Akron’s The Shootouts Debut New Album "Stampede" at Grand Ole Opry on Friday

Two moments define the gravity of Stampede, the newest record from Akron-based country act The Shootouts.

The first came when the band received word that Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson would produce the new album, connected by a mutual friend.

 “Next thing, you know, we're making a record with Ray — and this was literally one month after Bullseye had been released,” singer and guitarist Ryan Humbert says. “We weren't really prepared in a sense to make another record. But, you know, when an opportunity like that pops up to work with an 11-time Grammy winning legend — that is an encyclopedia of country music knowledge and has worked with everybody for 50 years —  that is a learning experience.”

The second moment: learning that the band would debut its new release at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday, Feb. 24. — as important as performing at the Super Bowl if you’re a country artist, Humbert says.

He goes on to describe feeling “respectfully nervous” walking onto such a historic stage.

Looking back to 2015, The Shootouts played its first show at Euclid Tavern to just a few friends and patrons. The group was intended as a side project — something fun to do without any pressure. But that first performance felt electric for Humbert and lead guitarist Brian Poston.

“We were clearly onto something, and this just felt different than a side project,” Humbert recalls. “And here we are now. We've just released three records in five years, we're getting to play with some of our heroes and idols and getting to make our Grand Ole Opry debut.”

According to Humbert, there’s more than a few tracks to look out for on the new album. Some of which have been sitting in the vault since the release of the band’s first full-length, Quick Draw — like “Anywhere but Here.”

“We ended up with a plethora of material,” Humbert says. “There's actually four songs we recorded that are still in the vault. I like when you have enough songs where you can let [them] tell the story for you. And the group of songs that we put out as Stampede live nicely together, they fit together and it spoke as an album.”

Before getting your hands on the record, check out The Shootouts’ latest music video for “One Step Forward” featuring Ray Renson.

Find Stampede on all major streaming platforms on Friday, Feb. 24. Look out for clips from their Grand Ole Opry debut on the band’s social media and website.