(5 More) Kentucky Musicians To Watch In 2025
There must be something in the water here
Since 2019 I’ve written a column annually for the Lexington Herald-Leader highlighting a few up-and-coming Kentucky musicians to keep a watch out for in the new year.
While not every one of my picks has turned into stars (yet), many have expanded their reach and hit big milestones since writing about them. This includes Nicholas Jamerson — often regarded as one of the brightest local songwriters in a generation — along with Brit Taylor — who’s 2023 album Kentucky Blue was co-produced by Sturgill Simpson — and the likes of Cole Chaney, Abby Hamilton, Hunter Flynn and Jordan Lee King, all of whom are playing progressively bigger stages on their way to becoming household names.
For the column’s 2025 installment I spotlighted five names to watch out for — Candi Jenkins, Melanie A. Davis, Dalton Mills, Charlie Overman, and Joshua Slone (read here) — but there are so many other names worth giving a mention to as well.
That’s why I’ve gone ahead and written about five more Kentucky artists to keep track of in 2025 below. From Joe Clark and The Jenkins Twins to Zoe Howard, get to know five more artists set to take the state by storm.
Joe Clark
Henry County’s “Long Haired Southern Hippie” Joe Clark has wasted no time to kick off 2025, releasing the 11-song One Way Or Another on Jan. 3. The record leans heavily into country and singer-songwriter elements, a far cry from the Appalachian and southern rock soundscapes that filled up his previous project, Hillbilly Voodoo.
The blue-collar approach to his craft can be heard on working anthems like “Steel Toes & Coveralls” (listen above) and “Never Done” and is a trend that’s likely to roll over into his next project, which he plans to record and release before year’s end.
With four albums already fulfilled since 2022 (and another three in the can including his second slated for 2025) it’s safe to say that Clark is one of the most active songwriters in the state currently. It’s also evidence that you don’t always have to sacrifice quality for quantity, as each song and record put out by Clark sounds better than the last. There’s no reason to imagine that changing any time soon.
The Creekers
The only thing more abundant in Kentucky than bourbon barrels may just be bluegrass bands, but with the band’s mix of mountain music and country rock with a touch of cajon they have no trouble standing out in a crowd. Their debut record Pour Me In The Creek proved that and then some from “Homesick Blue” to “Leslie County Blues,” leading to me naming it one of my favorite albums of 2024 from Kentuckians for Smiley Pete.
The band — guitarists Tanner Horton and Allen Hacker, bassist Jagger Bowling, cajonero Ashton Bowling, banjoer Scott Sutton, and fiddler Anna Blanton — will look to build upon that momentum in 2025 with plans to release an EP in the spring followed by another full-length record later in the year in addition to performing at gatherings like the Master Musicians Festival in Somerset and Spirit of the Bluegrass in Lexington.
Zoe Howard & Yellow Line
Similar to other artists I’ve highlighted in this series for 2025 like Melanie A. Davis, Joshua Slone, and Joe Clark, I first heard Magoffin County’s Zoe Howard at Nicholas Jamerson’s Sleeping In The Woods Songwriter Festival in May 2024. (Thanks Nick for not only your incredible songwriting, but your ear for other great talent as well.)
Whether it be solo or with her backing band Yellow Line, Howard sounds like a bonafide Queen of Appalachian soul on tunes like “Yellow Line” and “Burn” reminiscent of local powerhouse vocalists Maggie Nöelle and Emily Jamerson. Expect more of the same on her long awaited follow up EP to 2023’s Peace & Whereabouts, which she plans to begin recording this summer.
The Jenkins Twins
Although they earned a mention in my original story for the Herald-Leader under the banner of Candi Jenkins, I’d be remiss if didn’t include the Jenkins Twins separately on their own merits.
The Estill County based duo comprised of identical twin brothers Trevor and Trenton Jenkins produce some of the most crisp harmonies that I’ve ever heard that feature both poppy riffs and country twang. While I’ve felt that way for a while now, the belief was reinforced this past weekend when they headlined in Lexington at The Burl (Jan. 4) with support from Rebecca Rego and Charlie Overman.
In addition to being joined throughout by seasoned side-man J. Tom Hnatow on pedal steel to tear through everything from cuts off their latest record It’s A Whirlwind, Baby like “Summer’s Almost Gone” to unreleased gems, the Twins also welcomed their father, Wes, to run through Bob Dylan’s “Lay Down Your Weary Tune” and Candi Jenkins for a recital of Buck Owens’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here.”
With the band already in the early stages of creating their next album, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a few of those unreleased originals and covers included in it. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
Bill Taylor & The Appalachian Heatherns
I already included Dalton Mills in my Herald-Leader round-up, but Bell County is so ripe with musical talent that I had to turn back to spotlight Bill Taylor.
Whether it be solo or with his backing outfit The Appalachian Heatherns, Taylor is a vocal tour de force who’s lyrics about where he’s from (“Heart of Appalachia,” see above) and those he loves most (“Hold Your Hand”) cut straight to the heart with their relatability and raw nature.
In a scene where one man (or woman) holding a guitar and wearing their emotions on their sleeves is commonplace, Taylor manages to stand out amongst the crowd with his mix of hope and hell raisin’ that perfectly encapsulates mountain living. You can expect more of the same on his forthcoming debut full length record, which Taylor plans to begin recording in West Virginia come February.
That’s All Folks!
Thanks for reading this far y’all. I couldn’t do this Substack (or any of my freelance writing, for that matter) without your support, so it means a lot.
On the radio side of things, I’ll be joined by Greg Adams — the new owner of Lexington venue The Twisted Cork — for episode #37 of Wick’s Picks on Hound FM presented by the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. ET.
In addition to discussing the Cork’s change in ownership, we’ll also highlight the upcoming Byron Roberts benefit concert at Manchester Music Hall on Jan. 17 along with featuring music from artists coming to the Cork later this month like Jordan Allen, Cody Lee Meece, and Eric Bolander.
Tune in on 96.1 The Hound, The Hound FM mobile app, or HoundFM.com.
Later in the week, I plan to be out and about for shows at The Cork (Jordan Allen on Jan. 9 and Micah Howard on Jan. 10) and The Burl (Bee Taylor w/Abby Hamilton on Jan. 11). I hope to see y’all around!
In the meantime, y’all take care. We’ll be back on Friday with our second new music round-up of the year!
Best,
Matt