Futurebirds at Fine Line (June 19, 2026)

For a moment I didn’t know if it was worth it: to start my eight block walk to the Fine Line in the middle of a downpour.  I would be completely soaked by the first block with no chance of getting dry until I got home.  But as quickly as the deluge came, it finished with the welcoming sun.  Also favorable was Los Lobos playing through the main speakers when I arrived at the venue, the The Talking Heads taking me on a road to nowhere, reassuring it would be alright.  

I think the rain pushed back a few concertgoers’ schedule for the Fine Line was pretty quiet when Joelton Mayfield and his band took the stage to Nick Cave’s stirring “Red Right Hand.” They settled in as the song continued, then started playing as Mayfield fiddled with his guitar, tuning for a good minute or two as his bandmates set the musical table.  

Mayfield is from Texas, currently living in Nashville, and he thanked the crowd for being early or on time, depending on their perspective.  “It’s great to get out of the house,” he added, “and play with friends.”  

Music has always been a big part of Mayfield’s life, starting early as his church’s musical director as a teenager, then moving from small town living and religious ways to explore a more expansive sound.  His debut album, Crowd Pleaser, is not quite rock or country, but an interesting hybrid of the two.  

There is a rawness to Mayfield’s music with thoughtful lyrics, and “Speechwriter” hit a solid groove, quickly drawing in the gathering crowd.  In fact, a twelve-year boy with his dad started dancing right in front of me, showing how it’s done, which impressed me and made his dad laugh out loud.  

There was quite the wait for the headliner for there were a lot of instruments to remove and even more to set up.  Still I was entertained when another boy and his father showed up and started talking to the other father/son combo about their love of their favorite band.  They tried unsuccessfully to rank their favorite songs.  Then they talked about their pre-show sightings.  One said he saw one member, the other three, which I found funny considering the band’s name, Futurebirds. 

Futurebirds are from Georgia, forming in college in 2008.  They are extremely popular back home for their blending of rock, folk and Americana.  Still they are hard to pin down for they seem to want to move towards an endless jam with any of their songs, which makes them the perfect band to see live.  

Futurebirds also have the unusual distinction of having three lead singer/songwriters that seem to like working with each other, they being Carter King, Daniel Womack and Thomas Johnson.

We last saw Futurebirds in June 2025, opening for The Heart and the Head, and John perfectly described them, writing that they “… give off the vibe that you’re at their backyard barbecue and they’re all just jamming amongst friends.”

John also noted that there wasn’t much chit chat between songs.  To me it didn’t seem like they had much time with the switching of instruments and continually adjusting an extensive amount of foot pedals.  Womack did take a moment to fistbump one of the boys in the front row, later telling the crowd that it was both Chris’ and Elliot’s first concert, to which King added, “They only get better.”

Futurebirds are currently promoting their new double album Far Out Country I & II.  And even though part II will be released digitally in September, the band was impressed that their fans already knew the new songs.  

“You’ve been listening to our new record,” said Womack.  “Makes us feel good.”

Based on the reaction of the crowd, the feeling was mutual.