49 Winchester with Landon Smith

Last October, while standing onstage in front of 20,000 people at London’s 02 Arena, it dawned on 49 Winchester lead singer/guitarist Isaac Gibson that on the same day, exactly 10 years ago, he formed the rapidly rising alt-country band. “There’s been nothing in my life that’s ever lasted a decade,” Gibson says. “We had just gotten out of high school when we played our first show — 10 years later we’re opening for Luke Combs at the O2 Arena.” On the heels of Combs’ European tour, 49 Winchester has been selling out storied venues across America, including a wildly successful Canadian run alongside Corb Lund. And, in celebration of these recent milestones, comes the release of 49 Winchester’s latest album, Leavin’ This Holler. “We were on a slow simmer for a lot of years before things really started to pick up with our last record Fortune Favors the Bold,” Gibson says. “And this new album is going to do it even bigger.” Leavin’ This Holler is 49 Winchester’s fifth studio album, and second collaborative work with Virginia-native producer Stewart Myers. In addition, the project also features the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, singer-songwriter Maggie Antone on backing vocals, fiddler Philip Bowen, and guitarist Cole Chafin. Chafin is not only the guitar tech for 49 Winchester, he’s also the younger brother of the band’s founding member and bassist, Chase Chafin. “We take influence from a lot of different avenues,” Gibson says. “We don’t shy away from any of the music we like.” Being in front of massive audiences, all eager to witness 49 Winchester’s raucous, live wire shows, Gibson felt it was a moment where he could honestly reflect on the hard-earned, unrelenting determination and grit within the band that’s brought them to this current juncture of increasing notoriety. “It’s a testament to the uncommon fact that we’re musicians from a very specific place in the world,” Gibson says. “And it’s a testament to viewing each other more as family than as friends.”…