A Promising Outlook for the Rest of 2019 – A Spotlight on 15 Music Artists

The Southland Music LineJuly 15, 2019

An Article by Johnny Cole
Photos by Stephen Anderson

We encourage our readers and friends to be on the lookout for these 15 music artists during the remainder of 2019:

● Analog Missionary (Silverhill, AL) – these veteran rockers are back! A recent show at The Listening Room of Mobile provided all the proof needed. We are excited to see them ready to resume their career.

● Della Memoria (Gulf Coast) – another artist ready for a comeback; presently finishing up new material. Whenever Emily Sholes Smith sings, it’s a beautiful thing. It has been a pleasure following Della Memoria’s path for several years, we have featured them in a number of articles, and consider them dear friends.

● Hannah McFarland (Birmingham, AL) – there’s a new album coming out soon by Hannah who has caught the attention from folks in Nashville, Muscle Shoals, the Gulf Coast, and acclaimed producer and owner of Studio H2O, Rick Hirsch. The anticipation for her new album is high.

● The KneeOn Sisters (Lucedale, MS, now living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado ) – sisters, Aerial Grace “AG” Smith and Skyler Smith make up this amazing singer/songwriting duo with a talent that just continues to blossom. It is just a matter of time for them to have that “breakout moment” and it could be soon.

● Laurie Anne “L.A.” Armour (Mobile, AL) – she caught our attention from day one and continues to do so as we witness her progress as an up-and-coming artist. We anxiously await her follow up to 2017’s Ebb & Flow and highly recommend checking out one of L.A.’s entertaining shows, often joined by Drew Nix of The Red Clay Strays.

● Madison Grace (Mobile, AL) – she continues to evolve as an artist and performer, definitely someone to follow. In recent months, she has proven herself quite impressively by fronting her own rock band, too. The Line believes we will be hearing much more from Madison.

Top photo: Sarah Peacock at “The Mary C.” in Ocean Springs, MS in 2109; above photo: Madison Grace at the 2018 Mississippi Songwriters Festival in Ocean Springs, MS

● Magnolia Bayou (Gulfport, MS) – the positive feedback about these guys can’t be any better. They have opened up shows for an impressive list of artists and continue receiving high praise by everyone who has attended their shows. Look for them in the coming months of 2019.

● Midnight Revel (Hattiesburg, MS) – what do they have in the water in the Hattiesburg, MS area?… because there continues to be a lot of great music coming out of that scene. Midnight Revel’s “Desperate Times & Blind Eyes” is a great album that came out earlier this year. We can expect a lot from these guys in the second half of 2019, too.

● Red & the Revelers (Mobile, AL) – Greg “Red” Padilla and his company of musicians are releasing their brand new album “The Wizard and The Witch” on Aug. 10. Earlier this year, The Line attended Red & the Revelers single release show at Cedar Street Social Club in Mobile, AL. The night was one of our favorite evenings of music in 2019.

● The Red Clay Strays (Mobile, AL) – they have been heavily touring nationally and growing in popularity; nothing seems to be slowing them down. The Line’s Stephen Anderson has enjoyed photographing this band and they appear in several photo collections at The Southland Music Line. There is no denying they have a devoted fanbase that just keeps getting bigger.

The Red Clay Strays’ Brandon Coleman at Cedar Street Social Club in Mobile, AL in 2019

● Royal Horses (Hattiesburg, MS) – again, what’s in the water? If you have the privilege to check them out, do so! Gulf Coast music enthusiast, Harry Stewart encouraged The Line to check them out earlier in 2019 – a good decision was made!

● Sarah Burton (Terlingua, TX) – she first came to The Line’s attention in early 2018 and we have since attended a number of her shows including The Listening Room of Mobile (AL) and the Tavern on Main in Buda, TX. Her previous album “Make Your Own Bed” was discovered late by us, but quickly made us fans (the song “From the Start” is a highlight). Sarah’s 2019 release “Give Me What I Want” is receiving an array of positive reviews. She will be performing some upcoming shows in both Texas and Canada, we encourage you to check her music out.

● Sarah Peacock (Nashville, TN) – introduced to “The Line” at the Mississippi Songwriters Festival in 2017, Sarah has become one of our favorites. Touring and making music is nothing new to Sarah, but we can expect this upcoming release “Burn the Witch” to be the next positive step for the deserving artist. She will be returning to this year’s Mississippi Songwriters Festival held in Ocean Springs, MS on Sept. 19-22.

● Symone French & the Trouille Troupe (Mobile, AL) – Symone French is presently being featured on our June/July cover page at The Southland Music Line for good reason. We recently caught Symone and the band at an event at Cedar Street Social Club in Mobile, AL and a late night set at the famous Julep Room in Ocean Springs, MS.

Symone French & The Trouille Troupe at Cedar Street Social Club in Mobile, AL in 2019

● Xaris Waltman (Gulf Breeze, FL) – when the term “bright future” was coined, a picture of a future young artist named Xaris Waltman could have appeared. “The Line” first saw Xaris at The Listening Room of Mobile in 2018 and we have been trying to get another opportunity ever since. The former contestant from “The Voice” has a new release “Under the Willow” out now and mark our words, the outlook for this young woman certainly has plenty of promise.

These are just a few samples of what we are looking forward to in the second half of 2019. While The Line could easily list several more here, in the coming months, we will definitely be highlighting additional artists reemerging or on the rise.

To learn more about the above music artists:

Click Here to learn more about Analog Missionary
Click Here to learn more about Della Memoria
Click Here to learn more about Hannah McFarland
Click Here to learn more about the KneeOn Sisters
Click Here to learn more about L.A. Armour
Click Here to learn more about Madison Grace
Click Here to learn more about Magnolia Bayou
Click Here to learn more about Midnight Revel
Click Here to learn more about Red & the Revelers
Click Here to learn more about The Red Clay Strays
Click Here to learn more about Royal Horses
Click Here to learn more about Sarah Burton
Click Here to learn more about Sarah Peacock
Click Here to learn more about Symone French & the Trouille Troupe
Click Here to learn more about Xaris Waltman