THROUGH THE LENS: Dwight Yoakam, Kaitlin Butts, Wayne Hancock, and Other Photos of the Week

When reviewing the most recent photos taken by the ND photographers, I noticed that a significant number of the artists come from the many branches of country music. Five years ago, this column ran a story profiling eight artists titled “The Women Who Are Taking Back Country Music.” This week’s column includes several women continuing to broaden country music’s scope, in addition to legends of the genre.

Pikeville, Kentucky-native Dwight Yoakam first made waves in 1986 when Warner Bros. released his first album, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc., that not only epitomized the Bakersfield brand of country music, but also had a definite hillbilly twang. Warner Records, one of the three major US labels, hedged their bets on the album’s title. Originally it was Guitars, Cadillacs, Hillbilly Music. It was an unexpected hit, and had gained enough positive attention that his follow up album was called Hillbilly Deluxe. Most recently Yoakam won a 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. Kim Reed caught Yoakam at a show in Florida.

As with Yoakam, Dale Watson has been playing country music for more than 40 years, and he’s done it his way. He’s appeared on stage with such greats such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson, and has toured all over the world. Watson also originated the Ameripolitan Awards, which celebrate both young up-and-coming country artists as well as legends. Moreover, after moving from Austin to Memphis, Watson built Wat-Sun Studio complete with equipment from the original Sun Studio. Liza Orozco caught him at Zebulon in Los Angeles. 

Another country music stalwart who’s also been doing it for over 40 years is Wayne Hancock. Nicknamed “The Train” for his hard driving, unrelenting style, I first took notice of him in Terry & Jo Harvey Allen’s 1994 play Chippy. ((Astute readers of this column will recall a 2021 Lens column that named the musical’s soundtrack as one of the “10 albums that are precursors to what Americana is today”. It featured his signature song, “Thunderstorms & Neon Signs.” He’s also released a dozen albums, mostly on Bloodshot Records. Liza saw him at a really cool bar in Long Beach, California, Alex’s Bar, that was featured as the “Vampire bar” in the hit TV series True Blood.

There are also younger artists coming down the pike putting their own stamp on the genre. Here are just a few:.

Katlin Butts, ND’s Spotlight Artist for June 2024, was a 2024 Americana Music Association nominee for the Emerging Act of the Year award. Kirk Stauffer caught her in Seattle. 

Paul Cauthen, whose “Country as Fuck” song caused folks to sit up and take notice. ND reviewed his 2022 Country Coming Down album. C. Elliott photographed him in Arizona, and Liza did as well, in California.

ND Editor Hilary Saunders caught Miko Marks at the 2023 FreshGrass | Bentonville fest, and Holly G interviewed her, along with Rissi Palmer, for ND. Kevin Slick caught her at the Watermelon Pickers Festival in Virginia.

Drawing from her Native American heritage, 22 year old Ken Pomeroy, from Oklahoma, has an earthy presence. Her music has been featured in the TV series Reservation Dogs, and was recently profiled in, of all places, Teen Vogue. Kirk also caught her in Seattle.

Willow Avalon’s Facebook profile perhaps describes her best: “Born in a small town in rural Georgia. Growing up she spent much of her time working on old cars, playing music at her local Baptist Church & breaking as many bones as possible. Her religious bone is just one of the many broken.” She also has a pet possum named Bowie. C. Elliott saw her in Arizona. 

As noted in this column’s coverage of the 2023 Nelsonville Music Festival, Nick Shoulders “has a ghostly croon that’s a near yodel … With an eye toward the absurd side of life, not unlike Vic Chesnutt.” but solidly country. Liza saw him at the Pico Union Project in Los Angeles.

Another up and coming youngster is 17-year old Waylon Wyatt whom Billboard called “surefooted in his blend of rugged acoustic country/rock.” Elliott caught him in Arizona.

Click on any of the photos below to view the gallery as a full-size slideshow.