49 Winchester - 49 Winchester (2014)

49 Winchester may bear a flinty name, but the group can have a softer touch than their appellation suggests. Favoring harmonies and searching introspection, the Americana group can still kick up some dust, yet they tap into their Appalachian roots by balancing their Red Dirt troubadour country with classic folk. They debuted this blend on a self-titled album in 2014, then spent years on the road playing gigs, festivals. and events, growing their audience steadily. The steady work helped lead to a contract with New West Records for 2022's Fortune Favors the Bold.

Hailing from the tiny town of Castlewood, Virginia, 49 Winchester take their name from the street address of the childhood home of lead vocalist/guitarist Isaac Gibson. He and neighbor Chase Chafin formed the group after graduating high school in 2013, adding guitarist Bus Shelton soon afterward; drummer Justin Louthian, keyboardist Tim Hall, and pedal steel guitarist Noah Patrick later rounded out the lineup.

49 Winchester released their eponymous debut album in 2014, a record anchored by ten original songs from Gibson. The group then set out on the road, supporting the album and building an audience through constant roadwork. A second album, The Wind, appeared in 2018.

The Bigtone Sessions -- an EP taking its name from Bigtone Records in Bristol, Virginia -- appeared in 2020, followed by the aptly titled third album III, which was supported by an ever-increasing tour schedule. By 2022, 49 Winchester moved to New West Records for Fortune Favors the Bold, their surging popularity evident by the social-app support of Luke Combs, the biggest mainstream country star of the day. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine