Judah & The Lion

Judah & The Lion formed in 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, originating from Belmont University where members Judah Akers (vocals, guitar) and Brian Macdonald (mandolin, vocals) met. The band quickly gained recognition, winning Belmont’s 2012 Best of the Best competition and releasing their first EP, “First Fruits,” on June 19, 2012. Their 2013 EP, “Sweet Tennessee,” demonstrated early commercial success, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart, number 9 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and number 15 on the Folk Albums chart. Their debut full-length album, “Kids These Days,” released in 2014, secured the number 2 spot on the Heatseekers chart and number 4 on the Folk Albums chart, leading to opening slots for artists like Mat Kearney and Ben Rector and a performance on “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2015.

The band’s second studio album, “Folk Hop n’ Roll,” released in March 2016, marked a significant turning point, landing at number 3 on the Alternative New Artist Chart. The album’s lead single, “Take It All Back,” achieved widespread success, reaching number 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart for three consecutive weeks, and was certified Platinum in October 2019. This period saw them make multiple television appearances, including “Conan,” “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” and “Good Morning America.” They also toured extensively, supporting major acts like Twenty One Pilots and Incubus, and performing at festivals such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Their third album, “Pep Talks,” released in 2019, explored personal themes and reached number 18 on the Billboard 200. This album featured collaborations with Kacey Musgraves and Jon Bellion, further cementing their position in the music industry. The song “Let Go” became ESPN’s College Football Anthem for the 2019 season, and “Why Did You Run?” was featured in the EA Sports FIFA 20 soundtrack.

More recently, Judah & The Lion released their fourth album, “Revival,” in June 2022, which Akers described as their “pandemic record,” reflecting a period of introspection and creative renewal. The album was supported by the “Happy Again Tour,” covering 35 dates across the US. In 2023 and 2024, they toured with Needtobreathe on “The Caves World Tour.” Their fifth studio album, “The Process,” released on May 10, 2024, explores the five stages of grief and includes features from Ruston Kelly and K.Flay, showcasing their continued artistic evolution and collaborative spirit.