The Red Clay Strays, the six-piece band from Mobile, Alabama named Group of the Year at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, released their third studio album Grateful on June 5, 2026. Produced by Dave Cobb at RCA Studio A in Nashville, the 11-track project blends gospel, Delta blues, Southern rock, and soul into one of the most critically acclaimed country releases of the summer. The Red Clay Strays will bring Grateful to Florida on June 18, 2026, with a show at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. The album is available now on all major streaming platforms.
From Mobile Bars to the ACM Stage: The Red Clay Strays’ Rise
The band formed in Mobile, Alabama, building a loyal following the hard way, playing every club, roadhouse, and honky-tonk along the Gulf Coast before a 2022 single called “Wondering Why” went viral on TikTok in 2023. The momentum was immediate. Within 18 months, the group had gone from regional favorites to national headliners, selling out theaters across the country and earning critical praise usually reserved for legacy acts. The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards made it official: The Red Clay Strays are Group of the Year, placing them alongside Old Dominion and Little Big Town in country music’s elite tier.
Their sound has never chased pop crossover success. They blend gospel faith, Delta blues grit, rockabilly energy, and Southern soul into something that sounds both timeless and completely alive. That authenticity is why fans have responded so powerfully, and why Grateful feels like the natural next chapter for a band built to last.
The Full Tracklist: 11 Songs on ‘Grateful’
Dave Cobb, the producer behind landmark albums from Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, and Sturgill Simpson, helmed the sessions at RCA Studio A in Nashville. The band previewed two tracks before release: “People Hatin'” and “If I Didn’t Know You.” Here is the complete tracklist for Grateful:
- Demons In Your Choir
- Don’t Wanna Know
- Walking Away
- People Hatin’
- Revival
- Down South
- If I Didn’t Know You
- Fool’s Gold
- Can’t Fix You
- Do Today
- Grateful
Why Dave Cobb Was the Right Producer for This Album
Dave Cobb’s production philosophy prioritizes feel over perfection. He records live in the room whenever possible, capturing the kinetic energy that separates a great live band from a polished studio act. For The Red Clay Strays, who built their entire reputation on being one of the most electrifying live acts in any genre, working at RCA Studio A, where Elvis, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson all recorded, with a producer who thinks the same way was a natural pairing.
Rolling Stone described Grateful as the band “powering up.” NPR called the record one that left reviewers “feeling grateful.” Whiskey Riff highlighted its themes of faith, love, and redemption. Three major outlets, three enthusiastic responses. That kind of critical consensus does not happen by accident.
Frequently Asked: What Is The Red Clay Strays’ New Album in 2026?
The Red Clay Strays’ 2026 album is Grateful, released on June 5, 2026. The 11-track project is the band’s third studio album, produced by Dave Cobb at RCA Studio A in Nashville, blending gospel, Delta blues, Southern rock, and soul. It arrives after the band won Group of the Year at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, the most prestigious recognition in country music for a group.
Florida country fans have one date to circle: June 18, 2026, at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. The Red Clay Strays are one of the best live acts working today, and Grateful gives them an entirely new set of songs to unleash on a crowd. Keep following Sunset Country Fest for more on the artists shaping country music in 2026 and the acts we are watching for our stage in Apopka, Florida in March 2027.
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Sources & References
- The Red Clay Strays — Official Website
- Rolling Stone — The Red Clay Strays Power Up on Hard-Hitting New Album ‘Grateful’
- NPR — New Album by The Red Clay Strays Has This Reviewer Feeling Grateful
- Whiskey Riff — The Red Clay Strays Explore Faith, Love, and Redemption on ‘Grateful’
- Saving Country Music — Red Clay Strays Reveal New Album, 2026 Tour Dates
- Ticketmaster — The Red Clay Strays Tickets and Tour Dates
Disclaimer — Important Notice
The information published in this article is based on publicly available data from official sources, press releases, and music industry publications available at the time of writing. Tour dates, ticket prices, venue details, setlists, album release schedules, award nominations, lineup announcements, and all other details referenced in this article are subject to change at any time without prior notice.
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Last updated: June 9, 2026 · Sunset Country Fest Editorial Team · Contact Us