Texas Band Droptines Hits the Big Time After Grassroots Grind

The Texas roots-rock band Droptines has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past year. Just last summer, the five-piece group was accustomed to playing simple dive bars and rock rooms. However, their worldview changed when they went on an amphitheater tour with Whiskey Myers earlier this year.

By the time the Droptines' opening run for Whiskey Myers ended with a sold-out show in Nashville, the band members were nearly experiencing whiplash over how far they had come. "It feels like an acid trip," says Conner Arthur, the band's singer. The group, which also includes bassist Dillon Sampson, drummer Johnny Sheets, pedal steel player Tony Rincon, and guitarist Donny Parkinson, has a wildly prolific catalog that they are determined to share at every concert.

The band's big break came in Lubbock, Texas, in 2023, when they celebrated the release of their single "Bill of Sale" at a packed show at the Blue Light. This marked a turning point, as the band started gaining more attention and landing impressive gigs, including a set at the 2024 Jackalope Jamboree in Oregon and afterparties at Lollapalooza.

In 2024, the Droptines signed with Big Loud Texas, a label co-founded by Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall. This partnership has further elevated the band's profile, leading to a headlining tour of theaters and more high-profile opening slots, including dates with the Turnpike Troubadours and another show with Whiskey Myers.