The indie music world was busy this week. There’s new music from festival favorites like Declan McKenna and Noah Kahan as well as alternative pop kings Bleachers.

Music lovers’ favorite holiday, Spotify Wrapped, has finally come. If you are embarrassed by your top artist being AJR or your top song being Minecraft noises, make yourself feel better and find out who some of the Lariat staff listened to this year.

Providing bluesy roots and undeniable talent, country king Chris Stapleton is back with 14 tracks that wind through tumultuous love and dark addiction in his newest album, “Higher.”

We’re in the homestretch this week. On Friday and Saturday, thousands of students will be taking a bus, a train or an airplane to head home for Thanksgiving break. Of course, nothing says travel like creating a playlist to get you through the trip.

With 2023 coming to a close, it’s time to recognize the top albums that were released this year. (Be warned, Swifties: I’m not including any of Taylor’s re-recorded albums.)

Watching Graham St.Clair and the West Texas Wind perform on their second-floor balcony looks like a scene out of a Hallmark movie. With string lights illuminating their instruments and raspy voices heard from the street, the allure to come closer is hard to ignore.

If your walk to class this week is freezing cold, here is a list of hot new music to keep you warm.

Less than a month after the release of Zach Bryan’s near-perfect self-titled album, his fans were surprised with an EP titled “Boys of Faith,” featuring folk superstars Noah Kahan and Bon Iver.

The first day of fall has come and gone. New music drops every day, along with the temperature and the leaves. Let’s get into the best releases of the past week.

Baylor alumna Trannie Anderson has been nominated for Song of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards for co-writing Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like A Truck.”

There’s a ton of new music this week from old favorites, classic rock legends and up-and-coming stars. Here’s the best of the fresh releases, all in one place.

Zach Bryan’s new self-titled album is not for the weak. The 16-track country-rock album features heart-wrenching songs made to question every life choice you’ve ever made.

The first week of classes is over. It’s time to take a breather and catch up on some new tunes you may have missed while you navigated the halls to find that one seemingly hidden classroom.

Festivities to kick of the reopening of Waco’s iconic bridge will include live music and a drone show. The official ribbon-cutting will take place Saturday, followed by a longhorn cattle-driving across the bridge.

Every girl you know posted this album over spring break on her Instagram story. And it was for a good reason, for the most part. I’d say about half of this whopping 36-song record is worth your time. “Keith Whitley” is part of that good half, an homage to one of country music’s beloved ‘80s stars.

If gushy indie music is your jam, you’ll love, well, really anything by Leith Ross. “(You) On My Arm” comes just in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s a soft, pretty song with lovely lyrics that just make the rest of us want to lie down in the street a little bit.

“Cannonballers” transports this Texan to a sunny beach somewhere in California with sandy clothes and a sea of freckles returning to my cheeks. Do both of us a favor and listen to this entire album.

For students who aren’t leaving for spring break until Sunday, they can go see the Casey Donahew Band, a popular country/Texas Red Dirt band that has been traveling across the country for the past couple of months.

A Baylor student will share the stage with some of the biggest names in country music on Sunday.

McGregor sophomore Trannie Stevens will sing at the 2013 Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Hall of Fame Awards Show. Stevens will join Toby Keith, Jack Ingram, Larry Gatlin, Ronnie Dunn and Sonny Curtis as performers at the show in Austin.

A country music legend will perform 9 p.m. on Saturday at Whiskey River.

Johnny Lee, a Texas Country Music Hall of Fame artist with chart toppers from the late 1970s, will headline the event. Some of his top singles include “Lookin’ For Love,” “One In A Million” and “Bet Your Heart On Me.”

Sam Badar, owner of Whiskey River on Bosque Drive, said he looks forward to having Lee on the Whiskey River stage.