Who will be the next Kentucky break-out star? 5 musicians to watch in 2022.
Let’s be honest, Kentucky music is on a hot streak. No matter what corner of the state you turn to, talent is plentiful.
In Western Kentucky artists like Kelsey Waldon, Lost Dog Street Band and S.G. Goodman have grabbed national attention in recent years. In Central Kentucky there’s been Magnolia Boulevard, Grayson Jenkins and The Wooks.
And out of the east have come Wayne Graham, the Whitesburg alt-country foursome we highlighted in 2019 that’s a hit over in Germany; Brit Taylor, a breakout star from 2021 who’s currently recording a new set of tunes with co-producers David Ferguson and Sturgill Simpson; and of course, Tyler Childers.
Despite the recent run of success, Kentucky’s musical pipeline shows no signs of drying up anytime soon. From the Cincinnati suburb of Ludlow to Lexington, Bath County and beyond, here are five Kentucky musicians you need to keep your eyes and ears out for in 2022.
Maria Carrelli
One part Loretta Lynn and another part Kelsey Waldon with a splash of Alison Krauss, Ludlow’s Maria Carrelli has steadily made a name for herself in a Cincinnati Metro music scene that also includes names like Arlo McKinley, Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle and Jordan Smart.
Carrelli hopes to release new music in 2022, her first since 2019 debut “Strings On My Guitar.” That project excels in showcasing the joy and overall charm of Carrelli’s songwriting, especially in its title track, in which she quantifies her newfound love before eventually admitting that “but you’ll never be the strings on my guitar.”
Other songs, like “Busy Line,” retain that aforementioned charm, but with a distinctly ragtime feel. No matter what the tune, one thing’s sure — Carrelli’s music is sure to make you cut a rug and leave you with a smile on your face.
Cole Chaney
Cole Chaney, 21, burst onto the scene last year with his debut release “Mercy,” which to date has garnered well over 1 million streams on Spotify and other streaming platforms. With a blue-collar approach to songwriting Chaney sings about the heroism and sacrifice of the coal worker in “Coalshooter,” the love of his life on “Silver Run” and longing to return home in “Back To Kentucky, leaving many to draw comparisons between he and another recent breakout from the area, Tyler Childers.
That blue-collar mentality also extends to Chaney’s live shows as he’s relentlessly toured Kentucky, the Midwest and parts of the southeast in the past year, building up a rabid fan base in the process. He plans to continue touring hard in 2022 with a new single or two possible as he continues writing for a new album.
Abby Hamilton
Following a monumental 2021 that saw her open shows for Wynonna Judd and Shakey Graves, sign with Whizzbang Booking and Management (which also has Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, Arlo McKinley, Tyler Childers and others on its roster) and perform at the second annual Railbird Festival, Abby Hamilton is poised for an even bigger 2022.
On tap for the new year from the Nicholasville born songwriter are several exciting festival and show appearances (announcements coming soon) with new music a possibility as well.
With a little bit of Kelsey Waldon and a little bit of Patty Loveless in her sound, Hamilton is as authentic a storyteller as they come and a force to be reckoned with not just in our neck of the woods, but on a national scale as well.
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression
Yes, Joslyn Hampton’s funky soul collective is already well known around Lexington, but I believe they could have much more success coming their way in the new year, which they’ll be ringing in with a New Year’s Eve bash at the Burl.
After that the group hopes to release the highly anticipated and long-awaited follow-up to its debut, self-titled album from 2019 in addition to taking their exuberant live show to new cities and territories around the Southeast U.S. and beyond.
Hampton’s electric stage presence and powerhouse vocals remind me so much of not only Aretha Franklin but also Yola, a modern-day success story who began her career as a backup singer and guest vocalist similar to Hampton before breaking out on her own, eventually earning multiple Grammy nominations and becoming a household name in Nashville and Americana music circles.
Although Hampton has already claimed the title of being Lexington’s Queen of Soul it’s apparent that she has much bigger musical thrones in her crosshairs, and with the pipes she has I have no doubt she’ll get there.
Short & Company
Based between Jackson and Morehead, Short & Company wraps the blues of Chuck Berry, psychedelic jams of the Grateful Dead and Appalachian country soul of Tyler Childers together for one unforgettable sonic experience.
Led by International Blues Challenge participant Jeremy Short and backed by the Skynyrd-esque Bedford Band, the group is poised for a big 2022 as they prepare to release their first album together as a group. Much like Abby Hamilton, Short & Company also recently signed to Whizzbang Management, a move that’s sure to help them get out into new territories and in front of new fans in the new year.