Turnpike Troubadours

Turnpike Troubadours are an American band from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, formed in 2007 and widely regarded as one of the leading acts of the modern Red Dirt and Texas country movement. Fronted by singer-songwriter Evan Felker, the band built its reputation on literate, narrative-driven songwriting that draws on rural Oklahoma life, heartbreak, and hard living, paired with a rootsy sound that blends country, rock, and fiddle-driven instrumentation.

The band's lineup has included R.C. Edwards on bass, Ryan Engelman on lead guitar, Kyle Nix on fiddle, Gabe Pearson on drums, and Hank Early on steel guitar, accordion, and dobro. Their albums, including «Diamonds & Gasoline» and «Goodbye Normal Street», earned them a devoted grassroots following well before mainstream country radio took notice, and songs like «7 & 7» and «Every Girl» became staples of their live shows.

After a hiatus in the late 2010s, the band reunited and continued to tour and release music, cementing their status as one of the defining groups of the Red Dirt scene alongside acts like Cross Canadian Ragweed and Jason Boland. Their sound remains rooted in storytelling over polish, prioritizing authenticity and regional identity over Nashville conventions.