The War and Treaty Take a Country Baptism at The Mother Church

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - September 13: The War and Treaty perform at their Ryman Auditorium headline debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)

The War and Treaty have just summited a mountain that every country musician and group strives to topple: headlining Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium, The Mother Church of country music. This has been far from an easy task and the path to this moment has been lengthy, the duo’s last true headline show in Music City was over three years ago at Brooklyn Bowl, a venue half the size with a fraction of the history. That’s not to say The War and Treaty haven’t been playing the game, since that show they’ve performed on the Grand Ole Opry over a dozen times, sat down for a pair of shows at Bluebird Café, played CMA Fest all three years, made an appearance at Americana Fest and at Pilgrimage Music & Arts Festival, and have taken part in numerous benefits, celebrations, and award shows in town. By my count, The War and Treaty have performed over 40 times in Nashville since their last headline, so don’t say they haven’t put in the work.

The husband-wife duo are just over a week removed from their latest project, Country Baptism, their second of 2026 just behind June’s The Story of Michael and Tanya.

The night began in apt fashion, with Country Baptism’s namesake and accompanying interlude, the first two tracks from the project. Blending together a stomp-clap beat and warm electric guitars, The War and Treaty come out swinging. While best known for their strong vocal performance, this track really did not let off the pedal sonically. The duo’s backing band also featured a horn section, leaning into their soulful flair that can be found across their discography.

The War and Treaty were quick to follow up with “Bare Knuckles,” an unreleased track that can be found on their 2025 live album. If “Country Baptism” was soul-tinged then “Bare Knuckles” is the whole heaping helping, with gritty, rootsy vocals overtop a dynamically rambling instrumental. The horn section shines here, the band’s backing drummer is doing legwork, and the backing vocals are on their a-game—it is a top not performance. For their part, Michael and Tanya are as lively as ever, giving their undivided attention to the crowd and receiving it back tenfold.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - September 13: The War and Treaty perform at their Ryman Auditorium headline debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)

Michael and Tanya’s performance was packed to the brim with special guests, a Nashville tradition that they themselves have often found themselves on the receiving end of. That was not the case with this show, as this time around the Trotters got to return the favor. Tanya got the special guests rolling in on “Reclaim All Of Your Time” with the quintet of Lalah Hathaway, Wendy Moten, Rissi Palmer, and Sierra Hull, the former three adding on guest vocals overtop Hull’s mandolin. Michael wasn’t far behind, taking on a pair of duets with Louis York (“Forgive Me”) and Tommy Sims (“Lay This Bottle Down”). But the true gem of the night, a special moment not just for the audience but doubly so for The War and Treaty, was the group’s performance of “Up Yonder” with the legendary Vince Gill. It was a tribute to all the late musicians and friends that had been lost this past year, notably Dolly Parton. The band would then round out their marathon of special guests with Nashville’s own The McCrary Sisters on “Holy Ghost Fire.”

Setlist

1. Country Baptism Interlude -> Country Baptism

2. Bare Knuckles

3. Don’t Say Goodbye

4. The Star-Spangled Banner (John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key cover)

5. Shouldn’t Have

6. Darlene and Gene

7. Reclaim All Of Your Time (ft. Lalah Hathaway, Wendy Moten, Rissi Palmer, Sierra Hull)

8. Forgive Me (ft. Louis York)

9. Lay This Bottle Down (ft. Tommy Sims)

10. Up Yonder (ft. Vince Gill)

11. Holy Ghost Fire (ft. The McCrary Sisters)

12. High Heels

13. Earthquake

14. Cold [Chris Stapleton cover] -> Keep You Warm Tonight

15. It’ll Hurt Me More Than It’ll Hurt You

16. Can I Get An Amen

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17. It Won’t Go Away

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - September 13: The War and Treaty perform at their Ryman Auditorium headline debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)

The War and Treaty’s Ryman show was just the tip of the iceberg, a simultaneous warm-up and victory lap as they prepare for their months-long headline run across the country. Stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York all dot their calendar, as well as another night at the Grand Ole Opry to close out their year.

You can find tickets to The War and Treaty’s upcoming tour dates here.

Oct 7 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center

Oct 9 – Fish Creek, WI – Door Community Auditorium

Oct 10 – Kohler, WI – Kohler Memorial Theater

Oct 13 – Carmel, IN – Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts

Oct 14 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Civic Theatre

Oct 16 – Laramie, WY – A&S Auditorium

Oct 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room

Oct 20 – Bend, OR – Tower Theatre

Oct 21 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile

Oct 23 – Kalispell, MT – Wachholz College Center McClaren Hall

Oct 24 – Boise, ID – The Egyptian Theatre

Oct 26 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel

Oct 27 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre

Oct 28 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum

Oct 30 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn

Oct 31 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater

Nov 1 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater

Nov 3 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Saloon

Nov 4 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre

Nov 5 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre

Nov 7 – Omaha, NE – Barnato

Nov 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater

Nov 9 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall

Nov 12 – Detroit, MO – Saint Andrew’s Hall

Nov 13 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore

Nov 15 – Portland, ME – State Theatre

Nov 16 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair

Nov 17 – New York, NY – Sony Hall

Nov 20 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom

Nov 21 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre

Nov 22 – Gainesville, FL – Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Dec 6 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry Presents: Opry Country Christmas

2027

Apr 9-11 – Miramar Beach, FL – Soundwave Beach Weekend 2027

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - September 13: The War and Treaty perform at their Ryman Auditorium headline debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)

The War and Treaty are without a doubt one of the best gifts country music, and the wider music community, have received. During my time at Ryman Auditorium, I talked numerous times with carious different employees around the room, all of whom were trilled for the show not only due to the immense musical talent on stage, but also the band’s impact on the staff. This was The War and Treaty’s headline debut, but Michael and Tanya are no strangers to The Mother Church, and their kindness seems to have truly stuck with the staff. That is a lasting legacy. Yes, their show was incredible, one of the best vocal performances of the year, but what the band has crafted around their music is what is truly special. This is a group who is helping pave the way for minority voices in an often times insular genre, a group who has time and time again shown up for their peers, performing alongside them and lifting them up, and a group who has made an impact at every level of their work. Go catch The War and Treaty on tour, they are absolutely worthy of your time and attention.

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