There was a time when The Red Clay Strays measured success by much smaller milestones.
A crowd packed into a hometown bar. A broken-down tour vehicle somehow making it to the next show. Five people in the audience feeling like 5,000. The kind of moments that test a band’s faith, patience and commitment before anyone outside the room knows their name.
Now, the Mobile, Alabama-bred roots-rock outfit is preparing to bring its biggest show yet to arenas across the country – including a stop at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Oct. 3 – but lead vocalist and guitarist Brandon Coleman said the band’s mindset has remained remarkably unchanged.
“We always have been grateful,” Coleman said. “When we first got our little E450, the Breeze, we called it, that may as well have been a Prevost tour bus. And if we had 50 people show up, that may as well have been 500. Five people show up, that may as well have been 5,000.”
That perspective sits at the heart of the band’s new album, Grateful, a collection of 11 songs that transforms years of struggle, growth and unexpected success into a celebration of the journey itself.
The album follows the band’s meteoric rise from their 2022 debut Moment of Truth — a crowdfunded record that eventually earned RIAA Gold certification – through 2024’s acclaimed Made By These Moments, which introduced the group to a much wider audience thanks in large part to the breakout success of “Wondering Why,” a song that ultimately went three-times Platinum.
Along the way, The Red Clay Strays have collected major industry recognition, including the Americana Music Honors & Awards’ Emerging Artist of the Year, the Academy of Country Music’s New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, and the Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year.
Yet even with trophies and arena stages becoming part of the story, Coleman said the band remains focused on the same things that got them there.
“We don’t care about awards, but at the same time, it is a huge blessing,” Coleman said. “We try to accept the blessing, but also not think about it too much or let it go to your head.”
For Coleman, the real reward comes from seeing the band’s songs become part of listeners’ lives.
“That right there is the award,” he said. “That’s being remembered and mainly what you’re remembered for, just putting out music that unites people or music that gives people hope or just your good old love songs. Stuff that’s going to impact people’s lives in a positive way.”
Produced by Dave Cobb, who previously worked with the band on Made By These Moments, Grateful captures The Red Clay Strays settling even deeper into their identity. Recorded between Cobb’s Savannah studio and the legendary RCA Studio A in Nashville, the album finds the six-piece – Coleman, guitarist/vocalist Drew Nix, bassist Andrew Bishop, guitarist/vocalist Zach Rishel, drummer John Hall and touring keyboardist Sevans Henderson – embracing collaboration and trusting instinct.
Faith has always been a major part of The Red Clay Strays’ music, and Grateful embraces that openly. But Coleman said the band’s goal is never to lecture listeners – it is to create a space where people from all backgrounds can come together.
“We’re not trying to be any type of band, play to any specific genre,” he said. “We’re just making art.”
That openness has helped the group build a remarkably diverse fanbase, bringing together listeners of all ages from country, rock, Americana and beyond.
“I think also because of what we write about,” Coleman said. “We have some pretty deep, deep songs about real life issues of struggling and who can’t relate to that? There’s a lot more people who can relate to it than not.”
One of the album’s standout tracks, lead single “People Hatin’,” reflects that desire to find common ground. Coleman said the song was inspired by seeing division grow between people, especially after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
“Everybody in our band, we all have differing opinions,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a little different and sometimes we just completely disagree on politics and religion and just a lot of things. But we’ve been a band for 10-plus years, so these are my brothers.”
The song’s message, he said, is simple.
“Just stop worrying about your disagreements and love one another,” Coleman said. “We’re all human. We’re all in our own race and we’re all trying to figure life out the same as you are.”
That same sense of connection is something The Red Clay Strays hope to bring to their live shows, even as those shows continue growing from intimate clubs into massive venues.
For Coleman, the size of the room matters less than the reason everyone is there.
“I think entertainment should be an escape from all of that,” he said. “You should be able to go see a concert and turn off the world for a little bit.”
The Red Clay Strays
Wsg. The Revivalists, Hayley Reinhart
Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids
Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m., $39.20+
Vanandelarena.com, redclaystrays.com
