Need a collaboration between these two ASAP.
For all intents and purposes, Appalachia has become one of the epicenters for today’s biggest and brightest stars in the flourishing independent/alternative scene. Of course, you have the staples of the genre such as Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton hailing from Kentucky.
With that being said, however, once you expand out and include the likes of both Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia, it truly shows just how talented the region is, with other stellar acts such as Charles Wesley Godwin, Sierra Ferrell, 49 Winchester, Brit Taylor, Cole Chaney, Ole 60, John R. Miller, Low Gap, Nolan Taylor and many more hailing from the region.
One artist who has continually flown under the radar is none other than Ian Noe.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Kentucky native, there was a time when it felt like he was going to be the next big thing flying out of the alternative country scene. This was thanks to his phenomenal debut album, Between the Country, back in 2019, which contains phenomenal tracks such as “Letter to Madeline,” “Meth Head,” “Dead on the River (Rolling Down)” and more. Since then, however, he’s only released one album, River Fools & Mountain Saints, in 2022.
That all changed back in September with the release of his third studio album, Canyon Falls Trailer Band, a 16-track concept album that once again proved why Noe is the quintessential “if you know, you know” artist in today’s ever-growing alternative country scene.
Simply put, Canyon Falls Trailer Band is yet another contender for 2026 Album of the Year, being chock-full of gorgeous bluegrass-inspired instrumentation and stellar storytelling from the Kentucky native, highlighted by tracks such as “Kentucky Hurricane,” “Bible Country,” “Leeann,” “She’s Familiar (In the Strangest Ways)” and “Kickin’ It In Nashville.”
Though “Kickin’ It In Nashville” generated the most buzz initially, thanks to Noe and Co. erecting a billboard on Church Street in Nashville near the intersection on 9th Avenue that bears the chorus’ lyrics calling out Ernest, HARDY, Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, “Kentucky Hurricane” has remained a fan-favorite on the album. And it’s not just fans of the Kentucky native that are loving the track.
Taking to YouTube on Sunday morning, none other than Zach Bryan uploaded a stunning, stripped-back version of the gorgeous ballad. Upon Bryan posting his “Kentucky Hurricane” cover, Noe would take to Instagram to post it himself, thanking the “Something in the Orange” singer and calling the cover an “honor.”
“Woke up to this. What an honor. And what a beautiful video. Thank you Zach.”
You can love him or hate him, but as time passes, it’s become more than apparent that Bryan has cemented himself as one of the most important artists of the generation. Even ignoring his musical output in its entirety, he’s shown time and time again that he will support and platform some of today’s greatest songwriters populating the independent and alternative country scene.
Whether it’s his early team-ups with the likes of Charles Wesley Godwin, featuring the likes of Kat Hasty, Jonathan and Abigail Peyton, Noeline Hofmann, Slade Coulter and more on his “Belting Bronco” YouTube series, or platforming severely underrated and celebrated veteran artists such as the legendary Turnpike Troubadours, Ryan Bingham, Gregory Alan Isakov and Trampled By Turtles as openers on tour, Bryan has done his due diligence in exposing these world-class artists to his massive fanbase.
As for the cover itself, it’s nothing short of a beauty. Taking an unconventional approach to Noe’s original, Bryan strips the song back with nothing but his electric guitar and a fiddle. Instead of extra instruments, he employed an eight-piece choir backing him up, which gives the track an entirely different life while still keeping Noe’s expertly-penned lyrics at the forefront.
Watch here:
Zach Bryan 2027 Tour Dates
April 28 — Minneapolis, MN — U.S. Bank Stadium
May 1 — Indianapolis, IN — Lucas Oil Stadium
May 4 — Green Bay, WI — Lambeau Field
May 7 — Chicago, IL — Soldier Field
May 8 — Chicago, IL — Soldier Field
May 14 — East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium
May 15 — East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium
May 18 — Baltimore, MD — M&T Bank Stadium
May 22 — Nashville, TN — Nissan Stadium
May 25 — Philadelphia, PA — Lincoln Financial Stadium
May 29 — Atlanta, GA — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
June 2 — Buffalo, NY– Highmark Stadium
July 16 — Las Vegas, NV– Allegiant Stadium
July 20 — Los Angeles, CA– SoFi Stadium
July 24 — Seattle, Washington– Lumen Field
July 27 — Vancouver, BC– BC Place
July 28 — Vancouver, BC– BC Place
July 31 — Edmonton, AB — Commonwealth Stadium
August 1 — Edmonton, AB — Commonwealth Stadium
August 6 — Boise, ID — Albertsons Stadium
December 2 — Melbourne, VIC — Marvel Stadium
December 3 — Melbourne, VIC — Marvel Stadium
December 4 — Melbourne, VIC — Marvel Stadium
December 10 — Sydney, NSW — Accor Stadium
December 11 — Sydney, NSW — Accor Stadium
December 17 — Brisbane, QLD — Suncorp Stadium
December 18 — Brisbane, QLD — Suncorp Stadium
December 19 — Brisbane, QLD — Suncorp Stadium
