Ole 60

Kentucky-based Ole 60 jumped from obscurity to success when their debut release, 2023's four-song Three Twenty Four EP, suddenly topped the charts of several music streaming services, outstripping the plays of many major acts on the strength of their single "Smoke and a Light." The group, who describe themselves as "Not your father's country band," play a hard-edged, emotionally powerful blend of classic country, Southern rock, contemporary folk, and grunge-era rock. As word spread about the downbeat yet anthemic "Smoke and a Light," the Three Twenty Four EP made them rising stars in independent country, with the single "Brother Joe" showing they had more stories to tell.

Ole 60's story began when Tristan Roby, from Owensboro, Kentucky, met Jacob Young, from nearby Hawesville, through a mutual acquaintance. The two discovered they both played guitar, and were soon jamming regularly at parties. They named their duo Ole 60, for Highway US-60, which linked their two towns. In 2022, they started getting serious about the act, with Young writing original songs that were added to their repertoire. With Young on lead vocals and guitar and Roby on rhythm guitar, the band grew with the addition of lead guitarist Ryan Laslie, whose brother was their boss at a pizza and BBQ restaurant in Hawesville. Ole 60 began playing regularly at the restaurant, and traveled to Bowling Green, Ohio to record four of their songs. The tunes made up the Three Twenty Four EP, which they initially self-released in 2023; after the material appeared on streaming services, the band became a four-piece as Aden Wood, from Tell City, Indiana, became their drummer. Ty Little, a Kentuckian who had experience in music management, heard Ole 60's recordings and was certain they had potential; he took on managing the band, and helped them strike a deal with an independent label in Nashville, Grey Area Music. With Grey Area's promotional help, a track from the EP, "Smoke and a Light," became a breakthrough hit and Ole 60 were getting national attention. As their star rose, the group added a bass player, Colby Clark, as their touring schedule became busier and they were playing steadily in the South and Midwest. In 2024, the full edition of the group released a single, "Brother Joe," a tragic story song about a man of God who falls to temptation, which soon became another success for the band.