Wyatt Flores Makes His Ryman Headline Debut With A Two-Night Doubleheader
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - December 14: Wyatt Flores headlines Ryman Auditorium during a two-night stand. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Fresh off the release of his debut studio album, Welcome To The Plains, Wyatt Flores feels unstoppable. Just under a year ago he made his first appearance at Ryman Auditorium supporting Charles Wesley Godwin. Two months later he headlined his biggest show in Nashville to date at Brooklyn Bowl. Two months after that he released his critically acclaimed EP Half Life. And now, after a year filled with milestones and successes, Wyatt Flores has stamped his name into the pages of The Mother Church’s history books with two back-to-back sold-out nights for his headline debut.
Wasting no time with formalities, Flores and his band immediately launch into “Welcome To The Plains,” an appropriate introduction that mirrors the song’s namesake album. Marked by a sharp opening guitar and rich fiddle, the track quickly escalated into bombastic country-rock tune with unrelenting energy. It is a splashy introduction, a necessity given the weight of this performance.
Rewinding the clock for his second song, Flores steps into “Life Lessons,” the title track from his debut EP. Identified quickly by rich, warm guitar and earnest vocals, it is clear why this is one of the songs that launched Flores into the stratosphere. The red dirt music that shaped Flores’ sound (Turnpike Troubadours, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Whiskey Myers) has always been characterized by its storytelling and genuine connection to listeners, and “Life Lessons” is no different, drawing on listeners emotions while still maintaining the full band experience.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - December 14: Wyatt Flores headlines Ryman Auditorium during a two-night stand. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
The rest of Flores’ set was a sprint through much of Welcome To The Plains as well as highlights from his first two EPs. A cover of Sturgill Simpson’s “I Don’t Mind” and a four-part harmony with The Castellows on “Sober Sundays” were highlights of the mid set, but it was Flores’ duet with Evan Honer on “I Believe In God” that really stole the show. A heartfelt song dealing with unanswered prayers and crisis of faith, it sits high in the mind for one reason: the context. Flores was overwhelmed with emotion throughout the night, repeatedly thanking fans for their support and clearly feeling the gravity of this moment. Sharing a song as intimate as “I Believe In God” with his longtime friend and collaborator Evan Honer was a beautiful, full circle moment for Flores that tugged on the heartstrings.
Setlist
Welcome To The Plains
Life Lessons
Little Town
Break My Bones
Stillwater
Losing Sleep
When I Die
Wish I Could Stay
I Don’t Mind (Sturgill Simpson cover)
Sober Sundays (ft. The Castellows)
Holes
Orange Bottles
Please Don’t Go
Oh Susannah -> How to Save a Life (The Fray cover)
Milwaukee
I Believe In God (ft. Evan Honer)
Running Out of Time
West of Tulsa
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Forget Your Voice
Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight
Astronaut
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - December 14: Wyatt Flores headlines Ryman Auditorium during a two-night stand. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
While largely wrapped up for the year, Flores still has a handful of big dates left in 2024 with a headline play at Fort Worth’s iconic Billy Bob’s Texas and a three-night stand in Tulsa at the legendary Cain’s Ballroom to ring in the new year.
You can find all of Wyatt Flores’ upcoming tour dates here.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - December 14: Wyatt Flores headlines Ryman Auditorium during a two-night stand. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Wyatt Flores is a must see for any country music fan, especially those who have fallen in love with the recent surge of Red Dirt and left-of-center music flooding the genre. Flores is one of the best in the game right now and his earnest, true-to-life songwriting and ability to let loose are equal parts infectious live. I fully expect Wyatt Flores to be a household name going forward, go catch him before he’s selling out arenas.