Not to dredge up that old Texas country vs. Nashville country debate, but there’s no denying that there’s just something about country artists who come from the Lone Star State. From West Texas poet laureate Guy Clark and Panhandle hero Terry Allen to East Texas-born country queen Miranda Lambert (who co-wrote Ella Langley’s smash hit “Choosin’ Texas”), there’s a reason why Texans are so darn proud of their state’s musical exports. If you, like Ella, are “Choosin’ Texas” lately, you’re probably already hip to Austin-based troubadours Shane Smith and the Saints. If not, the band’s two-night stand at the Ryman Auditorium is the perfect introduction. The group’s blend of red dirt, Celtic and Appalachian influences made them fan favorites long before they appeared on the juggernaut that was Yellowstone. Be sure to show up early for the opening acts. On Friday, Oklahoma’s Ken Pomeroy, whose album Cruel Joke was one of the best records of 2025, and Australian singer-songwriter Wade Forster will open. On Saturday, Pomeroy and outlaw icon Ray Wylie Hubbard will kick off the show.
Feb. 20-21 at the Ryman
116 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
