Bold and unapologetic American roots music from the Midwest

Ahead of the Hounds, Brandon Whyde’s forthcoming EP, carries elements of Hill Country blues, Appalachian folk, Western country ballad, and Dixieland jazz - all converging upon the Crossroads of America where the songs were recorded.

Written by Whyde and performed alongside a cast of expert players, this collection draws upon his musings in the spotlight and the shadows. Desperate and ofttimes menacing themes spring to life in the wake of a soulful voice that goes down smooth and fiery as though poured from a rocks glass. Discerning guitar work and imaginative, palpable storytelling sets the stage for a tapestry of acoustic sound that grants each track a definitive sense of time and place. The arrangement and production of these songs is meant to convey a strong feeling of cautious enthusiasm and measured discomposure.

In collaboration with longtime friend and bassist Chris Weller, Ahead of the Hounds arrives on the heels of more than a decade of songwriting and musical performance from Whyde, having shared the stage with such remarkable acts as Sturgill Simpson, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Marcus King, Dwight Yoakum, Warren Haynes, and Robert Earl Keen, and co-written songs with Grammy-winning country songwriter Clint Lagerberg and hit songwriters Billy Lawson, James LeBlanc, and Jamie Kenney.