Gretchen Wilson (Jorja Lewis/East Tennessean)

On April 15, the ETSU Student Government Association hosted its 2026 spring concert in Freedom Hall Civic Center. The country concert featured Flatland Cavalry with their signature “easy on the ears, heavy on the heart” sound alongside “Redneck Woman” singer Gretchen Wilson.

Wilson kicked off the night with her energetic hit “Here for the Party,” one of her first hit singles and the title song of her debut studio album. She played more of her classic hits alongside covers of songs such as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” and “Barracuda” by Heart. Wilson also used the concert to debut new music, playing “something brand spankin’ new that no one has heard yet.”

To end her opening act, Wilson sang “Redneck Woman”—a beloved favorite of the crowd—before handing over the stage to Flatland Cavalry for the rest of the night.

Flatland Cavalry began by playing their hit songs “Gone and On and On.”

“It’s good to be in Johnson City with the Flatland Cavalry,” the lead singer of the band, Cleto Cordero, remarked as the crowd went wild. The band continued to play a balance of fan favorites alongside hits from their newest album, “Work of Heart.”

Flatland Cavalry also played a few covers. Williams, although from Alabama, found much of his inspiration from local musicians like Jimmie Rogers, who began his career in the Tri-Cities. 

Cordero recognized the region before playing “Mountain Song.”

“Since we are in Appalachia tonight, let’s take a little trip out to the mountain,” he said.

Although the band’s sound is derived from their Texan roots, many elements, such as member Wesley Hall’s iconic fiddle solos, share similarities with the music of Appalachia. 

Like Wilson, the band did switch up their genre by playing a bit of rock. Their rendition of “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers seemed to resonate deeply with the audience. 

To end the show, Flatland Cavalry played two of their most popular songs from their newest album “Unglued and Never Comin’ Back.” As the band said their final goodbyes, they threw out their guitar picks to hopeful fans and continued dancing until the moment they left the stage. 

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