Grab the finest yeehaw gear you can grab as it’s time to get a taste of some fresh Texas talent which is entering a new era for country music. 

Country music has slowly gotten mainstream thanks to the likes of Luke combs , Chris Stapleton and Zac Bryan. It’s helped build a bridge of the sweet country genre over to the UK and over the years many other artists have come to the UK being support for other bands or having their own headline tours like flatland cavalry.

Though the band isn’t a big name in the UK and with this small venue there’s no worries about the band as next time they’ll return to an even bigger venue once they’ve done winning the hearts of Manchester and other cities on this tour of course too. Not only that but some of flatland cavalry music has also been featured in some big films such as the remake of twister and the hunger games which is a pretty big deal!

Opening up is Kaitlin Butts armed only with an acoustic guitar and just herself she takes the stage and begins this showdown. A bubbly charismatic full of laughter and joy which she has already won the hearts of Manchester. With only a short set Katlin sure made a positive impression while talking about what each song means where it’ll be happy or sad memories the events in her life took a huge inspiration on the song’s meanings.

I can’t remember the song name sadly as there was no set list but I think it was “what else can she do”  the second song was dubbed as the slut song by Kaitlins Mum and this song was inspired by a character in the Oklahoma film and that is also where Kaitlin is from!

Up next is a song called “blood” which Kaitlin talks about family and if your friends hurt you and cause damage you wouldn’t forgive them yet with family if they have been horrible that just because they are blood related it means they can get away with it which isn’t right at all! Carrying on with this emotional journey with a lot of self healing is “white river” and talks about what she would do with such a person who crosses her but of course Kaitlin doesn’t condone violence as the crowd laughs.

Kaitlin’s short set feels like an emotional journey as she carries on talking about each song and next is “you ain’t gotta die to be dead to me” A more comedic track about taking her enemies out which could also hint an ex which she doesn’t confirm nor deny but it’s pretty much if your drying or almost it’s not her concern as she sings happily. Another fun one is how she talks about how her relationship with her mom on the person who she is today and just to walk away from the people who hurt you and this song sorta is the case as Kaitlin is pretty much like na f**k that attitude and being so positive about it. I think this is the crowd’s favourite song on the bill as the sing along to the chorus!

The final song is more of a sad one and a lovely tribute to someone who she once knew in a care home “Elsa” Kaitlin talks about how she would go to a care home to spend time and to sing to the residents despite some of them not be to welcoming to her until she plays some of the  classics that these people grew up on and it brought back happy memories even to the non verbal people it filled them with joy. And if that doesn’t add to the emotion right at the end Kailtin sings “you are my sunshine” and the whole venue just sings along in harmony, a truly wholesome moment.

Now it’s time for Flatland Cavalry .Opening up with a guitar solo come on you know this means you are in for a treat, the past few songs have been so chill and peaceful it’s unreal like it’s a country rock show and it’s so peaceful yet it’s full of energy ive seen nothing like this. It’s the feeling you get when you do a shot of whisky that warm fuzzy feeling it’s magical.

For the first part of the show there isn’t much talking with the band just cracking on and cranking out that sweet country music  delivering such a chilled atmospheric show that during the fourth song ” One I want” there was even a mini hoedown with the crowd during the violin solo which of course throughout the night there was many violin and guitar solos and yet it was so warm and cosy!

Lead singer Cleto Cordero talks about how there’s different dialect and languages in such a small area in Texas like we get in the Uk where people have different accents/slangs within 20 miles in any direction you go. Cleto talks about how country music isn’t just about appearing or sounding like a texan its about how you treat other people, be humble and kind to others. According to some texan guy he didn’t think Cleto was a Texan because of his appearance and language which i odd. Now we know elitism about being a true texan exists and that’s’ also bananas! Starting with thier song “Country is” which the crowd sway side to side and chant hell naw to the chorus.Then flatland moves onto onto a cover by John Denvor “thank god i’m a country boy”

With pretty much all of the songs they all have meanings and another hitter is ” Come back down”  which meant a lot to one of Cleto’s friends’ mothers about how life goes on. It’s full of ups and downs but it’s just about loving life and just to enjoy the things you like. Another track “No shade of green” reminds me a bit of O.A.R’s song ” that was a crazy game of poker” which of course has some more violin solos!

Slowing it down to a sad and more personal song that brings joy and dedicates it to those who are having a tough time and wrote this during covid which was especially a tough time to a close friend of his. I think the song was ” If we say goodbye”

Kailtin comes on stage to sing ” a life where we work out” which turns out Cleto and Kailtin are married , they wrote this song back in the day when they were five hours apart at the time and now they are married, a truly wholesome moment! The acoustic still stays out for another one with Kaitlin ” Mornings with you” as the venue lights up with phones .

Cleto talks about how he used to play for three hours at a diner for $40 which would just fill his truck up but that didn’t matter as he just loved performing in front of people and how some would stop eating food to listen to him and his pals and this one song which made the band grow to who they are today and thats a cover of fleetwood mac “landslides”

What makes this show more special to the band is that this is the first time they’ve played in Manchester since they formed 12 years ago and are very thankful for the fans for the support as they wouldn’t be here playing without them. 

Wrapping up the show with ” years from now” I think and off they go on stage and the fans are demanding an encore! i’m not too sure if it was planned or not but of course the guys came back on stage. Earlier in the show Cleto mentioned that it was his dads 68th birthday and described him as what Cleto would look like in 30 years and everyone sang happy birthday to him!

Back into action with some more songs to end on a high note, first up another cover and this is by Toby Keith ” Should’ve been a cowboy”  and ending with “stompin grounds” with another sweet acoustic ending! Tonight has shown us that the Uk welcomes the country scene with open arms the whole atmosphere has been pretty relaxing and everyone has been so friendly, from the yehaws, the hoedowns , the violin and guitar solos and beer both normal and non alcoholic all that’s’ missing is a big ol’ bbq.

Until next time remember to go full yee in the haw!