As solo country artists continue to dominate the genre, in the last 12 months there has been a return of bands peppering the country charts. And while groups have long been a pillar of the genre, this rising crop of country acts often operates outside the traditional genre lines, with the bands’ sonic explorations leaning heavily into rock, blues and Americana.
At the 2025 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, the nominees for group of the year featured not only mainstays such as Old Dominion and Little Big Town but also two groups outside the country mainstream: Texas Americana band Flatland Cavalry and soulful Alabama act The Red Clay Strays. Meanwhile, the new duo/group of the year category featured both The Red Clay Strays and the rock-influenced Texas outfit Treaty Oak Revival.
These bands, among others, have found an increased following in the past few years with viral hits, sold-out tours and prime slots on festival lineups. Some groups benefited from the “Yellowstone effect,” with surging streams after being featured on the hit TV show (or other Taylor Sheridan-created programs such as Landman).
And, as The Red Clay Strays told Billboard on the CMA Awards red carpet last November, connecting with Gen-Z listeners has played a large part, too. While speaking on the success of breakout hit “Wondering Why,” frontman Brandon Coleman said: “It resonates because it’s a love song…it struck a nerve, especially with the generation below us. That song really did bring in the younger generation for us.”
And now, the appetite for bands is back, with these five groups enjoying long-awaited breakout success.
-
The Castellows
Image Credit: Ben Humphrey The sister trio from Georgia — Ellie, Powell and Lily Balkcom — signed with Warner Music Nashville and Warner Records in 2023; the next year, the band’s debut EP, A Little Goes a Long Way, hit No. 48 on the Top Current Album Sales chart. The group’s latest, Homecoming, arrived May 30. Each project highlights the siblings’ musicianship and angelic, familial harmonies, wrapped around acoustic-based country songs such as “Sheltered,” “Hurricane” and “No. 7 Road.” This summer, The Castellows will open shows on Thomas Rhett’s Better in Boots Tour before launching their headlining The Homecoming Tour in the fall.
-
Flatland Cavalry
Image Credit: Fernando Garcia This Texas “red dirt” group formed in 2014 and enjoyed early success with its 2016 debut album, Humble Folks, which reached No. 38 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. And now the act has renewed interest and commercial appeal thanks in part to a pair of recent movie soundtrack synchs — “Touchdown” from Twisters: The Album and “Wool” from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes — as well as TV synchs including Yellowstone. This year, the band earned its second ACM Awards nomination for group of the year and played the Mane Stage at Stagecoach.
-
Ole 60
Image Credit: John Park The Kentucky group broke through last year with its angst-fueled, rock-tilted track “Smoke & A Light,” which peaked at No. 22 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The track was featured on the band’s 2023 debut EP, three twenty four, which displayed the act’s musical instincts for blending country-folk storytelling with melodic rock instrumentation. Its follow-up hit came from its 2024 EP, Songs About You, when “Thoughts of You” reached No. 41 on Hot Country Songs. This year, in addition to Ole 60’s own headlining shows, the band will open for Zach Bryan’s London stadium dates and make appearances at Lollapalooza in Chicago and the Born & Raised Festival in Pryor, Okla.
-
The Red Clay Strays
Image Credit: Macie Coleman After forming in 2016, The Red Clay Strays had a career surge last year with their soulful country-rock hit, “Wondering Why,” which peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, its 2024 Dave Cobb-produced album, Made by These Moments, debuted in the top 10 of Top Country Albums. They’ve picked up accolades from the Billboard Music Awards, the Americana Honors & Awards and ACM Awards, and the group will perform shows in North America, Australia and Europe this year.
-
Treaty Oak Revival
Image Credit: Paige Williams The five-member West Texas band has built a fervent following since issuing its 2021 debut album, No Vacancy. Melding country, rock and emo-punk elements with gut-punch lyrics, the group scored its highest-charting Hot Country Songs hit in February, with “Bad State of Mind” reaching No. 19. Also this year, singles “Boomtown” and “No Vacancy” were featured in the Paramount+ series Landman.
This story appears in the May 31, 2025, issue of Billboard.
