Wade Bowen Revisits Raw 2020 Album, Marks Lost Hotel Anniversary

Published by October 25, 2026

Texas country artist Wade Bowen released The Version of Me You Get in September, a rock-leaning album recorded in 2020 and shelved until a fresh mix. In November, he will mark the 20th anniversary of his 2006 album Lost Hotel with a deluxe edition.

Texas country artist Wade Bowen released The Version of Me You Get in September, a 10-track album he recorded with Sean McConnell in 2020 and shelved once it was finished. Bowen revisited the record in 2025, and McConnell gave it a fresh mix before its release. Rolling Stone describes it as an open diary from a difficult period that included chronic vocal cord issues, a surgery, and the 2018 death of his nephew and touring crew member Chase Cavender.

The album puts a rock edge on Bowen’s gravelly Texas drawl. The title track showcases piano, “Turpentine” asks for a drink stronger than most bars can pour, and “Weight on the Levee” is a collaboration with Dan Tyminski, whom McConnell suggested bringing on board.

In November, Bowen will mark the 20th anniversary of Lost Hotel, his 2006 album, with a deluxe version featuring unreleased studio tracks, live cuts, and demos. Bowen will also headline the Hill Country Reserve festival in Fredericksburg, Texas, that month.

Bowen, now 47, says the career he has built is what drives him. “I’ve established a good career and that I can do this as long as I want,” he said. “That’s success in its own right. I lean on that.”