Arlo McKinley has had a whirlwind few years.

The Cincinnati, Ohio, native grew up a punk fan and later cut his teeth in several rootsier groups (including the Great Depression and Arlo McKinley and the Lonesome Sound) before landing a solo record deal with John Prine's Oh Boy Records. In 2020, the singer-songwriter issued the spare Americana LP Die Midwestern, featuring the kind of striking lyrics and meticulous arrangements that should appeal to Jason Isbell fans.

McKinley's well-deserved success is a long time coming. Here are five things to know about the up-and-comer:

Meet More of The Boot's 2021 Artists to Watch:

More From Big Cat - Country with Attitude