Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-10-28
Authentic Unlimited have released “City of Angels,” their new single on Edisonic Records and the first preview of their forthcoming album. Written by guitarist Colton Baker, the song arrives as the band celebrates its fourth consecutive IBMA Vocal Group of the Year award.
“City of Angels” pairs the band’s high, tight harmonies with the instrumental interplay that has helped establish Authentic Unlimited as a leading presence in contemporary bluegrass. The song follows a heartbroken country boy who travels to Los Angeles to win back his lost love, only to encounter the realities of the big city.
“‘City of Angels’ is a song I wrote a few years back that I never expected would see the light of day. It tells the story of a heartbroken ‘good ol’ boy’ who goes out to Los Angeles to find his lost love and win her back, only to be met with the reality of the big city,” says Baker. “I brought it to the band when we were looking for material, and the rest of the guys liked it, so we worked it up and put the AU touch on it. I am so proud of how it turned out, and I hope you enjoy ‘City of Angels’!”
Listen to “City of Angels” and watch the official audio on YouTube.
The release comes during a milestone stretch for the band. Authentic Unlimited earned Vocal Group of the Year for the fourth straight year, spanning 2023–2026, at the 37th IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on October 22 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The group also opened the evening’s performances with “City of Angels.”
Formed in 2022 out of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver following Lawson’s retirement, Authentic Unlimited quickly built a reputation around its vocal blend and musicianship. The band made its Grand Ole Opry debut in 2023 and earned its first IBMA Vocal Group of the Year honor that same year. In 2024, the group won three IBMA awards, including Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Fall in Tennessee.”
Following four albums for Billy Blue Records, Authentic Unlimited became the founding artist of Edisonic Records. The lineup features Colton Baker on guitar, Jerry Cole on bass, Eli Johnston on banjo, Jesse Brock on mandolin and Stephen Burwell on fiddle.
Edisonic Records embraces artists working across musical boundaries, with Authentic Unlimited helping introduce the label through its earlier single “Cost of Living,” an IBMA Song of the Year nominee.
For more information, visit Authentic Unlimited’s website and Edisonic Records.
