Photo credit Lynsey Wyllie
Back for their fourth visit to Glasgow as part of their Leaving This Holler Tour with Wyatt Flores, 49 Winchester’s Isaac Gibson and Chase Chafin caught up with Scottish Music Networks, Lauren to talk about returning to Scotland, what the year holds for the band, and how it feels playing to this side of the world.
Firstly, we’ve got to talk about the last time you guys landed here in Scotland for C2C – which involved a little trip to our local country hot-spot – Maggie’s Rock n Rodeo. How did you find the Scottish nightlife?
Isaac: That was pretty rowdy. There were a lot of fans there, I should have known that when the 49 show left, that’s where they were gonna go! It’s amazing, Glasgow is one of the best cities that we have travelled to, we always love coming here, and it’s always fun. The people are rowdy and energetic – there’s a different kind of energy here, and we have loved it from the first time that we came.
The UK scene we absolutely love its really cool to be on the front end of something that is growing rapidly in this neck of the woods I mean 20/30 years ago even 10 or 12 when we started the band – most fans over this side of the world were not super familiar with country unless it was a Garth Brooks or Brad Paisley something like that at the top. The internet has provided access to people to sink their teeth into and find something that’s off centre – like we are, and not your usual top 40 country, but stuff that leans into more alternative, more rock country. But honestly, we are always blown away by the fans over here.
That’s the thing – this is your fourth show here in Glasgow.
Chase: Yeah, this is our fourth in Glasgow.
It’s cool that you have taken on a variety of venues – the Hydro for Luke Combs in 2023, SWG3 in 2024, then back to the Hydro for C2C in 2025 and now we’re here packing out the O2 Academy. How does it feel coming back?
Isaac: It feels great we owe a lot of our success to that Luke Combs tour, he allowed playing for 20,000 people and when you can do that – if you handle your end of the business – as the musicians on stage it usually works out being pretty great we love growing our audience over here cause we love traveling over here and the dams are some of the best in the world and we’re proud to see some packed out venues over here on this tour.
Chase: The crowds are always a lot of fun – honestly, some of the shows we’ve done have been some of the best we’ve ever had.
It’s been a manic year for 49 Winchester, it feels like seconds ago you were here for C2C, but since March, you’ve been travelling all over – tell me what you guys have been up to
Chase: Yeah, it’s been BUSY – across the US, headline shows and working on new music
Isaac: I think that’s what’s been the highlight for us has been getting in the studio – it’s always been fun to knuckle down with the boys and put our creative brains to work, and that has been really cool – and the highlight of my year.
Oh… so we have a new record.
That’s all I can tell you – there WILL be another 49 Winchester records.
That’s what we like to hear! Something I like to ask everyone on the scene is, who is somebody that maybe hasn’t made their mark over this side of the pond yet that you’re listening to or someone we should be keeping an eye out for in the country scene that you can recommend?
Isaac: I recently discovered this guy called Blaine Bailey, he’s an Oklahoma kid, I say kid, he’s early twenties – everyone’s a kid – I’m 31, I feel like an old man on the scene! Even Wyatt is a kid to me!
But Blaine Bailey is really talented, writes great songs, and has an amazing voice.
Chase: Carter Faith, her album came out a few days ago
Isaac: There’s such a buzz around that album. I haven’t dug into it yet, but I want to. Carter is amazing
The first time I heard Carter Faith was Bar Star, and honestly, I nearly crashed my car. That song makes me want to KICK.A.DOOR.DOWN she is really cool – so many women in the country, which we love to see!
Any surprises on this tour?
You know we’re playing stuff on this tour that people have been begging for like clockwork in the DMs, including a song that we met at a meet and greet, he said I hope you play my favourite song, I asked what it was, and it was cool to be like, “You’re in luck brother you’re getting it tonight!”So it’s cool to play the meat and tater kinda songs – but we’ve got a whole catalogue to go!
Thank you so much for chatting to me – please come back to Glasgow soon!
Interview by Lauren Page
