The Cincinnati, Ohio, native grew up a punk fan and later cut his teeth in several rootsier groups before landing a solo record deal with John Prine's Oh Boy Records.
The Boot's 2021 artists to watch vary in genre, style, influence and background, but these country, Americana, folk and bluegrass newcomers are all poised to have breakout years. Their names are ones to keep your eyes (and ears) on: artists you'll want to hear early, so you can brag that you knew about them first.