Our Story
Desert Backroads is an Outlaw Country duo born from the dust-blown canyons and wide horizons of the Arizona Desert. We are Rich and Julie Westerlund, originally from Austin, Texas, now living in Tucson, Arizona. We weave raw acoustic guitar and fiddle to tell stories of wandering spirits and the beauty of the Southwest. Our sound is crafted to feel like a fading sunset—warm, intimate, and deeply rooted in the stories of the West. Join us on a journey where every note echoes the rhythm of the trail.
Desert Backroads
Outlaw Country capturing the raw warmth and history of the American West. Experience the sprawling rhythm of the open road through our original acoustic soundscapes and great Classic Country covers.
Melodies of the
Desert Heart
Warm folk-rock grit meets the sprawling silence of the high mesa. Desert Backroads captures the spirit of the open trail through raw acoustic textures and cinematic storytelling.
Music & Media
Original recordings and cinematic live sessions that capture the raw warmth of the high desert. Experience the rhythm of the open road through our latest singles and curated visual stories.
Song List
#
16TH AVENUE - LACY J. DALTON
A
A STAR IS BORN - MAYBE IT'S TIME - JASON ISBELL
AMANDA - WAYLON JENNINGS
ARE THE GOOD TIMES REALLY OVER FOR GOOD - MERLE HAGGARD
ASHOKAN FAREWELL - VIOLIN SOLO - JAY UNGAR
B
BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN - WILLIE NELSON
BROKEN - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
BROKEN HALOS - CHRIS STAPLETON
C
CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
COLORADO - CODY JINKS
D
DESPARADOS WAITING FOR A TRAIN - GUY CLARK
DUBLIN BLUES - GUY CLARK
F
FOLSOM PRISON BLUES - JOHNNY CASH
FOOTLIGHTS - MERLE HAGGARD
FOR THE GOOD TIMES - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
G
GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY - JOHNNY CASH
GOOD HEARTED WOMAN - WAYLON JENNINGS
H
HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY - GEORGE JONES
HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
HERE COMES THAT RAINBOW AGAIN- KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
HIGHWAYMAN - THE HIGHWAYMEN
I
I WALK THE LINE - JOHNNY CASH
I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY - HANK WILLIAMS
J
JODY AND THE KID - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
K
KRISTOFFERSON'S GON - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
L
L.A. FREEWAY - GUY CLARK
LIFE IS A PROMISE - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
LONG BLACK TRAIN - JOSH TURNER
LONG BLACK VEIL - JOHNNY CASH
LOST HIGHWAY - HANK WILLIAMS
LOVING ARMS - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
LOVING HER WAS EASIER - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
LUCKENBACH TEXAS - WAYLON JENNINGS
M
MAMMAS DON'T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS - WAYLON JENNINGS
ME AND BOBBY MEGEE - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
MY HEROS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS - WAYLON JENNINGS
O
OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE - MERLE HAGGARD
P
PANCHO AND LEFTY = TOWNES VAN ZANDT
R
RAINBOWS - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
S
SEVEN SPANISH ANGELS - WILLIE NELSON
SHE AIN'T GOING NOWHERE - GUY CLARK
SING ME BACK HOME - MERLE HAGGARD
SNOWING ON RATON - TOWNES VAN ZANDT
SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
T
TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - JOHN DENVER
TENNESSEE WHISKEY - CHRIS STAPLETON
THE CAPE - GUY CLARK
THE GAMBLER - KENNY ROGERS
THE LAST RIDE - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
THE PILGRIM CHAPTER 33 - RICHRD WESTERLUND
THE SILVER TOUNGUED DEVIL AND I - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
THE SOUND OF SILENCE - DISTURBED
THESE OLD BOOTS - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
THIS OLD ROAD - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
TO BEAT THE DEVIL - KRIS KSISTOFFERSON
TOMBSTONE ARIZONA - ORIGINAL SONG - RICHARD WESTERLUND
TOO STONED TO CRY - ANDREW COMBS
TUPELO - JASON ISBALL
TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD - JAMIES JOHMSON
Desert Backroads • Cinematic folk-rock duo from the high desert • Capturing the raw rhythm of the open road • Warm acoustic sounds for wandering souls
The Live Sessions
Experience Desert Backroads live. Join us under the wide canyon skies where the raw warmth of the road meets the stage for an unforgettable performance.
