The Red Clay Strays from Mobile, Alabama, won “Vocal Group of the Year” at the 2025 CMA Awards. Last year, they won the “Emerging Artist of the Year” at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards and the Billboard Music Award for Top Country Group.
- Background: The band’s name refers to the “red clay” soil of Alabama and the idea of “strays” all coming from different backgrounds to create something unique together
Pensacola Connection
The band appeared on Pensacola State College’s PBS television, WSRE, performing on StudioAmped in 2019.
The show was taped in October 2018. WSRE posted on Facebook: “He’s a force to be reckoned with. It’s Brandon Laine Coleman, the lead singer of The Red Clay Strays. He stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall and has a voice that can belt out soulful tunes and charm country ballads. The Red Clay Strays taped their StudioAmped show on Oct. 2 at the WSRE Amos Performance Studio. A good time was had by all.” See the episode here.
StudioAmped
StudioAmped is a long-running Pensacola-based concert series produced by WSRE PBS that features live performances of original material by regional bands and artists spanning all music genres. It’s Pensacola’s version of “Austin City Limits” and “Soundstage.” Inweekly has covered it since its inaugural 2008 season, which featured Good Foote, 60 Cycles of Sound and Sadi Blu.
The series is filmed at the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio located at Pensacola State College, and has become a prominent platform for showcasing Gulf Coast musical talent, with many nationally and regionally recognized acts taking the stage.
Each episode presents musicians performing their own original songs, with music ranging from blues, rock, folk, funk, jazz, and country to indie and reggae. The show’s emphasis is on authentic artistry, giving audiences access to the diverse musical creativity found along the Gulf Coast.
StudioAmped has been supported by local organizations and sponsors, including The Bear Family Foundation, The Fish House, Innisfree Hotels, and Blue Angels Music, making it a community-driven effort to elevate regional artists. Its broadcasts and recordings provide Pensacola and the surrounding areas with high-quality live music content and help raise the visibility of local musicians beyond the studio.
Watch their performance of “People Hatin’” from the 2025 CMA Awards.
I first heard Red Clay Strays while watching their impressive set on StudioAmped. Will StudioAmped be able to continue with all the funding issues and Pensacola State College dropping PBS in 2026? Congratulations to the band. The show captured a great performance. The Florida-Alabama Gulf Coast has its own unique sound and everyone should have the opportunity to experience it.