49 Winchester

49 Winchester has spent the past few years on a meteoric rise, evolving from an underground favourite to a major force in country and Americana music.

Known for their raw energy and heartfelt storytelling, the band’s ability to seamlessly blend country, rock, and Appalachian soul has earned them a devoted following. From the moment the lights dimmed in Bristol's O2 Academy, 49 Winchester proved why they’re rapidly becoming one of the most electrifying live acts on the circuit.

They hit the stage with kinetic intensity and a sense of looseness that belied the tight musicianship underneath — every chord, every fill, every harmonised vocal felt fresh, alive and in the moment.

Hailing from Castlewood, Virginia, the band was founded by childhood friends Isaac Gibson, Chase Chafin, and Bus Shelton, their bond shaping a deeply rooted and authentic sound. Their breakthrough came with ‘Fortune Favors the Bold,' a record that catapulted them onto major stages, including a European tour with Luke Combs and a successful Canadian run with Corb Lund.

There was a superb mix of moods and styles offered out to the Bristol crowd. Their set was focused on songs from their latest album but featured all eras of their work. They played ‘Hays, Kansas’ and ‘Chemistry’ from their 2020 album III. Towards the middle of the set, they also presented a new song, ‘Bringing Home the Bacon’ and ‘Pardon Me,' a gospel-tinged number bathed in blue light and carried by the line, “I have found a place where I am free.”

The second half of the set featured some of their biggest songs like ‘Everlasting Lover’, ‘Russell County Line’ and ‘Anchor’. The evening closed with the encore, consisting of ‘Hillbilly Happy’ and the Black Sabbath cover ‘Changes’.

The evening began with ‘Tulsa’ and ‘Chemistry’, both songs with a dusty-road swagger and a laid-back groove, and then the double whammy shot of ‘Dawn Darlin’ and ‘Hays, Kansas’, which brought a retro, bluesy vibe with heavy 70s overtones, while Gibson powered through with grit and heart. A slow-building number that showcased the band’s narrative strengths and ability to make small-town stories feel cinematic and expansive. Then came honky-tonk stormer ‘Last Call’.

It was a breathless, high-energy opening stretch that felt like a statement of intent — 49 Winchester were here to raise hell and bring the house down. The energy was instant and infectious.

Noah Patrick’s pedal steel threaded through Bus Shelton’s guitar work while Chase Chafin and Tim Hall supplied a steady, driving rhythm. The transition into ‘Fool Hearted’ lifted the energy further, Gibson’s gravelled voice steering the set into a burst of intensity.

‘Yearnin' For You' kept the pace up providing a couple of solos and an elongated jam session. The homestretch was pure, unfiltered southern joy.

‘Miles to Go' was a swampy, bluesy affair, that served as the ideal lead-in for ‘Anchor,' a dark, brooding anthem that edged toward prog rock territory with its eerie undertones and powerful vocal display.

The pace then softened with ‘Everlasting Lover'. The shift in tempo was perfectly judged, offering a moment of tenderness amid the sweat and swagger with its hypnotic rhythms – it also gave Isaac Gibson another chance to show just what a powerful and rich voice he has.

Classic hillbilly southern rocker ‘Long Hard Life' turned into an elongated jam session as did following song ‘The Wind' before the encore song and romp that is ‘Hillbilly Happy'. But Bristol wasn’t done — one final, joyous blast of ‘’Changes’, the Sabbath cover, capped the night in true 49 Winchester fashion: loud, proud, and utterly irresistible. This was a raucous celebration of southern rock in all its swaggering, soulful glory.