Dave Wilbert Delivers a Saturday Night Soundtrack for the Heartland

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

With a smooth country voice and a love for the traditions that shaped American country music, Dave Wilbert is back with a new anthem that captures the spirit of the weekend. His new single, “Live From America (It’s Saturday Night),” is a feel-good celebration of small-town living, front-porch pickin’, and the freedom that only a Saturday night can offer.

Premiered by Nashville.com, the track is the title cut from Wilbert’s forthcoming debut album, due June 20 via Willbilly Records. Produced by Wilbert alongside Eddy Blount and Julian King, and featuring contributions from some of country’s top songwriters—Kerry Kurt Phillips, Jason Matthews, Phil O’Donnell, and the late Doug Supernaw—the album promises to be a nostalgic yet modern blend of storytelling and rootsy instrumentation.

“This is one of those songs that just feels familiar the first time you hear it,” said Wilbert. “It’s my own little country anthem straight from the heartland of America, which is where I grew up.”

That heartland is Seymour, Indiana—just a short drive from John Mellencamp’s hometown. And it’s no surprise that Mellencamp, along with Merle Haggard, Tom Petty, and Alan Jackson, ranks among Wilbert’s biggest influences. “I think of this song as Small Town meets Country Boy Can Survive meets I Won’t Back Down,” he said. “It lives in that pocket of American grit and community.”

The single draws listeners in with its 90s-style production, anchored by crisp electric guitars, a driving rhythm section, and, yes, a touch of cowbell. But what gives the track staying power is its authenticity. Wilbert knows the stories he’s telling because he’s lived them—from bonfires and back roads to the long haul it’s taken to release this music.

After initially moving to Nashville and garnering industry attention early on, Wilbert stepped away from the scene to raise his three children as a single father. “I had to put music down and be a dad,” he shared. “I don’t regret it for a second. I was their Little League coach and recital dad. But eventually, with a little push from my kids, I decided to get back at it.”

That comeback includes not only a new album, but a new outlook. “I had to let go of the business side that was clouding the creative part of me,” he said. “Now, I’m just making music I believe in, songs that reflect who I am and where I come from.”

The full 12-track album will feature a mix of originals and co-writes, including “Take It Outside” (which held the No. 1 spot on the CDX Radio Chart for four weeks), “Tractors and Trucks,” and “The Cabin Song,” a personal ballad written for his daughters. And while Wilbert remains humble about his writing skills, his lyrics—drawn from real life—hit all the right emotional notes.

“I don’t write every day. I’m not that guy,” he said. “But when something strikes me—whether it’s my wife, my kids, or just an old memory—I write from that space.”

His journey back to the stage hasn’t been without hurdles. In 2024, Wilbert suffered a serious injury from a fall that sidelined him for months. “I shattered my heel. It took me nearly four months just to stand again,” he said. “But the music kept me going. I was literally listening to playback and making vocal notes from a recliner.”

Now back on his feet and performing again, Wilbert is eyeing tour dates and expanding his reach beyond Nashville. “I’d love to come play in New York, or anywhere people want to hear real country music,” he said. “This record is for the people who work hard all week and just want to enjoy a cold beer and a good song on a Saturday night.”

With "Live From America (It’s Saturday Night)," Dave Wilbert isn’t just giving listeners a song—they’re getting a soundtrack for life in the real world. Whether you grew up with boots on a back porch or just appreciate the sound of it, Wilbert’s music is a welcome return to the kind of country that never goes out of style.

To learn more, visit DaveWilbertMusic.com and stream the new single everywhere now.

Listen to the full Interview with Dave Wilbert on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience.