10. June 2026
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Media Review

Midland – Stages

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Midland - Stages

Midland - Stages
4.7

Rating

 4.7/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Typical Midland vibes and tracks
  • Nice mixture of rhythmic and emotional songs
  • Simply fun listening to

And then it were five. I simply love Midland. Apart from a couple of album and EP reviews, I especially enjoy watching the US band live on stage. Luckily, I had a few opportunities to do so, namely at their August 2025 show in Hamburg and on Saturday at the 2025 C2C in Berlin. On 12th June 2026, the trio is releasing a new album. Here is my review of Stages.

 

 

Midland – About The Artists

Midland is a neotraditional country music trio from Texas. They have been founded in Dripping Springs in 2014. They are still playing in their original lineup. Namely, these are Mark Wystrach (vocals, guitar), Jess Carson (rhythm guitar) and Cameron Duddy (bass guitar). On stage, they use additional touring musicians. Midland’s debut single Drinkin’ Problem became one of the big country party hits of 2017. It lead the Canadian Country Charts, but not the US one. The song is also part of the 2017 debut album On The Rocks. Thereafter, the band released three additional studio albums: Let It Roll (2019), The Last Resort: Greetings From (2022), and Barely Blue (2024). I also featured their 2021 soundtrack album The Sonic Ranch.

 

Midland – Stages – Track by Track

The ten track album lasts 32 minutes.

1. Marlboro Man

Midland do anything they can to make you feel familiar to their music at the very beginning of Stages. Four of the first six songs of the album have been released beforehand. Marlboro Man is a slower, typical Midland song. So even if you happen to not knowing it – it just feels too much Midland-alike. You have to like it.

2. One Day You Won’t

Despite the song is a new one, One Day You Won’t just leads to the same feelings. In the so densely populated landscape of country music, they found their unique identity. The Midland voice, the Midland groove, the Midland somehow traditional modern sound. Songs like this one have all of that. And thus, it makes you smile while you enjoy listening to it.

3. Shooting Memories With Tequila

There is quite a bit of alcohol in any Midland album. Shooting Memories With Tequila has a Mexican vibe. The chorus is one of the most present and catching ones of the album. I liked the song when it was released in May 2026 – and I still do.

4. Walk A Mile

Oh, this one a good one. I would describe it as a “gentle honky-tonk smasher”. From the first moment, Walk A Mile makes you move to the groove of the song. Thereby, the song comes with such a lovely saloon style sound, driven by a groovy bass, fine piano lines and fun from the fiddle.

5. Glass Half Empty

Of course, Midland is rather thinking that a there is a Glass Half Empty compared to half full. The previously released song feels to fit perfectly in their song. Walk A Mile warmed you up – and you just cannot the dancefloor (even if you just dance mentally) while listening to this energetic power track.

6. I Wish You Would (with Mackenzie Carpenter)

For the single release I wish You Would, the Texas band collaborated with Mackenzie Carpenter. This duet style does not only introduce a different sound and style to the album. It also works out really nice. This one is rather for the really close dances towards the end of your country summer night party.

7. Up In Texas (feat. Clint Black)

Another song, another guest musician. Midland take Clint Black to Up In Texas. The song stays on the slower side. A nice praise to the band’s home state. At the end, they even state Don’t mess with Texas. Who would dare to do so?

8. Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey

Okay, one song with some special “spirit” was obviously not enough. The fast-paced rhythmic song brings back the dancing vibes to Stages. A rather traditional one, even for a Midland song. I like it.

9. Drunk Enough

The song has a ballad-style song. Love hurts, I am sitting here drowning the past, the lyrics state. Or the chorus, which tells even when I drink too much, I can’t get drunk enough. That’s a love story, Midland style. And even though I cannot relate to that kind of problem-solving too much, I really enjoy these more emotional moments on the record.

10. Vaquero

Vaquero is closing the 2026 Stages album. The album closes with one of its slower ones. Not too much alcohol in here, but it works out as well.

 

Midland – Stages – Spotify

I will add the Spotify widget once the album has been published.

 

Midland – Stages – My View

Midland are doing what they are doing best – Midland things, Midland songs, Midland melodies. They have established a certain branding in the country music scene and fans love that. There might not be another Drinkin’ Problem one day, but nonetheless, the album as such feels to be another step forward. I like their music and this new release. Thus, Stages makes it into the Top Pick! ratings.

Favorite Song: Drunk enough

 

Midland – European Summer Dates 2026

During the next weeks, European country fans have the opportunity of enjoying Midland live. Here are their tour dates:

Fr 19.06.2026 Grolloo (Netherlands) – Holland International Blues Festival
Mo 22.06.2026 Munich (Germany) – Backstage Werk
We 24.06.2026 Paris (France) – Alhambra
Fr 26.06.2026 Hove (Norway) – Taste of Country
Sa 27.06.2026 Interlaken (Switzerland) – International Trucker & Country Festival

 

Postings with Gallery 2025

Here are postings coming with a major size photo gallery published in 2026:

 

Norway Travel Postings

Here are all my Travel postings related to Norway:

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