Flatland Cavalry Reflects On Earning Their First ACM Nomination Amid 10-Year Anniversary [Exclusive]

Flatland Cavalry is approaching their 10^th anniversary as a band, and what better way to celebrate than at the 59^thAcademy of Country Music Awards as first-time nominees?

The six-piece band made up of members Cleto Cordero, Jason Albers, Jonathan Saenz, Reid Dillon, Wesley Hall and Adam Gallegos is going into this year’s star-studded award show vying for the title of Group of the Year. They are up against Lady A, Little Big Town, Old Dominion and Zac Brown Band. 

The Moment They Learned The ‘Exciting’ News

While reflecting on this incredible honor, the bandmates thought back to the “unreal” and “exciting” moment they learned they were being recognized for their years of hard work.

“I think we were mostly all asleep and getting pings from our families, managers, everything like, ‘Go look at the picture I sent you’…it was just mind blowing,” said the band’s drummer, Albers. 

Bass player Saenz added that no matter what happens during the show on Thursday, May 16, he and his bandmates already feel like winners.  

“Just the fact that we’re nominated, I feel like we’re already won just being here. It feels amazing to be nominated. It’s a really cool feeling.”

Being back in Texas for the show is also an incredibly full-circle moment for Flatland Cavalry as it’s the same state where their group originated back in 2012. 

“This is a great way to celebrate,” they added. 

This Feat Follows A String Of Accomplishments For Flatland Cavalry

The news of their ACM nod follows hot on the heels of their newest album, Wandering Star, which dropped this past fall via Interscope Records, and more recently, their sold-out headline debut at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. As they continue to play bigger and bigger stages each year, the group can’t help but feel the growing support around them from family, their peers and of course, fans.

“All of our families who have been here since the beginning supporting us from our first show at The Blue Light Live in Lubbock, TX to getting to play these big rooms…and I feel like with this new record we just released in October, it’s been a whole new wave of fans singing this new stuff. They’re meeting fans that have been around since day one, so just seems like a kind of big gathering of enthused folks singing along at all these shows.”

The band based in Texas and Nashville will continue their extensive headline tour through this summer with upcoming stops at Raleigh’s The Ritz, Houston’s White Oak Music Hall, Chattanooga’s The Signal, Kansas City’s Grinders, Wilmington’s Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, Asheville’s Salvage Station and Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, and more.

Additionally, they have plans to perform select shows in the U.K. later this year. 

In a few short months Flatland Cavalry will also cross off their bucket list goal of playing the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. For a full list of upcoming shows, click HERE. 

ACM Awards Air Live From Frisco, TX This Thursday

Fans can tune into Prime Video on Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT to see if the group takes home their first trophy from the ACM Awards. Fans don’t need a Prime membership to join in live.