The Random Strangers - 5:30 PM

Based in Springfield, Missouri, The Random Strangers are an Alt-Country and roots-Americana outfit with a deep well of great influences. Skillfully wielding the heartbreak, humor, and earthiness of their forebears with conviction, their sound draws comparisons to the likes of Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam, the Old 97’s, and ‘Exile’-era Rolling Stones.

There is more to their music, however, than a simple rehash of old tunes by venerated songsmiths. Finding solace in the music of an age past, the band seeks to present its spirit in a modern way—making it fresh for those who missed these influences the first time around. Their songs ooze with barroom wisdom, statements on modern love, and ruminations on simpler times, often featuring tunes spun of golden heartbreak and decisions considered too late.