They recorded their 3rd studio album, "North of Despair", at The Zone in Dripping Springs, Texas. They cut the tracks to mostly live tape, with little editing. This is their first album with Billy Bright added to the lineup. This is also their first album to released by the local Austin record label, Blue Corn Music. They released the music video for, "Just Don't Make 'Em", on March 21, 2018, the video was shot at Austin's Graffiti Park and around town. The song is about Kamel's grandfather and their piece of family property in Llano. The band was inspired after seeing Willie Nelson perform at his ranch in Luck, Texas, and they created, "Kingpin", as a "traveling tune." They made a music video for the song from video footage from a show at one of their favorite Austin music venues, Mohawk. North of Despair was released on April 13, 2018. It earned them their first Grammy Award Nomination for the 2019 61st Grammy Award ceremony for Best Bluegrass Album. The same day of their nomination, they were also awarded a $20,000 at the Black Fret Ball.