Alt-Country · GenresWhat is alt-country?
"Alternative country" can refer to several ideas. Most generally, any musician who plays a type of country music different from the prevailing trend can be said to play "alternative country".
About alt-country
By this standard, for example, the Bakersfield sound was alternative in the 1950s, and the Lubbock, Texas musicians were alternative in the 1960s. In the 1990s, however, "alternative country" came to refer to a diverse group of musicians and singers operating outside the traditions and industry of mainstream country music.
From Last.fm, where 19,231 listeners have tagged music as alt-country.
Artists to start with
Albums to hear first
Manning Fireworks
Ghosts of the Great Highway
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Magnolia Electric Co. (Deluxe Edition)
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Anodyne
Guitar Town
No DepressionAlt-Country songs
- Random Rules by Silver Jews
- Impossible Germany by Wilco
- Jesus, Etc. by Wilco
- Honk If You're Lonely by Silver Jews
- Smith & Jones Forever by Silver Jews
- Either Way by Wilco
- Far From Any Road by The Handsome Family
- Glenn Tipton by Sun Kil Moon
- War on War by Wilco
- Ashes of American Flags by Wilco
Alt-Country on Risocast
Zach BryanZach Bryan · 2023
Seasons of Your DayMazzy Star · 2013
John PrineJohn Prine · 1971
Kerosene HatCracker · 1993
With Heaven On TopZach Bryan · 2026
Smalltown Boy (Spotify Singles)Orville Peck · 2020
Whiskey Before BreakfastNorman Blake · 1976
Buddy & Julie MillerBuddy & Julie Miller · 2001
Country Roads (with Charles Wesley Godwin, Jonathan Peyton & Abigail Peyton) - LiveZach Bryan, Charles Wesley Godwin, Jonathan Peyton, abigail peyton · 2022
Something to BelieveWeyes Blood · 2019
the rotDean Blunt
Neighbouring genres
In the folk & country family. All genres
countryamericanabluegrasscountry rockcountry popchamber folkacoustic rockavant-folkdark folkapocalyptic folkcontemporary folkfolk rockQuestions
- What is alt-country?
- "Alternative country" can refer to several ideas. Most generally, any musician who plays a type of country music different from the prevailing trend can be said to play "alternative country". By this standard, for example, the Bakersfield sound was alternative in the 1950s, and the Lubbock, Texas musicians were alternative in the 1960s.
- Who are the best-known alt-country artists?
- By Last.fm listening: Wilco, MJ Lenderman, Pinegrove, The Handsome Family, Silver Jews and Orville Peck.
- What genres are similar to alt-country?
- On Risocast it sits with country, americana, bluegrass, country rock, country pop and chamber folk.
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Updated 6 October 2026
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