Ethan Regan is just the troubadour Gen Z needs. He’s had a fair share of significant viral moments, but he’s also an accomplished and energetic showman on stage, giving performances I.R.L. that leave a lasting mark. As a songwriter, he’s both intensely introspective and sharply self-aware, espousing the importance of self-care with sensitivity. In this respect, he makes timeless music with a modern mindset. Beyond playing instruments and singing, this Charlotte native with a restless, road-worn spirit personally grabs the reins and produces, mixes, and masters his own songs. He has tallied nearly 100 million streams, received critical acclaim, and captivated sold-out rooms as a proven headliner. Creatively, he doesn’t follow a formula. You’re just as likely to encounter a breezy chord progression in one of his tunes as you are to hear a rowdy and boisterous horn section or big screen-size strings. Hitting the road, he shined on bills with Sam Barber and Rainbow Kitten Surprise as well as Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker. Ethan’s self-produced 2025 EP, honey honey honey, saw him gain further traction with “get by” and “spaceman.” In the EP’s wake, he canvased the country, headlining his “I Almost Graduated” Tour and releasing the likes of “fool” and “sweet hunger.” Looking forward, his artistry remains an unapologetic and unfiltered reflection of who he is. You’ll feel like you know him a little better on a series of 2026 singles for Columbia Records and his forthcoming debut album, “YOUNG REGAN.”
Palmyra
Established in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives: Teddy Chipouras, Mānoa Bell, and Sasha Landon.
Palmyra straddles at least two musical worlds. They are, on one hand, a band from the South that plays traditional instruments and indeed once lived in the old-time locus of Floyd, Virginia. Comparisons to and a kinship with The Avett Brothers and even Old Crow Medicine Show are inevitable. On the other hand, Palmyra writes about grief, gender dysphoria and identity, and coming of age in songs that flirt with soul, post-rock, and even emo; the South, too, is the place of My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Cat Power, and now, Palmyra.
The band’s first full length LP, Restless, is out now on Oh Boy Records. Framed by moments of struggle, solidarity, and hard-won growth, Restless is an unqualified ringer for anyone who loves the space where the roar of indie rock collides with raw folk.
