Deeply rooted yet constantly moving, Alyssa Hankey writes the anthems of a modern American wanderer—carrying the ghosts of the Rust Belt in her voice wherever the highway takes her
Pittsburgh Plays Fleetwood Mac - Dec. 18, 2021 - Photo: Nick Prezioso
GOOD COUNTRY PEOPLE (2026)
Good Country People is a raw, story-driven country record rooted in blue-collar realism, Appalachian grit, and cinematic outlaw storytelling. Based out of Pittsburgh, PA, Alyssa Hankey delivers a collection that blends traditional honky-tonk energy with modern Americana depth drawing on themes of backroad freedom, working-class resilience, reckless romance, and the moral gray areas that define small-town life.
Musically, the album sits between independent country and roots-forward Americana, featuring pedal steel from Read Connolly (Zach Bryan / formerly Charles Wesley Godwin) and organ & piano from Randall Baumann, produced and engineered by Kevin Mulcahy with a live-band feel that favors authenticity over polish.
Credits
Release Date: July 17th, 2026
Written by Alyssa Hankey
Alyssa Hankey - Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Jacob Horwat - Bass
Kevin Mulcahy - Drums, percussion
Randall Baumann - Piano, organ
Read Connolly - Pedal Steel, banjo, dobro
Ben Mainhart - Violin
Halloway - backing vocals
Produced by Kevin Mulcahy
Engineered/Mixed by Kevin Mulcahy
Mastered by Garrett Haines/Treelady Studios
Alyssa Hankey Band supporting The Clarks (Big Rail Brewing- Aug. 3, 2024 - SOLD OUT SHOW)
BIO
Alyssa Hankey is a traveling troubadour whose music maps the complex terrain of the American experience, blending the industrial grit of western Pennsylvania’s steel towns with the vast freedom of the open highway. Seamlessly crossing genres, her songwriting pairs vivid, cinematic storytelling with a restless, independent spirit that establishes her as a compelling and authentic voice in modern roots music.
Raised in a working-class family amidst the rural hills of Pennsylvania, Hankey’s relationship with music began early. She picked up the guitar at age twelve, spending her high school years quietly sharpening her craft as a songwriter. Later, while studying fine art and graphic design at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, she found her footing on stage, testing her original material at local open-mic nights. For a few years following graduation, she balanced a career as a graphic designer by day with solo acoustic gigs by weekend.
In 2018, Hankey made the defining choice to leave the design world behind and commit to music full-time. Since diving headfirst onto the road, she has built a prolific independent catalog and logged countless miles on cross-country tours. Her evolution as an artist also led to the formation of Alyssa Hankey & The North Woods, a dynamic four-piece outfit that fuses the raw energy of heartland rock with the foundational elements of folk and classic country.
Whether commanding an intimate venue as a solo acoustic act or tearing through high-energy sets with her band around the Pittsburgh region, Hankey’s zero-compromise stage presence is unmistakable. Her reputation as a fierce, authentic performer has earned her slots sharing the stage with notable names across the Americana, country, and rock landscapes, including Charles Wesley Godwin, Tommy Prine, John R Miller, Nicholas Jamerson, and Warren Zeiders.
IN THE PRESS
CBS - Talk Pittsburgh (August 5, 2026)
FOX 8 (WWCP TV) - News Now, Johnstown, PA (August 28th, 2026)
“This song that you will be hearing is about as southwestern PA as you can get. I think it is very relatable for anyone that has grown up or has ever lived near the Monongahela, the Allegheny, or the Ohio. It’s about a certain state of mind that comes from having steel worker blood running through your veins and fireflies in your soul. I really hope you enjoy her music as much as I do.”
“Hankey has shared the stage with notable artists, including The Clarks, The Steel Wheels, and Charles Wesley Godwin, earning her a reputation as a standout performer in the Americana music scene. Critics have praised her ability to bridge generational gaps, crafting music for “old souls who want to hear something new.”
“Alyssa Hankey, the smoke and moonshine voiced mountain girl, weaves her musical tales with authenticity and raw emotion. Hailing from the misty peaks of Appalachia, her voice resonates like the wind through ancient pines—weathered, haunting, and steeped in tradition. Taking nods from the legendary female folk and blues singer songwriters from years gone by, she blends fresh new waters with the muddy old.”
“A smoldering love letter to rural living, delivered from a place where nobody ever comes, and nobody ever will.”
“Always front and center, Alyssa’s distinctively raspy voice,
raw emotion and determined cadence bring these song vignettes
to life, and her poignant words stir emotions and trigger visions
of the world she sings about”
“Love Song” is the type of tune you want to put on after a long day, as Alyssa Hankey’s gorgeous voice could be a soothing antidote for any trying inconvenience. With a remarkable Americana sound, the Pittsburgh-based singer humbly asks that you go easy on her heart: “I’ve been up / I’ve been down / I been chewed up and then spit out / I’ve been going it alone / I never learned to dance / but if you give me a chance / I’ll give your heart a home.”
“Her music appeals to a wide demographic, including the musicians of yesterday and current learners who feel they just weren’t made for these times. Hankey makes music for old souls who want to hear something new, and if that isn’t an achievement for a talented young songwriter, quite frankly, I’m not sure what is.”
