13 Artists Making Great Southern Rock Right Now (2023)

The definition of southern rock can be a bit vague. Of course there are bands like The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd that fit perfectly into the Southern Rock category: they came from the South and did insane rock 'n' roll. But in 2020, that definition might look a little different. We have artists like The Wood Brothers and Marcus King who sound like the country rockers of yesteryear, but we also have artists like Brittany Howard and Adia Victoria who are a little harder to pin down. The 13 artists and bands on this list don't all sound the same. Some play in the blues and soul, while others are more leisurely country. But all of these sounds are inherently southern, and each of these talented musicians explores the turbulent history of the south in one way or another. Simply put, these guys are great. If you're a fan of Southern music, whether it's rock or country, you'll likely find something you'll love here. Enjoy this list of 13 artists, some new and some established, who are making some really cool southern rock right now.

1. Aaron Lee Tasjan

Aaron Lee Tasjan has great style. It's in everything he does: in his clothes, his attitude and above all in his music. It evokes both the influence of 1950s sock-hop and the sophisticated smuttyness of southern rock. tasjan album 2018,Karma barato, is for Americana fans looking for a touch of classic rock. Ohio native Tasjan lives in East Nashville, one of the city's most popular neighborhoods for musicians, especially those with scratchy throats and a screeching chord progression itching to pry out of your fingers. Tasjan does everything: a little bit of country, a little bit of rock and a little bit of soul. It's been on the road recently, so let's hope it's only a matter of time before the LP4 hits our boots.

2. Adia Viktoria

Does blues count as southern rock? Maybe not always, but definitely when Adia Victoria sings. She is a Nashville singer-songwriter who grew up in South Carolina and grew up with Flannery O'Connor and Angela Davis. His standout album of 2019is silentIt's a Southern album through and through: Victoria channels soul legends like Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone, rock heroes and country singers of yesteryear. Their music may not be Southern Rock by the conventional definition, but it is Deep Southern Rock. This artist rocket is worth editing.

3. Bretagne Howard

Brittany Howard was a leader in modern southern rock even before her solo career. As the lead singer of the Alabama Shakes, the Bama native was responsible for quite a few thingsthe best southern rock ever🇧🇷 He did a little more magic on his solo debut.Jaime, which arrived last year. It's definitely not just rock - Howard plays soul, jazz, roots and spoken word, among many other descriptions - but I'd be remiss not to mention it here. The woman is a rock 'n' roll powerhouse.

4. Dee White

Born and raised in a small town in Alabama, Dee White has a clear vision of the little corners of the South. Their country-tinged rock 'n' roll sounds progressive enoughsouth bitterReader and classic enough for George Strait fans. However thatsouthern gentleman(as his 2019 debut album is called) is still years away from being old enough to join the Strait generation. He's a 21-year-old Auburn dropout who enjoys fishing and singing. It turns out he's pretty good at both. you would never knowsouthern gentlemanit was done by a Southern guy - looks like Steve Earle jumped in the sound booth with Gillian Welch and decided to make rock music. With a little help from Dan Auerbach, White made an impressive first album of his career. May he be blessed with many years of hard rock.

5. Overtake trucker

Maybe this list will be mostly populated by newcomers, but you just can't find something called "Artists Who Dogreat southern rock nowwithout the best in the game, the Drive-By Truckers, especially since their forthcoming 12th studio album is just weeks away from release.the crumblingIt's out January 31st, and if you're a fan of Patterson Hood's and Mike Cooley's invariably solid songwriting and brutally honest portrayals of the South (and America in general), this album is already on your radar. This album follows an extended period of writer's block, but the extra lead time only means this collection of politically straightforward rock songs has had even more time to prepare. They're best enjoyed with a glass of whiskey or a piece of buttered cornbread—sip it like it's a country song, but listen carefully like it isNPRpodcast. There's a lot of truth in the Truckers' songs.

6. Birds of the future

Athens, Georgia has been a hotbed of great rock music (and music of all kinds) for nearly 50 years, and it doesn't look like that's going to change in the next 10 years. Dark roots rockers Futurebirds have released four albums from . followed a decade of career, but the arrival of the fifth continues to be cause for celebration. His sincere brand of spirited country music will sit right on top of all your favorite indie folk and americana records. But the Futurebirds do something different than many of these bands: their three-part harmonies range from smashing to chilled, yet most of their songs have a laid-back, summery feel. The songs on LP5,cooperation, finds the Futurebirds lean towards the psychedelic side of things, but they're as lively as ever. "Trippin" revels in human error, "All Damn Night" is an escapist mountain tune and "Dream, Fam!" It's a suspicious jam. This album might take Futurebirds to the next level - bigger venues, busier touring schedules - but for those of us who've been with this band from the start,cooperationit's just another chapter in this century's great Southern rock story.

7. Hiss' Golden Messenger

North Carolina and California native Hiss Golden Messenger is a frequent reference to conversations about folk music of the 2010s, and for good reason: the singer-songwriter has three true roots classics on his hands,irrecoverable debts,poor mouthmiHaha🇧🇷 But your 2019 albumdelivery termsit's a little bigger, a little more eager and a lot rockier. He's incredibly good at finding ways to proselytize without sounding preachy and promoting good rock music without hitting the term "rock star."

8.Katie Pruitt

Singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt grew up in suburban Atlanta but now lives in Nashville and has the storytelling subtlety of the likes of Jason Isbell, but she also has the grounded (if stale) rock star energy of the likes of Sheryl Crow . . What makes your southern rock music your own?Korn- she's able to write supremely tender love songs, country-esque ballads and alternative radio-ready rock songs, all with the spirit and confidence of a country brother hitting dirt roads. your debut albumexpectationsIt's out February 21st, and if you like country rock jammed, you shouldn't miss it.

9. Marco Rey

Marcus King is indeed the king of country rock, at least as of 2020. He's made three albums and became a certified road warrior with The Marcus King Band, and now he's releasing another album under his own name.the golden oneit's a bit more personal, but he's so confident. She recently moved to Nashville and embraced a new boast, and you can hear it all over the place.the golden one, the songs he wrote with Dan Auerbach. It often sounds like a healthy mix of St. Paul & the Broken Bones and good old Sturgill Simpson.

10. Middle-earth

They may not be "Southern Rock" but they aremeridionaland they doRoche- Actually very difficult. Country hitmakers Midland are known for their Americana hits: things like the hugely popular "Drinkin' Problem" and 2017's "Burn Out," both country radio favorites. But on your new albumlet it roll, Midland seems to embrace more guitar solos and charged drums. But his voice is still deep enough to reflect Jackson Maine, and his love songs sound like they were meant to be heard under neon signs on Broadway in Nashville.

11. Hounds of the Moon

These soulful psych-rockers may hail from Seattle but sound perfect for a playlist sharing space with the Futurebirds and Marcus King. You'll find country-inspired moments in their songs, as well as plenty of references to the Byrds' country rock. It's also very catchy. Her last album was in 2018, but since her touring schedule is almost constant, it's likely that new music will keep coming our way.

12. Nathaniel Rateliff

Nathaniel Rateliff has spent the better part of the last five years releasing albums, touring and playing festivals with his band The Night Sweats. The Missouri native releases his third solo LP,and it's still fine, next month on Valentine's Day. There's romance and realism in his solo work, even as the new album follows the slow breakup of a recent relationship. Rateliff is tough and bold, and even its darkest hours produce some of the South's best rock.

13. The Wooden Brothers

Fans of southern rock and folk rock from the late '90s and early '00s are already familiar with The Wood Brothers. But even though they've been around for a while, we can't stop mentioning them here. your next albumkingdom in my mind, a sequel to the 2018 Grammy nomineea drop of truthIt's coming on January 24th. It could be his best release in a long time: his dark, bluesy southern rock style sounds fresher than ever here. Brothers Chris and Oliver Wood had their own careers before joining forces, but the Wood Brothers era resulted in some of their most successful work. These folk songwriters have been making it a pleasure to be a southern rock fan for almost 15 years.