Fresh off their debut as official showcasing artists at AMERICANAFEST 2025, Nashville’s Runner of the Woods are gearing up for the release of their second full-length album, “New in Town”, in 2026.
Fronted by Nick Beaudoing, who draws from honky-tonk, indie rock, and even his French roots. In the end, it all comes out sounding like country. At long last, he understands this is a beautiful thing.
The band’s 2015 debut album, “Thirsty Valley”, showcased “countrygaze”, a signature sound featuring punchy guitars, reverb-heavy pedal steel, and odes to nature’s wide-open spaces.
Beaudoing previously led New York City’s Cajun honky-tonkers, the Doc Marshalls. Over the course of three releases, the band evolved from Bakersfield country and Acadian barnburners to jagged, glimmering folk.
In 2019 Runner of the Woods released a new single and video, “Acadiana Girls”. The song was a nod to Beaudoing’s long history with Cajun music, but also hinted at a need to escape the confines of a traditional music scene. Sometimes you need to get away, even from a place you love. While the video features the violent destruction of Cajun accordions by his young sons – no functional accordions were harmed – the lyrics depict a love letter to a Louisiana’s Acadian heartland.
“New in Town” finds “Acadiana Girls” getting the full-length treatment, alongside a host of new country songs — including a collaboration with Nashville’s Elizabeth Cook. Runner of the Woods will hit the road in 2026, and they’re gonna bring it.
Runner of the Woods is:
Nicolas Beaudoing: Guitars/Vocals/Cajun Accordion
Stephen Daly: Lead Guitar
Billy Contreras et al.: Fiddle
Dan Seymour / Eric Frey: Bass
Nick Davidson et al: Drums