<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Alright y’all, I was <em>supposed</em> to be in Stillwater this coming weekend for the <strong><a href="https://countrymusicnewsblog.com/cross-canadian-ragweed-reunion-details/" data-type="post" data-id="41213">Cross Canadian Ragweed reunion</a></strong>—a comeback 15 years in the making—and more importantly, I was finally gonna shake hands with the guy who’s documented this scene better than anyone: <strong><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/author/josh-crutchmer/">Josh Crutchmer</a></strong>. Life threw a wrench in my travel plans, but I’m not about to let that stop me from hyping up one of the most important storytellers in country music today.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://countrymusicnewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/Josh-Crutchmer-Cody-Canada-768x1024.jpg" alt="Josh Crutchmer + Cody Canada" class="wp-image-41954"/></figure>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Who Is Josh Crutchmer?</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you care about Red Dirt, you <em>already</em> know the name. Josh is a born-and-raised Okie, a Rolling Stone contributor, and an editor at the <strong>New York Times</strong>, but what really sets him apart is his <strong>undeniable dedication to telling the story of this music scene</strong>—our scene.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">His books aren’t just interviews and liner notes. They’re <strong>oral histories, backstage passes, and front porch confessions</strong> all rolled into one. He’s not here for the hype; he’s here for the <em>heart</em> of it all. And if you&#8217;re a fan of <a title="Cody Canada" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/cross-canadian-ragweed-concert-tour-tickets/">Cody Canada</a>, Turnpike, Boland, or any of the Boys From Oklahoma, you&#8217;re gonna want every word he&#8217;s written.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<amp-youtube layout="responsive" width="530" height="298" data-videoid="n8h-whyOjXM" title="The Back Lounge Welcome Video"><a placeholder href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8h-whyOjXM"><img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n8h-whyOjXM/hqdefault.jpg" layout="fill" object-fit="cover" alt="The Back Lounge Welcome Video"></a></amp-youtube>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Books That Built the Buzz</strong></h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Red Dirt: Roots Music Born in Oklahoma, Raised in Texas, At Home Anywhere</strong> (2020) — The blueprint. A love letter to the genre.</li>



<li><strong>Red Dirt Unplugged</strong> (2024) — Foreword by <a title="Cody Canada" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/cross-canadian-ragweed-concert-tour-tickets/">Cody Canada</a>, final chapter with all four Ragweed members, and the first full-band interview in over 15 years.</li>



<li><strong>Never Say Never</strong> (COMING APRIL 21, 2025) — This is the one we’ve all been waiting for.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Never Say Never: The Ragweed Comeback Story We Deserve</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This book dives headfirst into the still-hard-to-believe <strong><a title="Cross Canadian Ragweed" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSRagweed/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fcross-canadian-ragweed-tickets%2F">Cross Canadian Ragweed</a> reunion</strong> and the legendary Boys From Oklahoma festival in Stillwater. Josh had full access to the band, the festival, and the scene—and he captures it all from the wings. This is <strong>not just a recap.</strong> It’s a deep dive into Red Dirt’s biggest moment, told by the guy who’s been cataloging it long before the spotlight showed up.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And if that weren’t enough, the book includes fresh stories from <strong><a title="Turnpike Troubadours" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSTurnpike/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fturnpike-troubadours-tickets%2F">Turnpike Troubadours</a>, The Great Divide, Jason Boland, Stoney LaRue</strong>, and even new-gen torchbearers like <strong>Wyatt Flores and <a title="Kaitlin Butts" href="https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/1224809/264167/4272?subId1=WPScmnbKButts&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Fkaitlin-butts-tickets%2Fartist%2F2981165&partnerpropertyid=5213910&MediaPartnerPropertyId=5213910">Kaitlin Butts</a></strong>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://backloungepublishing.bigcartel.com/"><img src="https://countrymusicnewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/Never-Say-Never-Josh-Crutchmer.jpg" alt="Never Say Never - Josh Crutchmer" class="wp-image-41955"/></a></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Pre-Order It. Support It. Share It.</strong></h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Release Date:</strong> April 21, 2025</li>



<li><strong>Price:</strong> $35</li>



<li><strong>Order Now:</strong> <a href="https://backloungepublishing.bigcartel.com">Back Lounge Publishing</a></li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bonus: $5 from every copy sold through the site before November 30 goes to the <strong><a href="https://www.ymcatulsa.org/okmulgee">Okmulgee Family YMCA</a></strong>—Josh’s hometown nonprofit that’s still making a difference.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There are special editions, signed copies, show-specific covers, and even a cheeky 420-green version. So whether you&#8217;re reppin’ orange and black or just love a good story, there’s a copy with your name on it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Final Thought</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Josh Crutchmer isn’t just writing books—he’s building the <em>record</em> of Red Dirt music. If you love this scene like I do, go <strong><a href="https://backloungepublishing.bigcartel.com/">pre-order Never Say Never</a></strong>. Support the people who support the music.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Social Media</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">IG: @neversayneverbook</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">neversayneverbook.bsky.social</p>