Billy Strings, Sturgill Simpson, The Red Clay Strays & More – Here Are The Top Country Concerts I Saw In 2025

Did you get out to any concerts in 2025?

I sure hope so. There is no better way to consume music than by seeing and hearing it played live, alongside other people sharing in the same experience and environment. It’s hard to beat live music in any capacity, but especially when one of your favorite artists is playing at a great venue or event, there’s really nothing like it. Attending concerts is the best way to support your favorite artists, too.

I am lucky to have attended some pretty amazing concerts this year, seeing several of my favorite artists once again, and catching many others live for the first time. For the fifth year in a row, I’ve compiled a list below of my favorite shows I saw this past year, and while I know nobody particularly cares what shows I’ve been going to, I hope it at least inspires anyone reading to get out there and check out some live music themselves. If you are looking for some suggestions as to who should be at the top of your priority list for concerts in 2026, then you’re in the right place with plenty of great acts listed below.

Now, before we get into it, I recognize that the majority of the shows I attended this year were in Charlotte, North Carolina, at a handful of repeated venues, and are not shows that the vast majority of readers would have been able to attend even had they wanted to. But that’s besides the point here. While you may not have seen the exact same show, there’s a solid chance the same artists came through your city this year, on the same tour, and maybe this will remind you how awesome that show was, or remind you that you missed out and need to make it happen next time around.

I highly recommend supporting your local, independent music venues every chance you get. The big shows are great too, and to see acts like Billy Strings and Sturgill Simpson these days, that’s just what you gotta do. But smaller shows are just much more enjoyable. So while there are quite a few big names on my list, there are even more up-and-coming names with whom you may or may not be familiar yet, and hopefully you’ll find some new artists to add to your concert bucket list this year.

Now, without further ado, check out my 30 favorite shows I saw in 2025.

30. Uncle Lucius, Cole Phillips (Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC)

29. Philip Bowen, Julia DiGrazia (The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC)

28. Ole 60, Rob Langdon (The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC)

27. Shelby Means, Joel Timmons (Midwood Guitar Studio – Charlotte, NC)

26. Nether Hour (The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC)

25. Kashus Culpepper, Landon Smith (Amos Southend – Charlotte, NC)

24. Tommy Prine (Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC)

23. Cole Chaney, Kindred Valley (Amos Southend – Charlotte, NC)

22. Town Mountain, Cris Jacobs (Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA)

21. The Wilson Springs Hotel, Ranford Almond (The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC)

20. Johnny Mullenax Band  (Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC)

19. Clay Street Unit, Valley Flower (Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC)

18. Tanner Usrey, The Last Revel (Tuck Fest at U.S. National Whitewater Center – Charlotte, NC)

17. Greensky Bluegrass (The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC)

16. Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, Kitchen Dwellers (The AMP Ballantyne – Charlotte, NC)

15. Colby Acuff, Jonathan Peyton (Coyote Joe’s – Charlotte, NC)

14. BJ Barham (The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC)

13. Magoo, Charlotte Bluegrass Allstars (Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC)

12. Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country (The Underground – Charlotte, NC)

11. Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Turnpike Troubadours, Charles Wesley Godwin, Willow Avalon (PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC)

As if CWG and Turnpike weren’t going to bring the heat anyway, their sets transpired as the sun reached its peak and temperatures crested 100 degrees for the hottest concert I think I’ve ever attended. But man, was it worth the sweat. The only chance I got to see the greatest band in all the land this year, Turnpike played several songs off of their all-time album The Price of Admission, and hearing nearly 20,000 fans singing “Heavens Passing Through” and “On the Red River” will send a shiver down your spine in the best way possible. CWG is one of the greatest performers in music if you ask me, and while not everyone was familiar with him in the crowd, no one left that day without having become a fan.

Willow Avalon is a bona fide rising star in country music, and it’s clear in not only her songwriting but her stage presence as she set the tone first. And to follow two of the top acts in the genre at the moment, two of the most legendary figures in all of music history – Bob Dylan (84 years old) and Willie Nelson (92 years old) – each wove though hits from their lengthy catalogs as the sun set on a special day. What a privilege it is to witness history and see those two still commanding a crowd with their music.

10. Nicholas Jamerson, Justin Clyde Williams (The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC)

Two of my favorite songwriters at a very special venue, The Evening Muse provided the perfect setting for an acoustic masterclass in deft lyricism. A local favorite, Justin Clyde Williams had a huge 2025 in terms of musical output, and hearing the songs from his Nicholas Jamerson produced record Flying live was special. Jamerson, though, is as underrated of a songwriter as it gets, and hearing him play his songs live is a privilege every time. The two artists and frequent collaborators teamed up for a duet of Jamerson’s classic “Hindman” to close out the show, and that was a performance I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

9. Shadowgrass (Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC)

Kyser George – you’re going to want to remember that name. This whole band is full of killer musicians, but Shadowgrass’ lead guitarist George is up there with the best in the business, and he proved it to everyone in attendance at this show. In case you haven’t been able to tell, I love a good bluegrass band, and there aren’t many out there that do it better than Shadowgrass.

8. Mountain Grass Unit, Stoneface Mountain (Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC)

I have already mentioned several bluegrass groups on this list that I consider to be must-see acts. But if there is one name that you remember out of the bluegrass bands, let it be Mountain Grass Unit. Formed by three childhood friends from Birmingham, AL that happen to have insane chops in their respective instruments, MGU benefited greatly from the relatively recent addition of Josiah Nelson on the fiddle, and their high-energy brand of jamgrass is something to behold.

7. Whiskey Myers, Josh Meloy, The Droptines (Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre – Charlotte, NC)

The Droptines could very well be the next band from Texas to experience a major breakthrough. Josh Meloy is one of the heirs apparent to the Red Dirt throne, and he’s spreading the gritty brand of Oklahoma-grown music to the masses. Whiskey Myers is the baddest southern rock band out there right now, and those country songs they have from their early days still hit as hard as ever. It shouldn’t take too much explaining as to why this concert was one of the best of the year – the lineup was just incredible.

6. Shane Smith & the Saints, Cole Chaney (The Underground – Charlotte, NC)

There just aren’t many bands out there right now that rival Shane Smith & the Saints, plain and simple. Weaving seamlessly between heartfelt ballads and country rock bangers in front of an electric sold out crowd, their live set features something for everyone, and the high energy stage presence from each band member makes it impossible to not have a good time at their show. Taking place just a few months after Hurricane Helene devastated much of Western North Carolina, Shane dedicated an unexpected cover of Ryan Adams’ “Oh My Sweet Carolina” to hurricane victims.

5. The Red Clay Strays, Wilder Woods (Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre – Charlotte, NC)

The last time I had seen the Red Clay Strays was in October 2023 at Charlotte’s Amos Southend, a 700ish-cap club room that was clearly just a stepping stone for one of the fastest growing bands in music. Man, have things changed now. Less than two years later, in August 2025, I witnessed a completely different show in front of a sold-out amphitheater crowd 5,000 people deep. And it was awesome.

Not only did the addition of Sevens Henderson on the keys make a noticeable difference, but the lights, backdrop, and onstage banter between the band contributed to what seemed like an entirely new live show. Their performance was perfect from top to bottom, but my favorite part of the show was the beginning of the encore. The Strays took the crowd to church with a stained glass window backdrop behind the stage as they played “Will the Lord Remember Me” and “God Does,” and Brandon spoke on the vital role faith has played in their careers. The crowd was clearly moved by the sequence in a manner you don’t see at a typical show.

4. Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) (Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre – Charlotte, NC)

The rumors are true – Sturgill Simpson shows are a one-of-a-kind experience. Lasting four hours on the dot and featuring two sets with very little commentary and an abundance of jamming, Simpson was on to something special with his tour this year under the Johnny Blue Skies moniker. Getting to hear some of the classics live for the first time was everything I had expected it to be, and like most jam bands – or bands that jam –  the cover selection and teases were immaculate. I certainly gained a new appreciation for “Best Clockmaker on Mars” from the SOUND & FURY record. Adorned with Rage Against the Machine “Bulls on Parade” teases, it was one of my favorite live songs I heard this year.

3. Southall, Joint Custody (Gruene Hall – New Braunfels, TX)

Gruene Hall might be the coolest indoor music venue in the country. Texas’ oldest continuously running dancehall, the New Braunfels landmark opened its doors in 1878, and in their nearly 150-year existence has hosted a who’s-who of Texas and country music greats. Catching a show here had been on my bucket list for a long time, and I was finally able to make it happen earlier this month when Southall rolled through on their end-of-year acoustic tour. With the charming town of Gruene decked out for Christmas and a Lone Star and Shiner Bock-fueled fervor for grassroots music that is difficult to find elsewhere, the experience did not disappoint.

If there was a ranking somewhere of my most-listened albums of all time, I wouldn’t be surprised if Read Southall’s debut project Six String Sorrow was up there near the top. I mean, I’ve worn that record out over the years. Those songs don’t always find themselves in Southall’s setlist, but they did on this night, and belting out the words alongside 500 or so other fans was a memorable experience. Joint Custody opened up the show and ripped an acoustic set as well, highly recommend catching those guys live if you get the chance.

2. Billy Strings (Moody Center – Austin, TX)

For the sake of not repeating artists on this list, I chose to only rank my favorite Billy Strings show of the year that I attended, and his show at The Moody Center in Austin took the cake this year. On the morning of this show, news had spread that Jack Demurjian – a well known member of the jamgrass community who ran the popular @RedDaisySportingClub Instagram page – had tragically passed away. Sure enough, in a subtle ode to Jack’s impact on the community, Billy and the boys opened the first set with “Red Daisy.” A powerful moment that transitioned right into a jubilant “California Sober” right in the heart of Willie Nelson country, Strings proceeded to rip through a killer set that featured covers from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Austin’s own Blaze Foley between his own hits and bluegrass classics. As icing on the cake, the second set culminated with a face-melting 20 minute “Meet Me at the Creek” that had to have been one of the best jams of the entire year.

Billy Strings puts on the best live concert in music, and if you don’t believe me, then you need to make it a priority to see for yourself in 2026.

1. American Aquarium (The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC)

There is only one band hailing from my home state of North Carolina that I would consider to be one of my all time favorites, and that is the mighty American Aquarium. Over the past two decades, BJ Barham’s band that formed in Raleigh has remained fiercely independent and built a strong grassroots following by doing things their own way, putting fans first, and working harder than just about everyone else. This show was a prime example.

Long story short, inclement weather led to the last minute cancellation of American Aquarium’s show at the 1,000-cap Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, NC this past October, and instead of mailing it in and heading to the next city, Barham worked to book a last minute show elsewhere. Plans were finalized around 3am to play a special show at The Evening Muse that night, a much smaller venue than the band has played in quite some time, and one of the first venues that ever gave Barham a chance to play his music live. As if the opportunity to see the full band in such an intimate setting weren’t enough, Barham promised there would be no setlist, and they would only be playing requests from the crowd.

Tickets sold out fast, and in front of 120 other American Aquarium super fans, Barham and the boys took requests, told stories, and played their signature rock and roll show for nearly 3 hours straight. It was an experience that will likely never be replicated, and it was definitely my favorite concert of 2025. If you’d like to hear more, I wrote about this show in depth HERE.

Now get out there and do your part in supporting live music. You won’t regret it.The post Billy Strings, Sturgill Simpson, The Red Clay Strays & More – Here Are The Top Country Concerts I Saw In 2025 first appeared on Whiskey Riff.