The Red Clay Strays have officially released their highly anticipated third studio album, Grateful, via HBYCO Records/RCA Records. Comprising 11 tracks, the new record blends high-energy rock and roll with deep, introspective roots music, marking a significant milestone in the band's rapid ascent from their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to selling out major arenas worldwide.
The release follows a massive wave of industry recognition for the six-piece band, who were recently crowned "Group of the Year" at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards. To celebrate the album's launch, the group has unveiled a powerful official music video for the standout ballad "Do Today." Directed by Matthew Coleman, the video features a moving, improvisational contemporary dance performance by Sarah Allen that mirrors the grand, sweeping emotional depth of the track.
For Grateful, the band reunited with nine-time Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, tracking sessions between his private studio in Savannah, Georgia, and the historic RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee. The recording process allowed the lineup—vocalist Brandon Coleman, guitarists Drew Nix and Zach Rishel, bassist Andrew Bishop, drummer John Hall, and keyboardist Sevans Henderson—to explore a highly collaborative songwriting approach. The resulting tracklist includes the hit streaming single "People Hatin’" and the tender acoustic ballad "If I Didn’t Know You."
Frontman Brandon Coleman noted that while their 2022 debut, Moment of Truth, focused on maintaining faith through dark periods, and 2024's Made By These Moments explored how those hardships shape character, the new album represents a clear-eyed celebration of survival and thankfulness. Bassist Andrew Bishop echoed this sentiment, stating that the album's title reflects a literal appreciation for the band's current position and creative freedom.
The album has already garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning a four-star review from Rolling Stone, which praised the group's transition into a bona fide rock and roll powerhouse. Grateful is now officially available worldwide across all major digital streaming platforms, CD, and physical vinyl formats.
