Welcome back to another installment of the Red River Playlist, a periodic playlist of the best original music out of Texoma. It’s been awhile, so let’s dive right in.
Red River Playlist No. 12 on Spotify
James Cook is back with a new album, Texican Velvet, and How to Live Lonely is a fantastic example of the distinctive sound we’ve come to know and love from Cook — authentic red dirt Americana.
Oklahoma’s Aqua Fire has a decent-size back catalog, so take a listen to their newest single, a classic-rock-tinged banger called The Ledge, and if you like it, they have plenty more for you to explore.
Tiny Joy is a new indie alternative band from Iowa Park, Texas featuring talented lead vocalist and guitarist Destiny Anderson. They came out of the box swinging with their debut single Roach. We’ll be hearing more from them soon!
For metal lovers, Forth is the latest single from North Texas’ The Innocence, a band that has been rapidly undergoing a maturation process that includes adding a female singer for a dose of melody, and they’re shooting videos, too. The Innocence is on the way up.
Return to Dust is a Los Angeles hard rock band featuring a couple of guys who met in middle school in Midlothian, Texas, and later made the move to LA, where they’ve opened some ears with singles like Belly Up, and turned heads opening for acts like Chevelle. Remember the name.
Carthage, Texas’ Passengers Unknown continues to impress with their unique and unconventional mixture of original alternative rock and country, and Light It Up is another good example. Put them into your favorite rock playlist and enjoy.
Archer City’s Young Road Recalls have been making a name for themselves across Texoma with a southern rock-influenced sound and an energetic live show. Down South Badlands is an album cut from 2024’s Songs of Sorrow and Pain, and you can hear their potential in the track.
If you want traditional country, you can never go wrong with Eb Steward, an artist who sounds like he’s a legacy country superstar with decades of radio airplay. Take a listen to Appaloosa Hill.
Every Time They Talk by Jay Burnam is so good, we may have featured it twice? Nevertheless, if you get a chance to see Jay perform at an Open Mic or a Song Swap, jump at it. Powerful voice with even more powerful songwriting.
Much like Passengers Unknown, Ghosts of Gray County is original and unique Texas rock with apparent influences from both alternative rock and country. Check out the heartfelt Song and a Broken Heart and keep them in mind, because their star is on the rise.
Adara Kay’s music is hard to classify in the breadth of her approach. You might hear classic rock, modern rock, or country influences in her music. Kay’s voice ranges from a badass rocker girl snarl to the smooth country crooner we hear on Take a Chance on Me. Dig it.
After a long hiatus post-Covid, Wichita Falls’ Downtown Royalty has been kicking out banger after banger for nearly a year now, and not one single has been a disappointment. Their latest is Natural, and it deserves an immediate spot on your favorite playlist.
We’ve featured The Stray Sons before, but you haven’t heard them in their element until you’ve heard them stomp like they do on LowDown SOB. Take a listen and tell us you can’t just see the crowd going nuts to this track in a live setting.
What did you like from this playlist? Let us know in the comments.
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