Acclaimed band Flatland Cavalry unveil their new series, “Far Out West Sessions,” today with the debut of a special performance video for “Dancin’ Around A Fire”—watch/share HERE. Today’s release is the first installment of the video series, which consists of seven stripped-down versions of songs from the band’s acclaimed album, Welcome to Countryland (stream/purchase here).
Produced by Fernando Garcia and filmed by Garcia and John Park at unique locations across the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, “Far Out West Sessions” finds the band celebrating to their roots—returning to their home state to perform these songs in their purest form. In addition to “Dancin’ Around A Fire,” six additional videos will be shared throughout the coming weeks: “Daydreamer,” “It’s Good to Be Back (‘Round Here Again),” “Tilt Your Chair Back,” “Gettin’ By,” “Country Is…” and “Life Without You.”
Reflecting on the project, lead singer Cleto Cordero shares:
Up until the pandemic pulled us off the road, we as a band had spent the last five years relentlessly touring and being away from home; seeing the entire country firsthand through the windshield of a white van. All of those experiences led to what would form the collection of songs that made Welcome To Countryland. What better way to honor our time at home than to return to square one and share these songs and stories, broken down and unplugged, in the simple and stunning country land from where I belong? After the long and loud journey that has been our touring career, performing to seas of thousands of loud and rowdy crowds, what a breath of fresh and dusty Far West Texas air to break things down to their simplest elements and play a song or two for the crickets and the creosote– for the spirits of my ancestors!
Long before my mom and dad decided to settle in Midland, TX and raise their large family of seven children, our family’s story began out in their magnificent big backyard, the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas, specifically Redford and Presidio, TX. The opportunity to travel back to where my family’s humble origins begin in Far West Texas wasincredible. I haven't been out that way in over fifteen years or so and was deeply moved by the sentiment of “returning home.” Getting to sing songs in the country that shaped my family’s character was a spiritual experience.”
In celebration of the music, the band will continue to perform throughout this summer including upcoming shows at Waco’s Backyard Bar Stage and Grill, Amarillo’s La Hacienda, Lubbock’s Cook’s Garage and Portland’s Revolution Hall as well as festival performances at Stagecoach, Bonnaroo, Windy City Smoke Out and Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival. See below for complete tour itinerary.
Based in both Texas and Nashville, Flatland Cavalry is Cordero (vocals, acoustic guitar), Jason Albers (drums, background vocals), Jonathan Saenz (bass, background vocals), Reid Dillon (electric guitar, harmonica, second fiddle), Wesley Hall (fiddle) and Adam Gallegos (piano, keys, mandolin, banjo, electric guitar). In addition to the band, Welcome to Countryland also features special guest musicians Spencer Cullum (steel guitar), Jim Hoke (harmonica, jaw harp) and Billy Justineau (B3 organ) as well as background vocals from Hailey Whitters and Kaitlin Butts.
Welcome to Countryland follows the band’s self-released 2016 debut, Humble Folks, which reached #2 on iTunes’ Country Albums chart, #17 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart and #28 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, as well as their acclaimed 2019 release, Homeland Insecurity. Of the album, Rolling Stone declared, “Flatland Cavalry mix Red Dirt roots-rock with fiddle-driven twang. The blend is particularly intoxicating,” while the Dallas Observer praised, “a breath of fresh air for a Texas country music scene hungry for young blood.” Additionally, Wide Open Country selected the group as a “Band to Watch,” hailing, “float effortlessly between the Americana leanings of Texas country and the folksy songwriter influences of singers like Townes Van Zandt and Robert Earl Keen…they’ve got the kind of sound that folks far outside the Lone Star State will appreciate.” Since forming in 2012, Flatland Cavalry has toured relentlessly across the country, building a passionate grassroots fanbase as they went.
WELCOME TO COUNTRYLAND TRACK LIST
1. Country Is… (written by Cleto Cordero, P. Palomino)
2. Some Things Never Change (written by Cleto Cordero, Ava Suppelsa)
3. A Cowboy Knows How (written by Luke Combs, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton)
4. Gettin’ By (written by Cleto Cordero, Jason Nix)
5. Well Spent Time (Cleto Cordero)
6. Life Without You (feat. Kaitlin Butts) (written by Cleto Cordero, Brian Keane)
7. No Ace In The Hole (written by Jason Albers, Cleto Cordero, Reid Dillon)
8. It’s Good To Be Back (Round Here Again) (written by Cleto Cordero)
9. Tilt Your Chair Back (written by Cleto Cordero, Ryan Necci)
10. Fallen Star (written by Cleto Cordero)
11. Daydreamer (written by Cleto Cordero, Adam Landry)
12. Dancin’ Around A Fire (written by Cleto Cordero, P. Palomino)
13. Off Broadway (written by Cleto Cordero)
14. …Meantime (feat. Hailey Whitters) (written by Cleto Cordero, Lainey Wilson)
FLATLAND CAVALRY CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
March 25—Waco, TX—The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill
March 26—Nacogdoches, TX—Banita Creek Hall
April 1—Somerville, TX—Chilifest 2022
April 2—New Orleans, LA—Hogs For The Cause 2022
April 8—Amarillo, TX—La Hacienda Amarillo
April 9—Lubbock, TX—Cook’s Garage
April 25—Stephenville, TX—Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival
May 1—Indio, CA—Stagecoach
May 4—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall
May 14—Deadwood, SD—Deadwood Mountain Grand
May 15—Great Falls, MT—The Newberry
May 20—Abilene, TX—Mulligan’s Sports Bar & Grill
May 21—Decatur, TX—Wise Country Fairgrounds
June 4—Georgetown, TX—Troubadour Festival
June 11—New Braunfels, TX—Whitewater Amphitheater
June 15—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo
June 18—Council Grove, KS—Washunga Days 2022
July 13—La Porte, IN—La Porte County Fair
July 16—Iowa City, IA—First Avenue Club
August 4—Chicago, IL—Windy City Smokeout 2022
