Listen up, country fans — there’s a new name you need to know, and it’s got four words: The Jack Wharff Band.
Straight outta Richmond, Virginia (with a healthy dose of bluegrass soul and Southern charm), these Big Machine Records signees are giving us their most stripped-back, emotional track to date — and it officially drops today (May 16).
Titled “Richmond’s Most Wanted,” the bluesy, heart-thumping ballad is a sultry slow burn that tells the story of a hometown femme fatale who’s got the entire city wrapped around her finger. But while she might be the town’s top outlaw, the narrator is more than willing to serve time in the jail of her love. Swoon.
“We’re so excited to release our new song ‘Richmond’s Most Wanted,’” frontman Jack Wharff shares in a press release. “I love that the song turns the meaning of the title on its head and takes off in a direction you might not expect. We hope the fans love this one as much as we do!”
Spoiler alert: we do.
Who is The Jack Wharff Band, anyway? If you’ve been scrolling TikTok and happened to stop on four guys jamming out to a ridiculously catchy original in someone’s living room… yup, that’s them.
Formed just a couple of years ago after a chance run-in at an open mic in Richmond, the band’s origin story is as wholesome as their harmonies. “They didn’t sound too bad,” Jack joked of his now-bandmates when we met up at CRS 2025 in Nashville earlier this year. “So I asked them to come play with me — and we’ve been rolling ever since.”
The now-tight-knit four-piece — Jack Wharff (vocals/guitar), Ryan Atchison (bass), Garrett Howell (drums), and Evan Novoa (guitar) — live together, write together, record together, and even hit the road in one of their trucks (yes, really).
“There’s probably within the day, any given day, around two minutes that we’re not around each other,” Jack told us. “We live together, we drive together, we go to work together. We eat together. There’s not much alone time around here.”
From bluegrass banjo licks to alt-country grooves and emo-inspired lyrics, The Jack Wharff Band doesn’t believe in boxes. And they’re not afraid to get a little experimental with their influences.
“I grew up listening to Doc Watson and Tony Rice,” Jack said. “But when I heard Tyler Childers for the first time in 2019, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh — I gotta do something like that.’” Evan brings in blues and gospel flavor à la Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer, Garrett reps John Denver and the classic country canon, and Ryan tosses in a little Green Day and indie emo. Yes — somehow, it all works.
“We just call it American music,” the band summed up. “Because it’s just us.”
Written by Wharff, Evan Novoa, Ryan Atchison, and Beau Bailey, “Richmond’s Most Wanted” drips with bluesy emotion and raw vulnerability — an aesthetic the band has been leaning into lately. “We’ve been writing in a lot of different styles,” Evan shared. “But keeping the same kind of rawness and soul. We’re still country and bluegrass at heart, but we’re not afraid to explore.”
That creative freedom is clearly working. Following the foot-stomping fun of “Washed” and fan-favorite tracks “Messed Up Kid” and “Picture Perfect,” this latest release feels like a slow dance at golden hour — brooding, bold, and completely hypnotic.
The Jack Wharff Band isn’t slowing down anytime soon. They’ll make their CMA Fest debut on June 5 at the Good Molecules Reverb Stage in Nashville, and later this summer, catch them at Carolina Country Music Fest, Barefoot Country Music Fest, and Summerfest. Oh, and they were just announced as a support act for Ole 60’s U.S. Tour this fall.
When we caught up at CRS, the boys made it clear — 2025 is about growth, goals, and getting their message out.
“We believe music is more than just playing songs — it’s about making Jesus’ name famous, not ours,” Jack shared, adding that touring, recording, and reaching new audiences is top of mind for them this year.
This band may look polished now, but don’t let that fool you — they’re still very much in their “DIY era.” Case in point? “We don’t have a tour bus or van,” Evan laughed. “It’s just Garrett’s truck or Ryan’s car. A lot of McDonald’s runs.”
That realness — combined with talent, tight friendship, and a deep love for the music — is exactly why fans are falling fast for The Jack Wharff Band. And with “Richmond’s Most Wanted” on repeat and a jam-packed summer on the horizon, it’s safe to say these boys are wanted far beyond Virginia.
For more on The Jack Wharff Band, make sure to watch our full interview with the guys below — and don’t forget to let us know what you think of “Richmond’s Most Wanted” by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
