Aaron Watson has received many recognitions through the years, but his career is likely summed up best by Forbes who has called him “one of country music’s biggest DIY success stories.” For the past 20 years, Watson has chased down success on his own terms; hand building a career through the craft of songwriting, self-releasing records, and relentlessly touring to connect with his fans and spread his music gospel. At its most fundamental level, it’s his independent Texas spirit and work ethic — emblematic of the western lifestyle — that people relate to and that Aaron so graciously carries the torch for that resonates with people the most. These virtues have taken him from the humble honky-tonks of Texas to some of the largest stages including Rodeo Houston, San Antonio Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Calgary Stampede and NFR, not to mention countless sold-out headline shows across the country and over a dozen international tours in Europe. Still at the top of his game, his newest album Red Bandana is described as “his most ambitious album yet” and “a pure expression of his traditional country ethos,” while Texas Monthly has said “there may be no more genuine singer-songwriter at the moment than Watson.” This acclaim follows his last album Vaquero that delivered the BMI Millionaire award-winning single “Outta Style,” and before that The Underdog — the first independent album released in the history of country music to top the Billboard Country Albums chart, plus a dozen records prior to that. With all that’s been accomplished, the road ahead is still long and laden with opportunity. As Aaron ages like a fine wine, he continues to evolve into one of the most consistent and authentic artists in country music that isn’t going anywhere but up.