The crisp air of Little Rock, Arkansas, will soon carry the sound of something new, something raw, and something that’s been years in the making. When 49 Winchester joins Eric Church on the 2026 Free the Machine Tour, it marks a significant moment in the band’s story — one that’s taken them from the small, tight-knit town of Castlewood, Virginia, to the national stage.
While the announcement is sure to excite fans of both Church and the emerging Americana scene, for 49 Winchester, this tour is much more than just another opportunity to open for a major artist. It’s the culmination of a journey that’s been built brick by brick — a story of growth, evolution, and unrelenting passion for music. The band, led by Isaac Gibson, has come a long way from their teenage jam sessions in their hometown to playing alongside one of the biggest names in country music.
“We’re going for broke with this thing,” says Gibson, who’s been with the band since its formation in 2014. He, along with bassist Chase Chafin and their Castlewood cronies — guitarist Bus Shelton and pedal steel player Noah Patrick — have built something truly unique in 49 Winchester. Their latest album, Fortune Favors The Bold, marks their debut with Nashville’s New West Records, a label known for its cutting-edge Americana, indie, and rock acts. It’s the album that propels them into the spotlight, and their collaboration with Church on the Free the Machine Tour is a powerful next step.
This marks not just an exciting partnership for the band, but also a defining chapter in their evolution. The sound on Fortune Favors The Bold is grittier and more rock-driven than what fans may have heard on earlier records. Gibson acknowledges the shift in the band’s sound as a natural progression of their growth. “We’re trending more toward being a rock band,” he admits. “But at the same time, I don’t think anybody’s ever known quite what to call it.” It’s this indefinable quality that makes 49 Winchester stand out. It’s alt-country meets rock-n-roll with a side of Appalachian folk, all served up with raw energy and an authenticity that’s become increasingly rare in today’s music landscape.
The band’s journey hasn’t been an easy one. Growing up in Castlewood, a town with a population just over 2,000, Gibson and his bandmates faced the realities of small-town life. In the early days, the band was just a group of teenagers who loved playing music together, but they were also trying to make ends meet. “I was a jack-of-all-trades stone mason,” Gibson reflects. “But I was always trying to make sure the band kept going. I knew this is what I wanted to do.”
Gibson’s experience in Castlewood taught him the value of persistence. “Everything has to be built,” he says. “Very few people achieve success overnight. You’re gonna see people succeed in front of you, but none of that matters. They’re not you.” It’s this grit, this deep-seated belief that success is earned, that infuses the band’s music with a sense of purpose.
The band’s ethos, at its core, is all about proving the doubters wrong, about going against all odds and making something of their art. It’s about proving the naysayers wrong and continuing to push forward, even when the road gets tough. And on the Free the Machine Tour, they’re doing just that.
The partnership with Eric Church is more than just a tour stop — it’s a validation of the years of hard work and sacrifice that the band has put into their craft. For the fans who have been with them from the beginning, seeing 49 Winchester alongside Church is an emotional moment. It’s a reminder of what can happen when passion meets persistence and when artists stay true to their roots while growing into something bigger than themselves.
As the band prepares for their role in the Free the Machine Tour, their journey is far from over. “This is everything we love about music,” Gibson says. And with Fortune Favors The Bold as the soundtrack, it’s clear that 49 Winchester’s story is just beginning. As they take the stage in cities across the country, they’ll be leaving their mark, carving out a space for themselves in the ever-evolving world of Americana and rock. The future is bright, and for the fans who’ve followed them every step of the way, it’s been a thrilling ride to watch.
