Josh Abbott Band

For nearly two decades, Josh Abbott Band have held strong as one of the most potent and vital forces in Texas country music. Fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist Josh Abbott, the Lubbock-bred seven-piece have built an ardent following on the strength of their high-octane live show, relentless touring schedule, and seven acclaimed studio albums spotlighting their powerhouse sound and fiercely honest songwriting. With their catalog including three RIAA gold-certified singles, Josh Abbott Band have stayed true to their independent spirit and achieved that success entirely on their own terms—a feat that extends to founding their own record label in the earliest phases of their truly uncompromising career. Also featuring Edward Villanueva (drums, percussion), David Fralin (keys, mandolin), Jimmy Hartman (bass, harmony vocals), Kris Farrow (electric guitar, harmony vocals), Adam Hill (fiddle), and Cale Richardson (guitar), Josh Abbott Band first formed at Texas Tech University back in the mid-2000s, when Abbott and banjo player Austin Davis got their start playing open-mic nights on campus. Within just a few years, they’d expanded their lineup and emerged as an in-demand presence on the Texas live circuit, drawing bigger and bigger audiences thanks to their unstoppable energy and crowd-thrilling tunes. In 2008, Josh Abbott Band released their debut album Scapegoat and offered a triumphant introduction to the distinct mix of elements that makes their music so commanding: a rare balance of timeless musicality and passion for pushing into unexpected terrain, bolstered by sharply crafted and soul-searching lyrics whose emotional complexity never overshadows their visceral impact. Over the years, Josh Abbott Band have steadily raised their profile while elevating their artistry to ever-increasing heights. To that end, their 2010 sophomore album She’s Like Texas debuted at #28 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and delivered gold-certified hits like its poignant title track and “Oh, Tonight”—a heart-stirring duet with Kacey Musgraves that marked their first song to chart on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, peaking at #44. After winning four prizes at the inaugural Texas Regional Radio Music Awards (including both Album of the Year and Single of the Year), the band went on to release Small Town Family Dream (a 2012 LP that debuted on Top Country Albums and climbed to #15 on the all-genre Billboard 200), then returned several years later with the widely praised and intensely personal Front Row Seat. Boasting standouts like the country radio hit “Wasn’t That Drunk” feat. Carly Pearce, the 2015 LP saw Josh Abbott Band ascending to a new level of stardom and making their national television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, in addition to appearing on CONAN the following year. From there, the band persisted on their upward trajectory with 2017’s Until My Voice Goes Out (a sonically adventurous album powered by Abbott’s deeply affecting storytelling) and 2020’s The Highway Kind (featuring the gold-certified hit “Settle Me Down”). The most recent album from Josh Abbott Band, 2024’s Somewhere Down The Road once again reveals their refusal to retread familiar ground, bringing their singular vision to a critically lauded body of work showcasing their more inventive impulses. With their latest milestones including making their debut at Stagecoach Festival—and at the iconic Ryman Auditorium as support for Randy Rogers Band—Josh Abbott Band continue to make great strides in cementing their legacy as Texas country legends.