Who the Heck are 80ACRES? The New Rock-Inspired Band From Dylan Marlowe

After months of teasers, Dylan Marlowe is finally launching his new project, ‘80ACRES’, with the ‘Boys Back Home’ hitmaker hinting at a forthcoming rock-inspired project.

Marlowe has shared a cryptic post across social media in collaboration with a new 80ACRES account, featuring the ‘Record High’ singer-songwriter in a barn flanked by four band-mates. A white sheet is hung up behind them, reading, “WTF IS 80ACRES”.

Now, with the arrival of the introductory ‘PURGATORY’ on all streaming platforms, the band has officially unveiled their debut EP, which arrives on Friday, April 8th.

The project will feature an eye-catching Treaty Oak Revival link-up, ‘MESS WE MADE’, along with ‘WAIT AT THE GATE’, ‘LEAST YOU COULD LET ME DO’, ‘ROSES’ and ’IS YOU’.

Ahead of the announcement, Treaty Oak Revival teased their involvement by sharing a mysterious post relating to the new band. The country-punk outfit uploaded a photo of the big “WTF IS 80ACRES” sheet in the main 80ACRES profile photo.

Anyone who has been dialled into Marlowe's TikTok activity over the past few months knows that the Georgia native has been hinting at this 80ACRES project for a while.

Via his 80ACRES TikTok account, Marlowe has been sharing a flurry of unreleased music with fans, alongside playful video offering subtle clues as to what 80ACRES will entail.

In one amusing skit, Marlowe's friend jokingly lists various reasons why a new “rock” band simply won't make sense for his existing fanbase. In mock exasperation, his buddy questions how on earth he's supposed to play rock-leaning music alongside his mainstream Country Radio hit with Dylan Scott, ‘Boys Back Home’.

This seemingly confirms that 80ACRES will see Marlowe diving into the rock and punk-infused sound that he's explored on solo tracks such as ‘Bat Outta Hell (With a Boat on the Back)’, ‘Heaven's Sake’ and his Bilmuri collaboration, ‘EMPTYHANDED’.

On some of Marlowe's recent singles, such as ‘Coming Home Tomorrow’, he has been noticeably embracing more and more punk-driven textures, so this 80ACRES unveiling undoubtedly makes sense. It'll be interesting to see whether Marlowe continues releasing solo material in tandem with 80ACRES music. He's always managed to strike a balance between the different styles, so we imagine he'll make room on the band's new project for some countrified arrangements, too, and then maybe Marlowe will sprinkle in some solo cuts down the road.

Marlowe has drawn comparisons with HARDY since the early days of his career, and even opened for the ‘ONE BEER’ chart-topper a couple of years back. HARDY famously pivoted towards rock and punk on the mockingbird & THE CROW and Quit!!, and it looks like Marlowe is now exploring a similar gear-shift with 80ACRES.

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