ABOUT

THE SHOOTOUTS

RYAN HUMBERT

lead vocals + guitar

EMILY BATES

backing vocals

BRIAN POSTON

lead guitar

WITH

MARK BUTTO

Drums

STAMPEDE

The Shootouts do it all: Great songs, great pickin’ and always lookin’ sharp. Stampede encompasses all forms of American roots music, which is no small feat to do well. You’ll be singing along in no time! If you don’t already know The Shootouts, you will now!

Ray Benson

Effortlessly combining western swing, Americana and roots sounds, and honky-tonk twang into a scrumptious and satisfying punch that goes down easy, Stampede gives The Shootouts’ signature style an extra little kick.

No Depression

(Stampede) has the feeling of a well-seasoned standby, thanks to a series of songs that boast instant appeal and an approach that’s both fresh and familiar all at the same time. The Shootouts have accumulated the credibility that ought to ensure their upward trajectory continues unabated, bringing eager anticipation for whatever happens to follow from this point forward.

American Songwriter

AAAAA

(Album of the month)

Country Music People UK

A lively mix of Americana, honky-tonk, and Western Swing.

Uncut

Stampede shows they’ll be here for a while, and the only thing likely to take off is their

flexible sound.

PopMatters

The Shootouts have never been the kind of band to hold back and they’re certainly

sweetening the pot with a full stack on their new album Stampede.

Holler

Stampede rocks and rolls, jangles and bounces,

hitting every hot sound in the Roots Rock world.

The Alternate Root

This is one of the best real country albums you will hear this year and one that might

hopefully start some kind of stampede from others who will equally want to hear more of

this quality of music.

Lonesome Highway

It’s a delightful and varied record that speaks to the larger prospect of making Akron, Ohio famous for something twangier than Devo and The Pretenders.

WMOT

The Shootouts' new album Stampede boasts a collection of well-rounded neo-traditional

country songs.

The Boot

Stampede is an apt title for an album absolutely riddled with Americana juggernaut

Easter eggs, resulting in an onslaught of familiarly impressive technical execution and influence.

The Amp

From uptempo and swinging to toned-down ballads, the band shows that it can cover the spectrum. No matter the tempo of the song, the lyrics are always easy to sing, making it just as good for a road trip as it is for a honky-tonk.

Americana Highways

If you like old-school, blow-the-rafters-off, honky-tonk country music, you’re going to love Stampede... an enjoyable journey through the genre, from bluegrass to

honky-tonk to Americana, with other stops along the way. The songs are melodic and

the musicianship sublime.

Twangville

The Shootouts are traditionalists, but that doesn’t make them conservative, nor does it mean they move slowly.

Nashville Scene

there are plenty of influences on show here; but The Shootouts wear them

proudly and intertwine them to actually create a Classic Country sound that doesn’t

actually sound like anyone else as they’ve created their own distinctive ‘sound.

Rocking Magpie

BULLSEYE

The Shootouts mix supple Western swing with brash barroom country to A-plus results. Chuck Mead, a torchbearer for such vintage sounds, produced the group’s upcoming album Bullseye — it’s a match made in honky-tonk heaven.

Rolling Stone Country

The Shootouts effectively straddle the line between being a uniquely sounding outfit yet feeling as comfortable as an old friend from the first moment you hear them. (Bullseye is) everything Quick Draw promised and more.

American Songwriter

If you want something done right, you go to the experts. So if you want some vintage honky-tonk, you go to The Shootouts.

No Depression

The Shootouts are Ohio’s preeminent throwback honky-tonk band, and they’ve just released their latest album Bullseye produced by Chuck Mead. (It) illustrates the band’s ability to work within classic country themes yet still feel fresh and relevant to today... The Shootouts and "Bullseye" are fire.

Saving Country Music

Bullseye is a collection of top-notch, modern honky-tonk music that is rooted not only in great tradition, but in the here and now. Great songs. Great picking. Great singing. Bullseye gives it all to you. What more can you ask for?

Chuck Mead

(The Shootouts) pull from many different threads and construct a beautiful garment.

Buddy Miller

As with the previous debut release, (Bullseye) is a cracking example of honky tonk which balances the sound of the traditional retro country, revitalized for the needs of today. This is a rewarding album on a number of fronts.

Lonesome Highway

The twang meter is pegged through most of the record. I think that’s a damn fine thing. If you’re looking for some inspiration to go find the nearest honky-tonk, look no further than "Bullseye."

Twangville

The Shootouts project a sincere and energetic approach to their music...the twangy guitar, marching snare and sing along choruses will lasso you into their infectious sound.

Vinyl Brunch

Fine musicians who not only play well but also possess an impeccable understanding for the feel of what they are playing. This is an excellent mix of pure honky-tonk country delightfully seasoned with boundary pushing forays into Western Swing, rockabilly, ballads and that difficult to imitate Bakersfield sound. (Bullseye) will be in my Pick of 2021 list for sure and I dare say I won’t be the only one.

(Five Stars)

Country Music People UK

Bullseye is a fully realised and seriously executed work... Full of playful rhymes and winsome melodies… Every song sounds like a standard…. the collection will have trad-country music lovers smiling from ear-to-ear.

Alan Cackett

The 12 songs on 'Bullseye' highlight The Shootout’s intentional resurgence of traditional honky-tonk music, veering away from the more widespread country-pop that has defined the genre. That effort has made the band stand out from the get-go, and continues to make The Shootouts a must-see act in Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland.com

Heartbreak, whiskey (as always!), regret, break-ups, the blues and missed opportunity all get the royal treatment with a vibrant medley of country and honky tonk. For the listeners though, there are no misses here. The name says it all – it hits all the right spots with fervour.

Listening Through The Lens

The Shootouts are the kind of band that I love to hear. One with such an original sound and, yet, so well anchored in the history of country music that they still manage to stand out among their peers in all realms of what is called 'country' today...run, don’t walk to your favorite place to get music and buy yourself a copy of Bullseye. You won’t be disappointed.

The Amp

A band who effectively blend the retro ideas of Nashville with the energy of Texas swing and the grit of Bakersfield, The Shootouts are equal parts traditional country and modern day friskiness on this intoxicating second record.

Take Effect

QUICK DRAW

The Shootouts approach their music with discipline and playfulness, a winning combination. Though they’ve turned to the past to shape their future, (they) use that lens to perform a true feat of wizardry: dissolving the distance between ourselves and our forebears.

No Depression

Getting Western swing and Bakersfield twang mixed together properly takes dedication, musicianship, and spark. The Shootouts do it right. Tight harmonies with tight guitar and steel all on the same record? Count me in, folks.

Radney Foster

Blending influences from Nashville’s RCA Studio A, through Tulsa and Bakersfield — and all points between — the Shootouts create their own authentic classic country sound. If the good Lord's willin' and the creeks don’t rise, music fans will get to experience these Akron, Ohio natives.

Greg Harris, CEO

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

This album captivated me from start to finish: the musicianship, the songs, the delivery, the sweet harmonies, the production ... If real country music floats your boat then prepare to sail far away with this one; it’s more than good, it’s a delight.

(Five Stars)

Country Music People UK

This album is a full listening experience. The band gives you pensive ballads, foot stompers, dance tunes, love, and heartache. If you’re a fan of true country music, this is an album you’ll want to add to your collection.

Americana Highways

The bottom line is that there’s not a bad song on this album. This is all meat and no filler.

The band’s musicianship is exquisite. Yes, Quick Draw is like nothing else that’s in your music library. And because of that it’s likely to be appreciated and revered for a long time to come.

Cleveland Country Magazine

Are you looking for something less “bro” and more country!?

If so, then The Shootouts are the band for you. Check ‘em out!

Kim Richey

We were attracted to the project by the earnest songwriting and strong musicianship. The Shootouts are a hard-working and passionate band, and together we created an album to be proud of.
Jim Campilongo

& Luca Benedetti

The Shootouts cleverly draw bits and pieces from lots of classic genres to make what becomes their very own swaggering style ... this album is totally refreshing.

The Rocking Magpie

There are some bona fide standout songs on (Quick Draw). Fine original tunes flesh out this nice mix of both twang and teardrops.

Elmore Magazine

A treat for those who love the traditional sounds of country music.

Lonesome Highway

The Shootouts are a highly-entertaining live band who move comfortably between traditional country sounds.

A Shot of Honky Tonk

The Shootouts’ debut album Quick Draw is the ultimate throwback to the age of honky-tonk in America. Every detail -- from the lyrics to the vocals to the instruments to the album cover art -- hearkens back to the good old days of classic country music.

Imperfect Fifth

Exhilarating energy and spot-on harmonies from the truest incarnation of honky-tonk and authentic country and western we have in Ohio today. The Shootouts are a group of musicians who play very well to the traditions of roots music while having a ton of fun in the process, not to mention a live act that is not to be missed.

Chad A. Miller;

Music Director

WAPS The Summit

Akron, OH

The Shootouts didn’t expect to be back in the studio so soon after the release of their Top 10 Americana album Bullseye. But when one of country music’s most legendary artists agrees to produce your next record, you don’t say no.

That’s what happened when a mutual friend introduced the band to Ray Benson – longtime frontman and 10-time Grammy-winning founder of Asleep at the Wheel. Just months after the April 2021 release of Bullseye, the Shootouts found themselves hard at work with Benson and co-producer Sam Seifert on the album that would become Stampede.

While it may have come together quickly, the sessions resulted in the group’s strongest album yet.

Stampede is steeped in all things country music – an energetic fusion of Americana, honky tonk and Western swing that Shootouts fans often refer to as “country music for people who don’t like country.”

The Shootouts’ sound is reflective of their Northeast Ohio “Rustbelt” roots. Akron, Ohio – the city that produced the Pretenders, the Black Keys, and Devo – isn’t a place normally associated with country music, but these influences are as integral to their sound as those of the country music greats. The bulk of Stampede was recorded at Son of Moondog Studios over a five-day period that brought Benson, Seifert and Asleep at the Wheel to Northeast Ohio to work with the Shootouts on the band’s home turf. For Stampede, the band also worked closely on song arrangements with their longtime mentor and collaborator Al Moss.

Stampede also finds the Shootouts working with a notable array of Americana heavy-hitters. There’s the high-speed opening kiss-off “Better Things to Do,” which features Marty Stuart’s unmistakable bluegrass-tinged mandolin. Benson and members of Asleep at the Wheel get in on the fun with the western swing-rooted “One Step Forward.” Raul Malo of The Mavericks lends soaring harmony vocals to “I’ll Never Need Anyone More,” a song written by Cleveland music legend Michael Stanley, who passed away in 2021. Country hit songwriter Jim Lauderdale joins the Shootouts on the Bakersfield-esque “Tomorrow’s Knockin’” while famed guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer Buddy Miller sings with the band on the California-country-rock number “Anywhere But Here.”

Other standout tracks include the infectious Dave Edmunds-inspired “Run for Cover,” and the barn-burning instrumental title track, which showcases the band’s gifted lead guitarist Brian Poston and Asleep at the Wheel’s Dennis Ludiker.

Stampede was released Feb. 24, 2023 on Soundly Music -- the same day The Shootouts made their Grand Ole Opry debut as part of their twenty city "Stampede" album release tour, which also included an official showcase at SXSW. The album reached #4 On The Americana Album Chart (4/4/23), #1 On The Alt-Country Specialty Chart (2/22/23 & 3/29/23) and was named one of the “Most Anticipated Albums Of 2023” By Saving Country Music, Wide Open Country, And Glide Magazine.

Since the release of their 2019 debut album Quick Draw, the Shootouts have been busy. Even a pandemic hasn’t slowed them down – Stampede will be their third album in five years. They’ve also toured heavily, performing their notoriously energetic live shows with not only Asleep at the Wheel, but a wide range of artists including Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chris Isaak, Charley Crockett, Dale Watson, Lake Street Dive, and more.

The band’s 2021 album Bullseye, produced by Grammy-nominee and BR549 founder Chuck Mead, has been praised by a range of outlets including Rolling Stone Country, American Songwriter, Wide Open Country, Saving Country Music, The Boot, and The Bluegrass Situation. Bullseye spent over 18 weeks on the Americana Music Association Top 30 album chart – including three weeks in the Top 10 (No. 6).

The album also reached No. 1 on The Alt-Country Specialty Chart, No. 1 on The Roots Music Report Country Albums, No. 1 On The Roots Music Report Americana Albums, No. 42 On The Americana Music Association Most Played Albums of 2021, and was named by the Country Mile UK as one of its Top Five Albums Of 2021. The album was also featured on Spotify’s Pulse of Americana playlist and in rotation on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country channel.

More recently, the band has been nominated for “Best Honky Tonk Group” at the 2023 and 2024 Ameripolitan Music Awards – a nomination the band was also honored with in 2020.