Social Media, Spotify, and country radio has helped us find these artists who we think are going to make a name for themselves in 2015, whether it be with album releases, touring, or radio play. Below is our list of 15 artists (and 5 honorable mentions) of country stars who we’re excited to follow in the upcoming year.
Canaan Smith
Canaan Smith has been in the music industry for a few years but we think 2015 will be Smith’s breakout year. His current single ‘Love You Like That’ is climbing the charts and we’re hoping 2015 will be the year Smith releases a new album.
Photo credit: Glen Sweitzer; Live photo credit: Scott Coleman
Chase Bryant
‘Take It On Back’ was one of our favorite summer tunes, and the song is still climbing the Country Airplay Charts. Bryant was on hand at the 2014 CMA Festival, and Rolling Stone named Bryant ‘One of the Best Things We Saw at The CMA Music Fest 2014,’ and those sentiments were echoed after Chase impressed fans in Worcester and Bangor this fall while on tour with Brantley Gilbert.
Jackie Lee
We came across Lee on Twitter and love his tone. He’s signed with Broken Bow Records and spent most of 2014 on radio tours and 2014 was a big year for Jackie as he had his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry, and released his first single ‘She Does.’ With that base, 2015 will be just as fun for Jackie Lee!
Kelleigh Bannan
Kelleigh Bannan has been on the country music scene for a bit, but her music has been getting more hype lately. She just released a new music video for her latest release, ‘Smoke When I Drink.’ She also was named to CMT’s ‘Next Women of Country’ list and was a hit at this summer’s WKLB’s Street Party.
Kelsea Ballerini
This singer/songwriter may only be 21, but Ballerini made the move to Nashville when she was 15 to follow her dreams. She cites hearing Keith Urban’s ‘Stupid Boy’ and it was then she realized that performing country music was what she wanted. She spent an entire year writing and eventually released her self-titled EP in mid-November.
Leah Turner
The daughter of a real life cowboy, it only seems fitting that Leah Turner turned to country music. Inspired by Trisha Yearwood, Leah left California for the Music City and hasn’t looked back! She signed a record deal, she has performed at the Grand Ole Opry multiple times, and was a supporting act on Brad Paisley’s Country Nation World Tour this past summer. Her passion for songwriting along with her strong vocals should provide Turner with a strong showing in 2015.
Lindsay Ell
This Canadian’s guitar playing has gotten her called ‘the female version of Keith Urban,’ a compliment we’re sure she’s happy to receive. And Lindsay even calls herself a ‘guitar nerd.’ Her incredible guitar talent coupled with her strong vocals, and her upcoming record (the first under a major record label), 2015 could be the year that Lindsay Ell becomes a household name.
Logan Mize
Logan Mize has gotten plenty of airtime play from SiriusXM The Highway and we think 2015 is the year Mize becomes a mainstream artist. His current single, ‘Can’t Get Away From a Good Time’ debuted in May and hit 100,000 downloads even before its FM radio debut. And we’re happy to say that we were one of those early downloads!
Michael Ray
We’ve been listening to ‘Kiss You in the Morning’ on repeat since Michael’s EP came out in November. He’s also joining Sam Hunt on select dates of his 2015 Lipstick Graffiti Tour. Ray won The CW realty show The Next in 2012, and had John Rich as a mentor on the show. A favorite of the ladies for his good looks, but don’t overlook his musical talent. A bright future lies ahead for Michael Ray and 2015 should be the next step in the bright future.
Mickey Guyton
Guyton is getting tons of PR and is aimed for having a breakthrough 2015 and all the press is deserved. Her influences are a combination of her church upbringing and Top 40 of the early 90’s which gives her a pop-country sound. She’s currently signed with Capitol Records Nashville. Listen to her latest single ‘Better Than You Left Me,’ and also download her debut EP ‘Unbreakable.’
Natalie Stovall
We automatically love Stovall because of her Boston background (A Berklee grad!), her unmatched energy, her incredible instrument talent, and her crazy hair! Natalie was also named one of CMT’s ‘Next Women of Country’ in 2014. Make sure y’all listen to her latest release, ‘Mason Jar.’
Native Run
If you see this duo live, you’ll love their music as much as we do. They impressed a packed crowd at the House of Blues in 2014 while opening for David Nail and played a small set before that show at local hotspot, Loretta’s Last Call. They should ride the success of their lead single, ‘Good On You’ into 2015. They’re set to open for Sam Hunt on his Lipstick Graffiti Tour which will make stops in Boston and South Burlington, VT.
Old Dominion
We had the opportunity to see Old Dominion open for Chase Rice in October at the House of Blues and we haven’t stopped listening to them since! You’ve all heard their music before as they’ve written songs for The Band Perry (‘Chainsaw’) and Dierks Bentley (‘Say You Do’). Do yourself a favor and check out their EP. They’ll also spend a portion of this summer opening up for Kenny Chesney on his Big Revival Tour including both stops at Gillette Stadium at the end of August!
The Railers
This group opened for Hunter Hayes in 2014, so country fans should already know their name, and their debut single ‘Kinda Dig That Feeling.’ They recently made its debut at the Grand Ole Opry and we bet The Railers will carry that momentum into 2015.
Sam Hunt
We know Sam Hunt had a big 2014 but we have a feeling Sam’s popularity is only going to rise this year which will come on the heels of his debut studio album and his upcoming debut headlining tour which has already sold out in several venues including his show in Boston, which was moved to the House of Blues after Sam sold out the Paradise Rock Club in a matter of minutes.
Honorable Mentions:
Clare Dunn, Dallas Smith, Adam Sanders, Chris Lane, and Mo Pitney.