Though it’s part of the band’s name, The Red Clay Strays did anything but lead the Iowa State Fair Grandstand concertgoers astray, leaving it all on the stage, cementing their place as one of the hottest Americana acts today.
Continuing their “Grateful” tour, the sextet from Mobile, Alabama, delivered a nearly hour-and-a-half set, fresh off the release of their new album, a relentless ride through the expressive dynamics of sonic soundscapes and classic, clean guitar tones.
Performing to a nearly sold-out crowd of 15,282 fans at the Grandstand Saturday, Aug. 15, the award-winning group turned the venue into an anthemic singalong of southern swagger.
Genre-bending Red Clay Strays showcase range and raw power
Hitting the stage at 9:15 p.m., the group walked out to Allen Toussaint’s funk song “Yes We Can Can,” perhaps an odd choice for the group that gets lumped in with today’s country stars. Frontman Brandon Coleman says the group is a fusion of many different sounds, perhaps a bit genre-agnostic.
“It’s all these different rhythms and genres coming together to form whatever sound it is we play now. I guess it’s country? But we’re kind of all over the place,” Coleman told the Rolling Stone in 2024.
That versatility and range were ever-present when the group played the roaring tunes “Doin’ Time,” “Ramblin’,” and “Stone’s Throw” back-to-back-to-back, giving a taste of the night to come.
Coleman’s voice was strong as thunder while the band played with the force of an earthquake, shaking the concrete and rattling the rafters of the Grandstand. Coleman shared the meaning of “Down South,” a yearning for home while on the road in major metropolises. “Devil in My Ear” is a ballad about struggling with mental health, and “Sunshine,” a song about trusting faith during trials and tribulations.
Even during the set’s slower songs, the band’s intensity never wavered. Guitarists Drew Nix and Zach Rishel’s impressive bends made their guitars speak their own language, as if they were sharing secrets on stage. The rhythm section, anchored by bassist Andrew Bishop and drummer John Hall, was not only muscular but restrained when needed, with precise hits that gave each song room to breathe before swelling back into a thunderous crescendo.
There is a throwback feel to much of the Red Clay Strays’ work, enough to make the forefathers of Southern rock n’ roll proud, including cited influence from Lynyrd Skynyrd, notably the song “People Hatin’,” released by the band in 2025 following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Though written well before the event, the song takes the shape of a soulful protest anthem, an urgent call for unity over division.
“People said that was a political song, I don’t think it was though,” Coleman said. “…I don’t think telling people to love each other no matter what is really picking a side.”
The group treated Saturday’s audience with the requested “Disaster,” from the 2024 album “Made by These Moments,” to other fan favorites like “Wondering Why,” and “Drowning.” The audience also bathed the band in the light of their phones during “Wanna Be Loved.”
Capping off the 20-song setlist, “No One Else Like Me” served as the Red Clay Strays’ final eruption, holding nothing back and playing the track with relentless energy. As the music faded, the whirring of the Iowa State Fair’s drone show took off to dazzle the fans.
Next up at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand is country artist Lainey Wilson on Sunday, Aug. 16.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Red Clay Strays bring Southern grit, soul to the Iowa State Fair
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jessica Rish, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
