In every genre of music there are pinnacles that reflect the success of the artists body of work. In Country Music, one of those pinnacles is to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. The Akron based country, honky-tonk and western swing group The Shootouts will reach the ‘holy grail of country music’ when they perform in Nashville on February 24, 2023.
“It’s a phone call I’ll never forget,” shared Ryan Humbert, the bands leader in a social media post. “Tears of joy were shed. Being invited to perform on that stage, and to become a part of that history, is quite literally a dream come true. It doesn’t seem real, and likely won’t for a long time to come.”
The band first formed back in 2015 as Shooter Sharp & The Shootouts, and for Humbert and guitarist Brian Poston it was more of a way to bond over music that they loved. But, after their first performance at the old Euclid Tavern, it proved to be a starting point to a journey they couldn’t ignore.
After releasing their debut album, Quick Draw in 2019, the band charted in the Top 50 on Americana radio. In 2020, the band was nominated for “Best Honky-Tonk Group” at the Ameripolitan Music Awards, an honor they have repeated at the upcoming 2023 awards.
By the time 2021 rolled around The Shootouts were at #6 on the on the Americana Music Association Album Chart with their second album Bullseye, produced by singer, songwriter and producer Chuck Mead, who was also one of the founding members of the group BR5-49. The group returned to the studio shortly after and started work on their third album, Stampede. The album was produced by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel and Sam Siefert.
Stampede features guest appearances from some of the groups Country and Americana idols including Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Miller, Raul Malo (of the Mavericks), Country Music Hall-of-Famer Marty Stuart, and Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel.
The new album will release on the same day as their debut at the Grand Ole Opry (Feb. 24) when they will join fellow Ohioans like Johnny Paycheck, Earl Thomas Conley and David Allan Coe as alumni of the hallowed halls of the Opry.
