Eric Church Releases Expansive Live Album "Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive"

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Country star Eric Church has released a new live album, "Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive," that showcases the ambitious scale of his latest tour. Recorded at a Nashville show, the 19-track project features Church's six-piece core band joined by horns, strings, an eight-voice gospel choir, and longtime collaborator Joanna Cotten, creating a lush, cinematic sound that transforms his music into something more soulful and textured than a traditional country live record.

Why it matters

The release of "Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive" allows Church's fans to experience the full sonic power of his latest live show, which has been praised for its depth, mood, and commitment to live musicianship over spectacle. The album captures a specific creative moment in Church's evolving live performance.

The details

The album presents Church's "Evangeline vs. The Machine" material performed front to back, followed by reimagined catalog favorites. The expansive musical arrangements, featuring horns, strings, and a gospel choir, give the songs added emotional gravity and push Church's music beyond its usual boundaries into something more soulful and textured. Tracks like "Knives of New Orleans" showcase the intensity of Church's live delivery, with the singer admitting he nearly passed out mid-performance.

• The album was recorded at a show in Nashville in 2026.

What’s next

Church will continue his "Free the Machine" tour, which has already been praised for its depth, mood, and commitment to live musicianship.