Alternative country isn’t some brand-new genre that came about in the last few years. In fact, there have been plenty of alt-country musicians to grace our ears over the last half a century, and I think those artists are worth celebrating in the 2020s. Let’s dive into four stellar alt-country musicians that all fans of the genre should know!
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1. Uncle Tupelo
Uncle Tupelo may be no more, but their existing discography is still a joy to listen to today. This Illinois-based alt-country and roots rock outfit had quite a heyday in the late 1980s and early 1990s before they disbanded in 1994.
The trio produced four killer albums, the most prominent of which has to be their debut No Depression. The remaining members went on to form different bands (namely Son Volt and Wilco), but you just can’t beat the original outfit and its influence on the genre.
2. Nanci Griffith
A standout entry on our list of alt-country musicians, Nanci Griffith first caught the ears of listeners back in the 1980s. It was an era of traditional country singers, and very few of the big stars were women. Griffith was one of those few, and she was an absolute master of a storyteller. Sadly, Griffith passed away in 2021, but she left behind a gorgeous discography of work that most audiophiles would enjoy.
3. Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch wasn’t always an alt-country musician. She started out in gothic rock as a bassist before hearing The Stanley Brothers play for the first time, after which she said “I found my music.” She went on to produce a lot of gorgeous alt-rock Americana works with guitarist Dave Rawlings. Revival from 1996 is essential listening.
4. Cowboy Junkies
Canadians can do country well. Shania Twain is at least one example of that fact. And Cowboy Junkies has to be one of the best group of alt-country musicians from the Great White North.
Formed in 1985, this band first made it big internationally when their song “Sweet Jane” made it to the soundtrack of Natural Born Killers. Fortunately, they’re still together today and tour regularly.
Photo by Timothy Norris/Getty Images
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