The Red Clay Strays

The Red Clay Strays’ throwback sound is haunted by the legends of Southern roots music. Founded by vocalist Brandon Coleman, guitar player Drew Nix, and bassist Andrew Bishop in 2016, the Alabama act forged a sepia-toned fusion of rock ’n’ roll, soul, and country the old-fashioned way: through persistent touring. The band spent nearly seven years on the road, building up a regional fanbase, before dropping its 2022 debut, Moment of Truth. The album caught fire with fans of Chris Stapleton, Blackberry Smoke, and other modern troubadours harboring old-school souls, thanks in no small part to the viral hit “Wondering Why.” Coleman proves an entrancing balladeer; eschewing the bravado of the outlaw, he oozes tender introspection kissed with gospel’s longing for salvation. These qualities take an even more prominent role on The Red Clay Strays’ sophomore effort, Made by These Moments, in particular the 2024 single “Wanna Be Loved,” which captures the group at its most vulnerable.