LISTEN: Critically Acclaimed Album Barely Blue
The Get Lucky Tour Rolls On Tonight in Atlanta
“[Barely Blue] is signature Midland: silky-smooth George Strait country gold coupled with seamless vocal harmonies influenced by the Eagles. But with Cobb’s fingerprints on the project, there’s added emotional depth and some risk-taking.” – Rolling Stone
“Barely Blue is Midland’s most assuredly succinct album to date.” – Holler
“Their best album to date.” – Wide Open Country
“Barely Blue proves once again that they can’t miss… a masterclass in storytelling.” – All Country News
“Smooth and astutely produced, the confections on Barely Blue are downright enchanting.” – Qobuz
NASHVILLE, TN (October 4, 2023) — Today, Midland releases the official video for “Halfway To Heaven” from their critically acclaimed new album Barely Blue, released September 20 via Big Machine Records. The mid-tempo ode to unrequited love finds Midland’s Mark Wystrach dancing away, completely lost in the groove, while the rest of the band enjoys a spaghetti dinner in the official video directed by Harper Smith. Tonight, the band continues their trek on The Get Lucky Tour with a stop in Atlanta, before heading to play Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 12 and two shows at ACL Live in their hometown of Austin, TX (December 19 and 20). Find a full list of tour dates below or visit their website.
Watch the official video for “Halfway To Heaven”
About the video, Mark Wystrach explains: “Well, basically Harper Smith told me the concept is part ‘Footloose’ and part ‘Saturday Night Fever.’ I channeled Elvis and the emotion of that song and pretended like there wasn’t 30 people on set watching me dance like a crazy person. It was actually a lot of fun and an exercise in not giving a…”
Last month, Midland made their first national television performance in support of Barely Blue with a performance of “Lone Star State of Mind” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The band kicked off album release week with a career-spanning profile in Esquire, followed by a performance at the Grand Ole Opry where they celebrated the RIAA 5x PLATINUM certification of their hit “Drinkin’ Problem.” Last week, Texas Monthly spoke to the band about the song and how it became a Texas standard in both English and Spanish.
The critically-acclaimed new album has garnered praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Holler, MusicRow, BrooklynVegan and many more.
Produced by 9x GRAMMY® Award-winner Dave Cobb, the eight-song collection finds lead singer/guitarist Mark Wystrach, bassist/vocalist Cameron Duddy and guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson leaning into the trio’s signature celestial harmonies and exploring the tides of loneliness and the stoicism of holding one’s own while imbuing an unparalleled sense of vulnerability that breaks down the facade of masculinity and honors the spirit of loving, losing and moving on.
Earlier this year, Midland collaborated with Orville Peck on “The Hurtin’ Kind,” which appeared on Peck’s new duets album Stampede Vol. 1. They also released a cover of “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” for the star-studded Petty Country album.
Tour Dates:
10/4 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
10/5 – Cherokee, NC – Cherokee Tribal Fair *
10/9 – El Paso, TX – Speaking Rock Entertainment Center
10/11 – Grand Junction, CO – Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park ^
10/12 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #^
10/19 – Brownwood, TX – Feels Like Home Festival
10/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center !
10/25 – Garden City, IA – Revolution Concert House !
10/26 – Kennewick, WA – Toyota Center !
11/2 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port !
11/29 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall !
11/30 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory !
12/6 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels @
12/7 – Albuquerque, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center @
12/19 – Austin, TX – ACL Live Moody Theater !
12/20 – Austin, TX – ACL Live Moody Theater !
@ – Support from Tanya Tucker
$ – Support from Colin Stough
^ – Support from Colby Acuff
* – Support from Elvie Shane
# – Support from Jackson Dean
! – Support from The Wilder Blue
ABOUT MIDLAND: GRAMMY® nominees Midland have sought to reintroduce the Western plains, Laurel Canyon-cum-Bakersfield and Lone Star juke joints to Country music since coming together at a friend’s wedding over common influences and the need for a return to this sort of post-Urban Cowboy Country. For lead singer/guitarist Mark Wystrach, bassist/vocalist Cameron Duddy and lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson, the five-times platinum hit “Drinkin’ Problem” set the stage for their critically acclaimed On The Rocks and No. 1 Billboard Top Country Albums debut Let It Roll to unite classic country fans, hipsters and media including Entertainment Weekly, GQ, The Washington Post, Vogue, Esquire, Variety, Rolling Stone and NPR. Based in Dripping Springs, Texas, the trio of songwriters who developed their sound at Tornillo, Texas’ storied Sonic Ranch have been building a following that’s sold-out the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show, packed a multiple-night stand at Ft. Worth’s iconic Billy Bob’s and re-opened North Hollywood’s legendary Palomino Club for one night only. Bringing listeners a resurgence of their thick harmonies, sad melodies, tart lyrics and steel guitar with their critically-acclaimed Dave Cobb-produced album Barely Blue (Big Machine Records), the retro-Nuevo trio has grown from bar band to an in-demand headliner who mounted their own cruise in April 2024. For more on Midland and tour updates, visit MidlandOfficial.com.
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