Dylan Gossett Tackle’s Country Music’s Highest Peak
The Ryman Auditorium is a special place for any act to play, with its storied walls being home to countless moments of music history. To no genre does this ring more true than country music, and for a country musician to not only play at The Mother Church but also sell it out for their debut, well that is something special.
Dylan Gossett, just a year and a half after his debut single and his rise to stardom on TikTok did just that. Not only did he sell the show out, but he did it on the heels of Jason Isbell’s eight-night run at the church, the night before Shane Smith & The Saints two-night stint, and two nights before Sturgill Simpson’s sold-out show at Bridgestone Arena across the street. He got folks to spend money on his show ahead of all of those, as well as the other dozen plus country shows you can find in Nashville. Oh, and it was on a Wednesday night.
Hailing from the heart of the modern Red Dirt scene in Austin, TX, Dylan embraces elements from across the independent country music space, ranging from the rockier aspects of Red Dirt to the more mellow levels of Americana. His songwriting is near universal, with songs on love, loneliness, and the expanses of life. Relatability has been one of the main selling points of independent country and Dylan has not only embraced it, but he’s taken it head-on.
Landing more along the lines of the Zach Bryans and Wyatt Florezs of the world, Dylan makes good on his promises of a rowdy show. Coming out swinging with his single “Stronger Than A Storm,” Gossett set the tempo high out of the gate. Leaning into his distinctive holler and letting his electric player take center stage, Gossett and company get your feel tappin’ and your boots scootin’ quickly. This energy was maintained later into the set with the harmonica driven “Tree Birds,” Dylan’s latest single released just about two weeks prior. Despite its rootsy appeal, this one embraces a catchier hook, adding a fun flair to what can sometimes be a more melancholic mood from the songsmith.
Of that note, “If I Had a Lover” followed right behind to remind the audience just what Gossett is made of. Yearning might be an understatement as Gossett pleads for the wants in his life, paired dismally with his acknowledgement that he has what he needs. The unrelenting earnestness in his voice is the real kicker, as every word is coated in such genuine emotion that it resonates even stronger in a live setting than his records. A handful of covers in “Folsom Prison Blues” and “The House of the Rising Sun” helped round out the night against a presently small catalog.
Setlist
Stronger Than a Storm
Lone Ole Cowboy
To Be Free
Tree Birds
If I Had a Lover
No Better Time
Song About You
Beneath Oak Trees
Back 40
Flip a Coin
Hanging On
Folsom Pison Blues (Johnny Cash cover)
Finally Stop Dreaming
Bitter Winds
Coal
-
The House of the Rising Sun (traditional cover)
Somewhere Between
If you’re at all tapped into Red Dirt, Americana, or the broader independent country space, then Dylan Gossett should absolutely be on your radar. Given his already massive rise from TikTok to The Ryman, I’d expect his momentum to keep building well into 2025. Keep your eyes on this one, because I reckon he could just be the next crossover country star waiting to happen.
You can find all of Dylan Gossett’s upcoming tour dates here.