ANNOUNCES FORTHCOMING NEW ALBUM WAYWARD (7/17)
LITERARY NEW SONG “WEED BY THE WALL” OUT NOW
SUPPORTING WILLIE NELSON ON HIS 2026 OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL TOUR AND BEYOND BEGINNING IN JULY
NASHVILLE, TENN. / AUSTIN, TEXAS – Today, Big Loud Texas proudly announces the signing of GRAMMY® nominated artist-writer Waylon Payne. In tandem, Payne announces his forthcoming album Wayward set for July 17. A song decades in the making, “Weed By The Wall” is out today.
“This album is very special to me and ‘Weed by the Wall’ is probably one of my favorite moments as a writer,” shares Payne. “I’m incredibly proud to have partnered with Big Loud Texas to release this collection of songs and I sure hope folks enjoy it.”
“I first heard Waylon Payne’s music in 2004, with his very first album,” Lambert adds. “Called The Drifter, I’ll never forget the feelings it gave me. The honesty in his songwriting was genuinely something I’d never experienced, as well as the emotion coming across in his vocals; it made me hang on every word.
“Everything he has ever made inspired me – and so many artists that I know and love. It’s pure truth, and where can you find that? Wayward, which I can’t believe we get to release on Big Loud Texas, defines what I hope this label can be. Nothing short of brilliant, the truths and stories match these perfect melodies that make you feel every emotion.”
A 13-song collection produced by Frank Liddell (Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert) and Eric Masse (Parker McCollum), half of Wayward was notably solo written. The new masterful body of work follows his timeless debut The Drifter (2003) and Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me (2020), which were both met with widespread acclaim. A brilliant showcase of the razor-sharp lyrical prowess that defines his artistry, Wayward is vulnerable, honest and beaming with wisdom.
The album features recently released “Holding On To Lonely” that Billboard noted as, “vulnerable” and “introspective,” and MusicRow praised, “his voice is marvelously aching.” Payne’s “Looking For A Feeling,” penned alongside Pam Tillis and named one of the “Best New Country Songs” by Holler, kicks off Wayward.
Payne’s intricate lyricism is weaved throughout today’s “Weed By The Wall”:
I am a freight train
Forged out of steel
I am a highway rolling west in the morning
My hands on the wheel
I am a full-grown man
I stand alone
And I sacrifice nothing for the sake of the cause
I am god and nature
I am a weed by the wall
This summer, Waylon will support Willie Nelson on his 2026 Outlaw Music Festival Tour and beyond with stops in Texas, California, New York and more. To stay up to date, connect with Waylon on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Wayward Tracklist
1. Looking For A Feeling (Waylon Payne, Pam Tillis)
2. Postcards (Waylon Payne, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Raitiere)
3. The Delta (Waylon Payne)
4. Darla (Waylon Payne)
5. Holding On To Lonely (Waylon Payne, Charlie Worsham)
6. Haunting (Waylon Payne, Brennen Leigh, Dean Person)
7. Caramello (Waylon Payne, Dean Person)
8. Hell Is Empty (Waylon Payne, Matraca Berg)
9. Watch Him Die (Waylon Payne)
10. The Roses (Waylon Payne)
11. Together (Waylon Payne, Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe)
12. Find A Way (Waylon Payne)
13. Weed By The Wall (Waylon Payne)
Produced by Frank Liddell and Eric Masse
Waylon Payne Tour Dates Supporting Willie Nelson
July 3 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory – Irving, TX
July 4 – Germania Insurance Amphitheater – Austin, TX
July 5 – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – The Woodlands, TX
July 12 – Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair – Costa Mesa, CA
July 14 – The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA
July 15 – The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA
July 17 – Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions – Napa, CA
July 19 – Ironstone Amphitheatre – Murphys, CA
July 22 – California Mid-State Fair – Paso Robles, CA
August 18 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – Maryland Heights, MO
August 19 – Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Shakopee, MN
August 21 – Alpine Valley Music Theatre – East Troy, WI
August 22 – Pine Knob Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
August 23 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN
August 25 – Huntington Bank Pavilion – Chicago, IL
August 28 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach – Wantagh, NY
August 29 – Bethel Woods – Bethel, NY
August 30 – Albany Med Health System at SPAC – Saratoga Springs, NY
ABOUT WAYLON PAYNE
A poetic outlaw, Waylon Payne made an indelible mark with his timeless debut album The Drifter (2003). Building on the legacy of that album and the widespread acclaim of Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me (2020), Waylon sets his forthcoming new album Wayward for July 17. “Looking For A Feeling” and “Holding On To Lonely” signaled his triumphant re-emergence, showcasing his signature razor-sharp lyrical prowess. Waylon’s musical pedigree is storied. The son of GRAMMY® Award-winning country singer Sammi Smith and Jody Payne of Willie Nelson’s band, he dons the name of his godfather Waylon Jennings. He began his prolific career writing for and playing with other musicians. Multi-talented with the charm of a seasoned entertainer, Waylon has pursued acting in earnest; he appeared in the award-winning Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line (2005). After, he was cast in the starring role of Hank Garland in the biopic Crazy (2006).
CONNECT WITH WAYLON PAYNE
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
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Media Contacts
Corey Brewer + Rachel Heatherly | Big Loud
corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.com
