NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Stepping into the circle of the Grand Ole Opry is something dreams are made of, and Ray Fulcher knows a little bit about making his dreams come true. Set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, June 25th, the artist with 30+ million artist streams and 3 billion streams as a songwriter, Fulcher will release new music the same day.
"I grew up on old country and watching YouTube videos of the Opry dreaming of one day standing there in the circle," said Fulcher. "To have it actually happening is both surreal and the highest honor. In my opinion, there's not a more special place in all of music."
As Fulcher teased on Instagram earlier this week by posting a video of a tape cassette and a Walkman, he is releasing three new songs -- "Girl In It," "Way Out" and "Bucket List Beers" – on June 25th. It marks his first new music as an artist on Black River.
All three songs are available to pre-save here.
Teaming with West Tennessee's Jonathan Singleton for production, the pair dug in for a Memphis-meets-'90s country sound. Guitars that sting, hooks that land and story twists that prompt smiles, they created retro-contemporary sounds that are old school, new school and no school country.
"Jonathan's guitar just moves over everything, whether it's a Tremolo part or this quick-picking all over playing," the high energy performer enthuses. "There's that Memphis thing he brings, a little bit edgier, maybe, or dirtier. You know, when we're in the zone, I think my songs move a little more rhythmically, go a little deeper into the pockets."
Certainly "Girl in It" leans into the notion of rhythm and punctuation. Whirling through the phases of love and losing, the truth is no matter what – there's always a girl in it. "In the verse, you've definitely got that very rhythmic, aggressive tempo going on, but the way the hook lands, it changes everything up. You know, you can take a simple idea, but dress it up with how you drop the words, where you put the melody in the hook."
Fulcher delivers songs that distill a slower way of life that's equal parts pride, joy and good clean fun. The euphoria almost rises from the tracks as the words, melodies and darning needle guitars fly by.
As a writer, he understands the sweet spot of life. It's the same joy that marks the songs he's co-written with an old friend named Luke Combs. Eight of those songs ended up on the 2020 CMA Album of the Year What You See Is What You Get. Eight more ended up on This One's for You. Four of those songs – "When It Rains It Pours," "Even Though I'm Leaving," "Lovin' on You" and "Does to Me," featuring their mutual idol and influence Eric Church – went to #1.
This fall, Fulcher joins his friend and writing partner Luke Combs on his What You See Is What You Get tour and supports Ashley McBryde on select dates.
"People have asked me in the past, 'what's your favorite place to play,'" said Fulcher. "And I'd say, 'well, I can tell you, but the answer will change if I ever play the Opry, because after that, it will ALWAYS be the favorite place I've played.'"
On June 23rd, Ray Fulcher joins Devin Dawson, Jonathan Singleton and Faren Rachels at the Listening Room in Nashville, TN, for a charity show benefitting the Pretty Good Ball Fund in partnership with the Music Health Alliance. For tickets and additional information, please click here.
2021 Tour Dates
09/02/21 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
09/21/21 - Billings, MT - MetraPark Arena
09/22/21 - Missoula, MT - The Wilma
09/23/21 - Spokane, WA - Fox Theatre
09/25/21 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
09/26/21 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
09/28/21 - Eugene, OR - Matthew Knight Arena
09/29/21 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
10/01/21 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center
10/02/21 - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
10/13/21 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
11/04/21 - Chicago, IL - United Center
11/05/21 - Chicago, IL - United Center
11/06/21 - St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
11/16/21 - New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center
11/18/21 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
11/19/21 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
11/20/21 - Memphis, TN - FedEx Forum
11/29/21 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
11/30/21 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
12/02/21 - Boston, MA - TD Garden Arena
12/03/21 - Boston, MA - TD Garden Arena
12/15/21 - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena
12/16/21 - Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Smart Home Arena
