Rafe Carlson

Forged in the frigid northwoods of Minnesota, Rafe Carlson has become one of the loudest voices out of the Midwest. His sound, a potent blend of gritty southern rock and modern country, is as unapologetic and untamed as the northern wilderness that shaped him. Carlson's music is a testament to his blue-collar roots, with a raw honesty that resonates with a rapidly growing fanbase who are tired of the polished and predictable.
Proving that the old-fashioned way still works, Rafe has built a grassroots following across the country over the course of 600+ shows, with acts like Jon Pardi, Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert and more. Rafe conquers the stage like a pioneer conquering the Northern Frontier, with a live show that’s as unpredictable as the Great Northwoods… where guitars are tossed across the stage, and the energy is infectious. It's at these shows, playing iconic festivals like WE Fest, Hoofbeat Country Fest, Lakes Jam, and many more, that Carlson has truly carved out his niche, one explosive performance at a time.
Rafe’s debut album Out of the Woods, and his 2026 tour of the same name, reached tens of thousands from the stage, but millions beyond the stage, pushing him over 100,000,000 views on socials, tens of thousands of monthly listeners, and over 1,000,000 all-time streams.
Drawing comparisons to bands like The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and artists like Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, and HARDY, Out of the Woods continues to reach new fans around the globe, while pushing the boundaries of how hard country is allowed to rock.