The Band Of Heathens &#8211; No Direction: 13th Floor New Song Of

The Band of Heathens released their new single, No Direction, from their recently announced landmark new album Country Sides, arriving February 20, 2026.

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Self-produced with longtime collaborator Jim Vollentine (Spoon, Patty Griffin, White Denim), Country Sides is a greasy guitar-filled masterclass in roots rock, packed with barroom piano rockers and soulful swaggering anthems.

“No Direction” is the upcoming album’s opener – a tightly written cowboy lovelorn anthem with lush harmonies and yearning pedal steel – and was premiered today with American Songwriter. It’s the second sampling from the band’s forthcoming new album, following the previously released single “High On Our Own Supply.”

Says the band about the latest single, “‘No Direction’ is a love song for all we leave at home while we’re chasing this nomadic dream of music on the run. This song comes from the experiences of being on a tour that feels like a pirate ship that’s been catapulted into the Wild West trying to find the buried treasure of a Delorean Time Machine that’s just trying to get us back home to that feeling that inspired us in the first place.”

Band member Gordy Quist told American Songwriter in an exclusive interview, “We’re constantly on the move, but there’s a lot of love and inspiration where we started from. I think the song is trying to put those things together and make sense of leaving some things that you love in pursuit of something.”

“‘No Direction’ represents that initial inspiration when you’re a young band, discovering the power of music and wanting to get out there and just do it” he continues.

Celebrating their 20th anniversary, The Band of Heathens marked the milestone not only with their most ambitious album yet, but with a series of Texas homecoming shows and a recently announced tour with stops in Chicago, Atlanta, Indianapolis, New Orleans and more. Long hailed as one of the most fiercely independent bands in rock and roll, the group has built a career outside the traditional music industry — and achieved platinum-level success doing so. The success of that independence is officially recognized today as the band’s recording of “Hurricane” has been certified platinum.

Born from humble beginnings, The Band of Heathens took their rag-tag rock and roll from Austin barrooms to the national stage. Founded twenty years ago this month by Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, their enduring creative partnership evokes the timeless chemistry of Jagger/Richards or Garcia/Weir — built on grit, trust, and an unbreakable musical bond.

“We’re grateful to be 20 years into this and to have a fan base that has hopped on the creative journey with us wherever we have decided to turn,” Quist says “We’ve always felt like outsiders on an island. Without the muscle of a major label, we just focused on making organic music that resonates with us.”

“We’ve always followed our creative instincts,” adds Jurdi. “Now, it feels like the thing we’ve been doing all along has come full circle.”

Country Sides due out early 2026 was tracked in just over a week at the band’s studio, The Finishing School. It’s an album celebrating self-reliance and life on the margins, underscoring the idea that what’s crafted with care at the edges often outshines what’s mass-produced at the center – and after 20 years together, the band are still writing some of their best music to date.

Highlights include songs like the swampy, groovy, and rockin’ “Take The Cake,” the free-wheeling “She’s The Night,” the anthemic, “Lead Don’t Follow,” and the deeply contemplative “Pleasing People,” which explores the pitfalls of outside noise while remaining true to oneself.

That DIY ethos has defined The Band of Heathens from day one. Brick by brick, they’ve built an audience, a catalog, and a legacy — without compromising artistic integrity. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s made the triumph all the more meaningful.

“We’re in a really great space creatively after all these years,” Jurdi says. “The songs reflect both our inner world and the stories living between the lines of our lives.”

Known for their honest, lived-in blend of country, soul, folk, and rock & roll, The Band of Heathens continue blazing a singular trail — not driven by viral moments, but by endurance, craft, and music that resonates as powerfully at the fringes as it does at the heart of American roots. With a platinum-certified hit, over 1 billion streams, and nine acclaimed studio albums — all without a label dictating their path — their self-made journey has earned praise from Rolling Stone, Relix, American Songwriter, and more.

From late-night jams at Austin’s legendary Momo’s to the stages of The Grand Ole Opry, CBS Saturday Morning, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Montreux Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Red Rocks, and beyond, their live résumé is as impressive as it is expansive.

“Middle age has brought a new perspective into focus,” Quist says. “The passage of time, struggle, relationships, and love have all been themes in our writing for a while, but it’s interesting how they’ve taken another twist as we’ve taken stock of the band’s 20-year journey.”

Country Sides is both a continuation and celebration of that journey — a reminder that their success comes not from chasing the main course, but from redefining it. After all, it’s often the sides that steal the show — and The Band of Heathens have always known how to make them the main event.