This year has been a standout journey for Ray Long and the Highway 61 Band. The band kicked off with a major win at a Battle of the Bands hosted at OZ'Z Bar & Grill. That victory not only highlighted their talent but also earned them a spot at the Thunder Valley Festival jam sessions, where they played alongside an impressive lineup over a three-day festival. They were also proud to be featured in this year's Peoria Music Live 2025 Showcase at the 3300 Event Center! In addition to their festival wins and local gigs, the band also took part in Lindsey Camp's Live and Loud at OZ'Z. This was a huge benefit event for the OSF Children’s Hospital and Santa Bill’s Hospital Helpers, where they helped collect toys and donations for kids in the hospital to be distributed for Christmas. The band even recorded a Christmas song that will be shared on YouTube on Christmas Eve, adding a festive and charitable note to their year!

The band found a home base at the Country Saloon, which they’ve lovingly dubbed their home bar. They've enjoyed so many shows there, and became a regular appearance at the Spontaneous Musical Combustion Open Stage. Miss Becky McDaniel was made the new PR rep for the River City Blues Society, and is doing a killer job at bringing community awareness to that organization alongside organizations such as Peoria Music Live and Harmonize Peoria.

The highlight of the year was definitely their invitation to perform at the Peoria Blues & Heritage Festival alongside names like Taj Farrant, Ruthie Foster, ZZ Ward, Gov't Mule and so many others in August. There, they debuted a brand new song and have since added several more original tracks to their repertoire.

Overall, the band has been blending their blues grit with southern rock and bluegrass influences, creating a unique and evolving sound. It’s been a year of growth, community involvement, new experiences, and a lot of exciting milestones!