Colorado roots sextet Clay Street Unit has released its long-awaited debut album, Sin & Squalor, marking a defining moment for one of Americana’s fastest-rising acts.

The album, recorded and produced by Chris Pandolfi (The Infamous Stringdusters), captures the spirit of the West while drawing deeply from Southern folk and country traditions. The songs on Sin & Squalor pair thoughtful lyricism with deeply expressive playing, giving the album a compelling air of vulnerability.

A standout on Sin & Squalor is “Left Unsaid”, a restrained, soulful meditation and emotional tension. Anchored by Sam Walker’s expressive vocals, the track explores the fragile space between honesty and hope, commitment and complication. The band described the track as an inward reflection on “choosing to stay even when things feel complicated.” The pulsing arrangement builds patiently, allowing the emotional weight of the songwriting to take center stage.

“Virginia” leans into upbeat banjo and mandolin interplay, serving as a love letter to the Blue Ridge and the magnetic pull of home. The record balances joy and hardship, sin and salvation—themes that lie at the heart of Clay Street Unit’s songwriting.

Lindsay Lou delivering a tender, understated guest spot on “Choctaw Country” her voice rising with effortless clarity to add warmth and dimension to the powerful tune. The result is a quietly powerful standout song. The 2025 single “Let’s Get Stoned”, which has already become a crowd favorite in the band’s live rotation, also finds a home on Sin & Squalor.

Clay Street Unit – “Let’s Get Stoned” – Live Studio Performance

On the heels of the release, Clay Street Unit is set to make its debut at the Grand Ole Opry on February 17th, a milestone that underscores the band’s rapid ascent from Denver stages to one of the most revered institutions in American roots music. At the end of the month, the band will also return to WinterWonderGrass Festival at Steamboat Mountain in Colorado.

Clay Street Unit – “Virginia” – Live at WinterWonderGrass

Formed in Denver in 2021, Clay Street Unit first introduced itself on 2022’s A Mighty Fine Evening EP before building a reputation through relentless touring across Colorado and beyond. That road-tested chemistry is evident throughout Sin & Squalor, which feels both fresh and timeless.

Clay Street Unit features Sam Walker (lead vocals/guitar), Scottie Bolin (mandolin/vocals), Jack Cline (banjo), Brad Larrison (pedal steel), Brendan Lamb (drums), Jack Kotarba (bass), and touring member Dan Andree (fiddle). Hailing from Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., the members bring diverse regional influences into a unified, modern roots sound.

Listen to Sin & Squalor and catch the band on tour throughout the spring and summer. View a full list of Clay Street Unit’s upcoming tour dates below.

Clay Street Unit 2026 Tour Dates
02/13 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West ^
02/14 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East ^
02/17 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
02/18 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House #
02/19 – Indianapolis, IN – Turntable #
02/20 – Des Moines, IA – xBk Live #
02/21 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads #
02/27–03/01 – Steamboat Springs, CO – WinterWonderGrass
03/05 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall ^
03/06 – Fort Worth, TX – Birdie’s Social Club ^
03/07 – Austin, TX – Radio East SXSGRASS
03/08 – Houston, TX – Dan Electro’s ^
03/20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Urban Lounge
03/21 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater
03/28 – Athens, GA – Jam in the Streets
04/16 – Hampden Sydney, VA – HSMC Fest
04/18 – Atlanta, GA – 420 Fest
04/23 – Columbus, OH – Summit Music Hall
04/24 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
04/25 – Fayetteville, WV – The Outpost
04/26 – Charlotte, NC – Tuck Fest
04/30 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer *
05/01 – Southern Pines, NC – Sunrise Theater
05/02 – Edenton, NC – RockFish Fest
05/07 – Greer, SC – Spring Skunk Music Festival
05/15 – Richmond, VA – Dominion Energy Riverrock
05/16 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27
05/21–05/24 – Martinsville, VA – Rooster Walk 16
05/28 – Chicago, IL – Martyrs’
05/29 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
05/30 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
06/25 – Jackson Hole, WY – Snow King Amp Series
07/17 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
07/30–08/01 – Del Norte, CO – Rhythms on the Rio
09/12 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

^ with Cris Jacobs
#Co-headline with Jason Scott & The High Heat
*Co-headline with The Brothers Comatose

View Tour Dates