/a>, the latter of whom believes in her so much that he gave her a distribution deal with his Mailboat Records and personally penned the breezy \u201cGulf Coast Girl\u201d for her. Watch for Jones to break through the mainstream country ceiling in 2020.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

MADISON KOZAK<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Madison
Madison Kozak; Photo credit: Jessica Amerson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Between her unique voice and emotive songwriting, it\u2019s easy to see why Kozak was selected as the flagship artist to Nashville\u2019s first all-female label, Songs & Daughters, helmed by songwriting pioneer Nicolle Galyon. The Ontario native has a voice that glows and a songwriting capability that resonates, particularly with her debut single \u201cFirst Last Name.\u201d The touching number that serves as a Father\u2019s Day gift to the man who inspired her love for country music is a potent example of Kozak\u2019s talent demands your attention.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

KALSEY KULYK<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Kalsey
Kalsey Kulyk; Photo credit: Jason Myers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With a bright, effervescent vocal and a talent for exposing the connective tissue of the soul, Kalsey Kulyk wraps emotional depth in an optimistic-roots package. The Saskatchewan native scored an early believer in one of Fleetwood Mac\u2019s original producers, and it\u2019s easy to hear on her self-titled debut album \u2013 full of thick vocal stacks and deceptively sophisticated arrangements.\u00a0– Chris Parton<\/em><\/p>\n

TREA LANDON<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Trea
Trea Landon; Photo credit: Michael Tedesco<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One listen to a song from Trea Landon\u2019s catalogue and you know he\u2019s unabashedly country. Built on a foundation of laid back country melodies and equally carefree lyrics, the Georgian picks up where\u00a0Easton Corbin<\/a>\u00a0left off with tracks like \u201cLoved By A Country Boy\u201d and \u201cGet The Girl\u201d that portray him as a southern gentleman at heart. Sweet and simple are two of the qualities Landon conveys melodically and lyrically, particularly as he proclaims \u201cyou ain\u2019t been loved \u2018til you\u2019ve been loved by a country boy<\/em>\u201d in his easy going debut single. The welcoming nature of this rising star is sure to entice fans in the new year.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

PARKER MCCOLLUM<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Parker
Parker McCollum; Photo credit: Evolve Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Parker McCollum spent years grinding show-to-show in Texas\u2019 independent scene, building himself a dedicated following on a youthful wave of self-penned country rockers \u2026 but recently he\u2019s made a play at the mainstream. His latest major label release is the reflective midtempo \u201cPretty Heart,\u201d which mixes a loose-fitting vocal with a Lone Star-sized dose of regret and distorted slide guitars.\u00a0– C.P.<\/em><\/p>\n

BRANDON RATCLIFF<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Brandon
Brandon Ratcliff; Photo credit: Robert Chavers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the son of Suzanne Cox, member of the Grammy winning bluegrass band The Cox Family, Ratcliff literally has music in blood. Though he\u2019s merely 24-years-old, Ratcliff\u2019s songwriting ability proves he posses maturity beyond his age. He demonstrates this with tracks like the bluesy \u201cSee Me Like This\u201d that has an edge without being bitter while debut single \u201cRules of Breaking Up\u201d shows off his emotional side. Watch for this talented musician to continue to flourish in 2020.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

TEDDY ROBB<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Teddy
Teddy Robb; Photo credit: Matt Berinato<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pairing up with power songwriters Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Matt McGinn, Robb\u2019s growing catalogue proves him to be a modern writer with a serene voice. His McAnally and Osborne-penned second single \u201cReally Shouldn\u2019t Drink Around You\u201d is a breezy bop that invites one into Robb\u2019s talent that is bound to only grow in the new year. With a voice that calls to mind\u00a0Dustin Lynch<\/a>\u00a0and a songwriting style that reflects the modern country landscape Robb has solidified himself as one of the genre\u2019s promising new acts.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

MATT STELL<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Matt
Matt Stell; Photo credit: Matthew Berinato<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sometimes one song is all it takes to launch a career, and that is happily the case with Matt Stell. The chill-bump raising \u201cPrayed for You\u201d turned into a wish fulfilled this year, showcasing his smoky vocal and a sense of poetic romance to become his first No.1 at country radio, while also pulling in north of 40 million Spotify streams. He\u2019s doubling down with the\u00a0Everywhere But On<\/a><\/em>\u00a0EP.\u00a0– C.P.<\/em><\/p>\n

EMMA WHITE<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Emma
Emma White; Photo credit: Cameron Powell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

White can write and deliver a pop-country hit with the best of them (see the undeniably catchy modern relationship bop \u201cIf You\u2019re In It\u201d), but it\u2019s the unflinchingly honest ballads that truly allow her to shine. Though White\u2019s career is only destined to soar, it\u2019s a safe bet that \u201cTen Year Town\u201d will always stand as one of her best. The painstakingly outspoken guitar ballad that speaks of selling one\u2019s soul and wondering if they have what it takes to make it as an artist are just two of the raw confessions she makes in the song that gives listener a no-holds-barred explanation of how the music business operates. This is just one example of the vulnerability that White brings to her songwriting, making her one of the best rising stars Nashville has to offer.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

HAILEY WHITTERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Hailey
Hailey Whitters; Photo Credit: Harper Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hailey Whitters broke out in 2019 after capturing the struggle to do just that in \u201cTen Year Town,\u201d a striking diary entry any down-on-their-luck-dreamer could relate to. With an organic \u201890s sound and a knack for insightful lyrics, her work finally paid off, grabbing attention on tours with\u00a0Maren Morris<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Little Big Town<\/a>. Next year includes a full album and tours with\u00a0Tanya Tucker<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Jordan Davis<\/a>.\u00a0– C.P.<\/em><\/p>\n

SAM WILLIAMS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Sam
Sam Williams; Photo credit: Andrew Thorpe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Williams family tradition continues through Sam Williams, son of Hank Jr. and grandson to the iconic Hank Sr. But like the generations before him, this Williams follows his own artistic arrow \u2013 even when he\u2019s covering his elders. With the single \u201cWeatherman,\u201d he puts a lonesome howl of a vocal on his father\u2019s 1981 ballad, and often veers into spacey experimentalism on tracks like \u201cGemini.\u201d \u2013 C.P.<\/p>\n

LAINEY WILSON<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Lainey
Lainey Wilson; Photo credit: Alex Berger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The small town Louisiana native is proud of her roots, as demonstrated by her new album\u00a0Redneck Hollywood<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>that\u2019s filled with such gems as \u201cWorkin\u2019 Ovetime\u201d and \u201cLA\u201d and showcase her sound that\u2019s an alluring mix of smoky and sultry. The young star has a strong strain of confidence she carries into other songs like \u201cThings a Man Oughta Know\u201d and the ode to her favorite brazen gesture, \u201cMiddle Finger,\u201d yet displays this confidence in a poignant way on \u201cTougher.\u201d With her thoughtful songs and eclectic style that calls back to the 70s, Wilson is a name you need to keep an eye on.\u00a0– C.H.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Country Artists To Watch In 2020 Keep your eyes on these budding stars to be… 2019 saw a batch of amazing artists hit the country mainstream, many of which were featured on our\u00a019 New Country Artists to Watch in 2019. But now, we\u2019re back with a complete list to keep your playlists full of Nashville\u2019s brightest new performers. Here are 20 acts to keep on your radar in 2020 (in alphabetical order). AVENUE BEAT Avenue Beat; Photo Credit: Lance Goodman Country\u2019s newest all-female trio instantly grabs one\u2019s ear with<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72561"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72561"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73719,"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72561\/revisions\/73719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whisnews21.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}