THE WESTERN EXPRESS

An eclectic collection of well-written, melodic songs that offer a keen and sincere perspective into love, romance, humour, and the overall human experience. Storytelling at its very best. ~Honky Tonk Times

Their musical approach is far deeper than prevailing tastes in music. The record is rich with fast songs and haunting Texas balladry. ~Americana Highways

One of the best new names from Austin, who play it right and play it real. Recommended for lovers, poets, and the occasional lunatic. ~Lonesome Highway

Inspired by the desert, the dance hall, love, loss, and disco, The Western Express is an Austin country band playing original and classic songs across Texas.

In 2025, the band has played the Houston and Austin Rodeos for the fourth straight year, hosted parties headlined by Summer Dean and Emily Nenni, and recorded their second full-length album, Icarus, slated for release later in the year.

Over the past few years, the band has focused on building an audience in the Texas dance halls, while promoting their debut album, Lunatics, Lovers & Poets, to Texas and Americana radio, with their first two Texas Radio singles breaking the top-30.

Stephen Castillo is the lead singer, songwriter, and creative director. His artistry and aesthetic draw inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, movies, history, and even political theory. More than anything, his creativity is fueled by life experiences: falling in love, broken hearts, honky tonkin’, mental illness, and the desert mountains of West Texas.

“The Western Express started as just an idea for a sound,” Stephen says. “My first trip to Big Bend, I wrote a minor key murder ballad called Leyenda. It really set the tone and aesthetic for the band, even before I had a band.”

From the desert hills of Big Bend to big festival stages and every dive bar in between, Stephen and the boys are crafting their own sound built around haunting ballads, sharp storytelling, and the human experience.