Retro-country torchbearers Midland are doubling down on the sound and spirit that made them one of modern country’s most distinctive acts with their new album ‘Stages,' arriving June 12 via Blue Highway Records. Across 10 tracks, the GRAMMY-nominated trio lean into the places, people and experiences that have shaped them, from smoky dancehalls like Gruene Hall and the Broken Spoke to long miles on the road, delivering what they’ve long done best: timeless country with a lived-in edge. Pre-save the album right here.
Produced primarily by Trent Willmon, ‘Stages' is steeped in fiddle, pedal steel and honky-tonk soul, balancing barroom heartbreak with backbeat swagger. It’s an album built on movement, both physical and emotional, as bassist Cameron Duddy describes it as a reflection of “all the places where we’ve made our stand,” while frontman Mark Wystrach points to a deeper dive into the roots of Texas and California country.
That sense of lineage runs throughout, whether in the band’s take on ‘Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey' (co-written by Chris Stapleton), the location-rich ‘Up In Texas' featuring Clint Black, or the closing cowboy elegy ‘Vaquero.' The result is a record that feels both reverent and restless: equally suited to a slow dance or a late-night howl.
True to Midland’s ethos, ‘Stages' blends original songwriting with carefully chosen cuts, creating a cohesive snapshot of who they are now: road-tested, rooted, and still evolving. From the swagger of ‘Marlboro Man' to the introspection of ‘Glass Half Empty' and the duet ‘I Wish You Would' with Mackenzie Carpenter, the album captures the band at a moment of reflection without losing their signature charm. It’s not just a look back at where they’ve been—it’s a reminder that Midland’s version of country music is still very much alive, and still moving forward.
Stages – Tracklist & Writers
- Marlboro Man (Dean Dillon, Tim Nichols, Josh Thompson)*
- One Day You Won’t (Seth Ennis, Mike Robinson, Matt Roy)*
- Shooting Memories With Tequila (Ryan Beaver, Joe Clemmons, Mike Walker)*
- Walk A Mile (Carson Chamberlain, Wyatt McCubbin, Michael White)*
- Glass Half Empty (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell)*
- I Wish You Would (with Mackenzie Carpenter) (Mackenzie Carpenter, Jonathan Hutcherson, Jamie Moore)^
- Up In Texas (feat. Clint Black) (Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Josh Osborne, Bryan Simpson)%
- Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey (Michael Henderson, Chris Stapleton)*
- Drunk Enough (Jess Carson, Mark Wystrach, Nathan Barlowe, Jamie Moore)*
- Vaquero (Joseph Patton, Brett Sheroky, Dan Wilson)*
* Produced by Trent Willmon
^ Produced by Jamie Moore
% Produced by Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy, Jess Carson and Trent Willmon
