Turnpike Troubadours

Throughout history, Turnpike Troubadours has been a topic of great interest and controversy. Since its inception, Turnpike Troubadours has captured the attention of academics, scientists, artists and the curious in general. Its impact on society and people's daily lives is undeniable, generating constant debates and reflections. In this article, we will explore different aspects and perspectives related to Turnpike Troubadours, analyzing its influence in different fields and its evolution over time. Additionally, we will examine how Turnpike Troubadours continues to be relevant today and how it will continue to make its mark in the future.

Turnpike Troubadours
Turnpike Troubadours performing in 2023. L–R: Early, Engleman, Pearson (behind drum kit), Edwards, Felker, Nix.
Background information
OriginTahlequah, Oklahoma U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 2007–2019
  • 2021–present
Labels
  • Bossier City Records
  • Thirty Tigers
Members
  • RC Edwards
  • Kyle Nix
  • Ryan Engleman
  • Evan Felker
  • Gabriel Pearson
  • Hank Early
Past members
  • John Fullbright
  • Casey Sliger
  • Chad Masters
  • Giovanni Carnuccio III
  • Luke Savage
Websiteturnpiketroubadours.com

The Turnpike Troubadours are an American country music band from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, founded in 2005.[1] They started their own imprint, Bossier City Records, in 2007 and have released six studio albums. Their self-titled 2015 album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.

History

The band was formed in 2005 by Evan Felker and R.C. Edwards. Their debut album, Bossier City, was recorded a month after the formation of the band, in order to have a recording to sell at live shows. Felker later said the musical arrangements were "not a good representation" of what the band later became.[2]

Their sophomore album, Diamonds & Gasoline, followed in 2010.[3]

The songs "Easton and Main" and "Bossier City" were re-recorded for their 2015 self-titled album.[2]

In October 2017, the album A Long Way from Your Heart was released, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

Following a string of poor performances in late 2018, stemming from Felker's insobriety, the band was forced to cancel 12 shows slated to be held in the weeks to follow, returning on November 30 to play at ACL Live.[4] Felker's personal battles continued the following year, spurring the band to cancel all remaining tour dates. It left the band's future undecided but noting a possible return to the stage once "everyone is of strong mind, body and spirit and can deliver what our fans deserve."[5][6]

In November 2021, the band's Instagram was cleaned of all previous posts and their website displayed only the band's logo and a message that read "Coming Soon".[7] In January 2022, the band announced their long-awaited reunion and return to live performances, holding their first shows on April 8–9, 2022 at Cain's Ballroom.[8][9] One month later, another two-night run of shows were held May 14–15 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.[10]

On August 25, 2023, the band released their album A Cat in the Rain after releasing three earlier singles: "Mean Old Sun," "Chipping Mill," and "Brought Me."[11]

On April 11, 2025, the band released a surprise album The Price of Admission, an 11-track record dropped prior to The Boys of Oklahoma concerts with Cross Canadian Ragweed in Stillwater, OK. This is their sixth studio album, and the second produced by Shooter Jennings.[12]

Musical style, composition, and influences

Critically, the Turnpike Troubadours' musical style has been labeled as primarily country music and its respective subgenres, such as red dirt,[13][14][15] honky-tonk,[16] Americana,[17] neotraditional country,[18] and country rock.[19] Mark Deming of AllMusic referred to the Turnpike Troubadours as a "country-leaning roots rock band," with elements of political folk music, honky-tonk, bluegrass, Cajun music, and rock.[20]

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, band co-founder and bassist RC Edwards identified the band's musical style as honky-tonk.[19]

Band members

Current

  • RC Edwards
  • Kyle Nix
  • Ryan Engleman
  • Evan Felker
  • Gabriel Pearson
  • Hank Early

Past

  • John Fullbright
  • Casey Sliger
  • Chad Masters
  • Giovanni "Nooch" Carnuccio III
  • Luke Savage

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US Country
[21] 		US
[22] 		US
Indie
[23] 		US
Folk
[24] 		US
Rock
[25]
Bossier City[26]
  • Release date: December 11, 2007
  • Label: Bossier City Records
 — — — — —
Diamonds & Gasoline[3]
  • Release date: August 31, 2010
  • Label: Bossier City Records
 — — — — —
Goodbye Normal Street
  • Release date: May 8, 2012
  • Label: Bossier City Records/ Thirty Tigers
 14 57 7 3 23
The Turnpike Troubadours
  • Release date: September 18, 2015
  • Label: Bossier City Records
 3 17 3 2 5
A Long Way from Your Heart
  • Release date: October 20, 2017
  • Label: Bossier City Records
 3 20 1 1 —
A Cat in the Rain
  • Release date: August 25, 2023
  • Label: Bossier City Records
 9 34 — — —
The Price of Admission
  • Release date: April 11, 2025
  • Label: Bossier City Records
 - - — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
2012 "Gin, Smoke, Lies"[30] Brooke McDaniel
2015 "Down Here"[31]
2023 "Mean Old Sun"[32] Sterlin Harjo

References

  1. ^ Liptak, Carena (December 10, 2021). "Who Are the Turnpike Troubadours? A Timeline of the Band's Rise, Hiatus and Return". Country Now. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Wofford, Jerry. "Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours talks on the band's success ahead of its Cain's show". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Diamonds & Gasoline". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Freeman, Jon (October 30, 2018). "Turnpike Troubadours Cancel Concerts for 'Situation That Needs Our Complete Attention'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Freeman, Jon (May 31, 2019). "Turnpike Troubadours Cancel Tour Dates, Announce Hiatus". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Crutchmer, Josh (May 3, 2023). "Turnpike Troubadours Talk Anticipated New Comeback Album and Real Reason Behind the Breakup". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Liebig, Lorie (November 30, 2021). "Turnpike Troubadours Reunite, Announce 2022 Show". The Boot. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "Turnpike Troubadours will play Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa". www.fox23.com. January 12, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Crutchmer, Josh (April 9, 2022). "Turnpike Troubadours Reunited to Play Their First Show in 3 Years -- Grown Men Cried". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Crutchmer, Josh (November 30, 2021). "Exclusive: Turnpike Troubadours Talk Unexpected Hiatus, Newfound Sobriety, and Surprise Reunion". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  11. ^ Winograd, Jeremy (August 20, 2023). "Turnpike Troubadours 'A Cat in the Rain' Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Crutchmer, Josh. "'NO BULLSHIT, NO LAG': WHY TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS WASTED NO TIME IN DROPPING SURPRISE NEW ALBUM". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Freeman, Jon (August 24, 2023). "Turnpike Troubadours' Triumphant Return". Spin. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Wickstrom, Matt (August 2, 2022). "CONCERT REVIEW: Turnpike Troubadours' Red Dirt Reunion Rocks Nashville's Ryman Auditorium". The Boot. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  15. ^ Vonder Haar, Pete (May 8, 2022). "The Turnpike Troubadours Bring Red Dirt Country Back To Houston". Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Wolgamott, L. Kent (August 25, 2023). "Avett Brothers and Turnpike Troubadours combine for strong arena show in Lincoln". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  17. ^ Crutchmer, Josh (October 9, 2023). "Jason Isbell Says Evan Felker's Comeback Spurred Him to Join Turnpike Troubadours' Arena Shows". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  18. ^ C. Mac, Sam (February 28, 2023). "A guide to all the artists playing the Houston Rodeo this year". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Stewart, Allison (January 17, 2019). "Turnpike Troubadours are giving that road thing a go again". Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  20. ^ Leggett, Steve. "Turnpike Troubadours Biography". Allmusic. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  21. ^ "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Country Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  22. ^ "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  23. ^ "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Independent Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  24. ^ "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Folk Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  25. ^ "Turnpike Troubadours Chart History – Rock Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  26. ^ "Bossier City". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  27. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
  28. ^ Bjorke, Matt (January 19, 2016). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: January 19, 2016". Roughstock. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  29. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 27, 2018). "Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: March 27, 2018". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  30. ^ "CMT : Videos : Turnpike Troubadours : Gin, Smoke, Lies". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  31. ^ "CMT : Videos : Turnpike Troubadours : Down Here". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  32. ^ "Mean Old Sun : Videos : Turnpike Troubadours : Mean Old Sun". Retrieved December 17, 2024.