Sterling Elza and Cole Barnhill Team Up To Burn Down Nashville
Two of Texas’ rowdiest red-dirt rockers join forces as Amarillo’s Sterling Elza and Lubbock’s Cole Barnhill roll through Music City, USA on the “Panhandle Playboys” tour. Unified in the dust of Texas’ high plains, these two Texans are cut from the same cloth, disciples of the bubbling scene that has raised acts like Pecos & The Rooftops, Koe Wetzel, and Treaty Oak Revival to the national spotlight.
Sterling Elza is out in support of his new EP Bag of Bones, a five-track sprint through Elza’s mental and literal struggles. Do not let Elza’s accent fool you though, he is a rock act through and through. While he might occasionally divert into a true-to-form country tune every now and again, his performance is raw, loud, and heavy, seething 90’s angst and 2000’s flair. That’s a staple feature of the world he inhabits, Texas’ modern ‘country’ scene is filled to the brim with folks like Elza who were raised on grunge and post-grunge rock. Elza and his contemporaries often site Kurt Cobain as a major influence, Cobain’s signature rasp has especially trickled down into Elza’s music. Songs like “Next Week” really highlight this, as Elza trades a traditional vocal performance for something grittier, it bites down on you and doesn’t release. I think that’s the whole appeal of this sound, country and rocks fans alike are disillusioned with the rounding off and polishing of radio hits, they need something they can sink their teeth into. Elza is just that.
“Happy Pills” is a true highlight, Sterling even cited it as his favorite from the new EP. It sees Elza shift gears, cruising into a more polished, refined sound. It translates perfectly live, maintaining the raw, energetic appeal of his earlier work while giving a nice breathe of fresh air over the PA. Elza’s band is tight here too, no single member feels out of place or overpowering.
Cole Barnhill wasn’t afraid the let loose either, shedding his shirt for a high-octane energy filled set. Barnhill’s new EP, January’s Everything You Hate, has the same fire behind it that Elza brings. The two land in such a similar space, an easy pairing that clearly has a lot of overlap. That title track, “Everything You Hate,” was a heavy hitter live. The gruff verses and smooth adlibs contrast the heavy, rock inspired chorus. Cole, despite running the club circuit, is clearly ready for that arena-level jump. He’s ambitious and his music reflects that, with hooks that are easy to grab and hard to let go of.
With the “Panhandle Playboys” tour wrapping up in Asheville, Sterling Elza’s summer opens up pretty wide. He’ll be dotting the country, with festival plays in Kentucky, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a pit stop back in Nashville for CMA Fest, and a return to the dirt as he takes on the iconic Born & Raised festival in Oklahoma. You can find all of Sterling Elza’s upcoming tour dates here.
May 16 – Asheville, NC – Revival=
May 29 – Owensboro, KY – Friday After 5
May 30 – Centralia, IL – Castle Ridge
Jun 4 – Nashville, TN – CMA Fest
Jun 6 – Little Elm, TX – Little Elm Park Amphitheater
Jun 19 – Bloomington, IL – Tailgate N’ Tallboys 2026
Jun 27 – Greeley, CO – Greeley Stampede 2026
Jul 4 – Elmore City, OK – Sterling Elza’s Family Reunion
Jul 8 – Chicago, IL – Windy City Smokeout 2026
Jul 25 – Amarillo, TX – 31st Annual Harley Party
Aug 7 – Oshkosh, WI – Xroads41 2026
Sep 18 – Pryor, OK – Born & Raised 2026
= The Panhandle Playboys Tour
Cole Barnhill’s summer will wrap up with a headline sprint back towards Texas, a pair of shows with Giovannie & The Hired Guns, and more support plays with Austin Meade and Brantley Gilbert. You can find all of Cole Barnhill’s upcoming tour dates here.
May 16 – Asheville, NC – Revival=
May 21 – Memphis, TN – The Hi-Tone Café*
May 22 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz Rock’n’Roll Chicken Shack*
May 23 – Pittsburg, KS – The Pitt*
May 24 – Oklahoma City, OK – Resonant Head*
May 30 – Centralia, IL – Castle Ridge
Jun 4 – Hockley, TX – 2920 Roadhouse^
Jun 5 – Granbury, TX – Warren’s Backyard^
Jun 19 – Christoval, TX – Cooper’s BBQ~
Jun 20 – Alvin, TX – Big Axe Bar and Grill
Jul 4 – Elmore City, OK – Sterling Elza’s Family Reunion
Jul 11 – Wappapello, MO – The Camp at Lake Wappapello^~
Jul 23 – Sanford, FL – Tuffy’s Music Box~
Jul 24 – Fort Myers, FL – The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon~
Sep 4 – Rio Rancho, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center+^
= The Panhandle Playboys Tour
* with Jake Slay
^ supporting Giovannie & The Hired Guns
~ supporting Austin Meade
+ supporting Brantley Gilbert
The “Panhandle Playboys” tour is certainly one for the books. For red dirt fans, this simply is a must see. Sterling Elza and Cole Barnhill are two of the fastest up-and-comers in the scene and are certainly worth the price of admission. Be warned, you’ll be heading headfirst into a chaotic and high-energy show, but I’d wager if this is your scene, that’d exactly what you’re looking for.