Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Wakefield.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a traveling man; born in St Louis and lived in South Korea, Texas, Georgia, California, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I won’t bore you with the details of every move, but I’ve been exposed to much live music through those travels. It all started with my family, though. We used to sing together, primarily for church or holiday events, and there was always music in the house growing up. I learned about vocal harmonization by listening to my parents do it. I was in complete awe of my father’s ability to pick up nearly any instrument and make beautiful sounds. He was always recording songs in his office, playing in some group, or teaching someone to play. After some fruitless dabbling in piano and drums, I picked up the guitar in earnest at the age of ten, started writing songs at around fifteen, and have been doing it ever since. Strangely enough, I fell into bluegrass only a few years ago. I started picking up bluegrass gigs to stay busy. I had a knack for it because it eventually became all I did, and now I’m helplessly in love with it.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are definitely struggles. The gig schedule I’ve been on the last couple of years has been brutal. Playing 300+ shows a year takes a physical and emotional toll, and I wish I had more time to spend at home writing, practicing, being with my fiancé, or catching up with friends. I want to get to a point where I don’t have to play as often to make a decent living, and I am hoping that opportunities will present themselves shortly to lessen that load. I guess the road is never smooth for someone following their passion, but it probably ends up being even bumpier for those who don’t. Hiccups and disappointments are just a natural part of it all. It doesn’t matter how many people are in the room or if no one claps or tips. I will play my heart out regardless and, hopefully, play well enough to turn any crowd of people into a great show.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a songwriter, guitarist, and singer. I currently specialize in bluegrass music, but I played psychedelic rock and folk before that. I have a project under my name, Andrew Wakefield, and I also play with the bands The Well Drinkers, The Bluegrass Brunch Boys, and The Pigeon River Messengers. I bring a unique flavor to the scene because my musical influences are diverse, and I always strive to create something unconventional and avoid clichés. I have a new record in the works featuring some of the best players in the area, which is set for an early 2023 release.
What changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Bluegrass is exploding and will continue to do so! Genre boundaries will continue to blur, keeping the scene fresh and reaching more ears than most traditionalists would have thought possible. There is a general longing today for something organic and timeless, and bluegrass is precisely that.
Pricing:
- Event specific – inquire by email
Contact Info:
- Website: https://andrewwakefield.net
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wakefieldmusic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/wakefieldmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBEXgyvCSnl9GN3T5YFP1PA
