Despite some traditional-sounding country artists like Zach Top getting recognition, the myth that “they don’t make good country music anymore” is still alive and well. The people keeping that myth alive are likely fans of old-school country and have only looked for new music on the radio. Fortunately, there are plenty of artists out there making top-notch tunes. Most of us carry access to their discographies in our pockets every day.
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These artists are out there making traditional-sounding country music. You can find them across digital streaming platforms or catch them on tour. If you enjoy physical media, you could also buy their albums on a variety of formats, including vinyl. However, you’re not likely to hear their songs on your local country radio station.
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1. Joshua Hedley
Joshua Hedley is a fiddle player, singer, songwriter, and all-around great country artist. So far, he has released two full-length albums. His 2018 debut album, Mr. Jukebox, captures the Countrypolitan sounds of the 1960s. His 2022 sophomore album, Neon Blue, is a tribute to country music from the 1990s. Both albums contain enough fiddle, pedal steel, and top-notch songwriting for any fan of the genre.
2. John R. Miller
John R. Miller is the perfect under-the-radar country artist for those who are fans of poetic songwriting. He doesn’t fit neatly into any classic era of the genre. However, if you’re a fan of the likes of John Prine, Guy Clark, or Townes Van Zandt, Miller should be in your rotation. With more than a decade in the game, he has four stellar albums under his belt. His most recent album, Heat Comes Down, received wide critical acclaim upon its initial release in 2023.
3. Benjamin Tod
Recently, Benjamin Tod has proven that he’s a country artist who can do a little bit of everything. Most know this singer/songwriter from his work with the bluegrass-adjacent Lost Dog Street Band. He also has four solo albums. Three of them are introspective, vulnerable, acoustic collections. The most recent, Shooting Star, is an ode to classic country music with plenty of old-school honky tonk to go around.
4. Nikki Lane
Hailed as the Queen of Outlaw Country, Nikki Lane is one of the most criminally underrated country artists in the game today. Since releasing her debut album, Walk of Shame, in 2011, Lane has been writing, recording, and releasing some of the best Outlaw Country this side of the 1970s. She currently has four albums under her belt and is seemingly always touring.
Featured Image by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Stagecoach
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