Artists Sponsored by Southern Thread
Power, sincerity and conviction are hallmarks of Brandon Jenkins the songwriter and Brandon Jenkins the singer. He has made a name for himself as a songwriter able to tackle all slices of life with equal vigor. As a vocalist, Jenkins possesses a country twang that crushes the metaphorical crutch of not judging a book by its cover that many folks would use to describe his appearance. It is unwise to simply dismiss Brandon Jenkins as a tattooed guitar wielding giant, although that is certainly part of his personality.
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Many people have come to know Brandon Rhyder’s name and music over the last few years. Regionally he’s definitely a staple of the Texas scene and has made the most of each opportunity he’s been given. Brandon Rhyder is different. When you hear the voice you know it’s unmistakably him. When he comes out with a new single you never know what you’re going to get.
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Casey Donahew grew up just south of Forth Worth in Burleson, Texas, where he was active in rodeo as well as his father's greyhound dog racing career. Music, including 80's and 90's country and healthy doses of Elvis-his mother's favorite-was always a part of Casey's life, though it wasn't until he learned to drive that he truly discovered his passion for it. "You're really not in charge of the radio dial until you've got your own car," he quips, recalling his first musical infatuation with Matchbox 20, who he names a major influence on his songwriting and whose hit, "3 A.M.," he still covers today
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A native of Houston, Cory Morrow began playing guitar at a young age, but did not get serious about his music until attending college in Lubbock. Here, he was inspired by Texas songwriting greats like Robert Earl Keen and Townes Van Zandt. Spurred by this musical inspiration and a youthful vigor, Morrow moved to Austin in the early 90’s to build his own career.
Curtis Grimes is a 25 year old singer/songwriter from Upshur County who is pursuing his dream in the Texas Country Music scene. His current band consists of bass player Josh Williams, lead guitarist Nick Gardner, drummer Ryan Beverly and fiddle player Shawn dean.
The Dirty River Boys make music with the type of sound and texture that is soaked in the realities of the hard-scrabble city they call home in the far west Texas desert. Members Nino Cooper, Travis Stearns and Marco Gutierrez are quickly becoming known for their rousing live shows and debut release Long Cold Fall, both of which feature the boys winning three-part harmonies and stout acoustic instrumentation.
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Eagle Eye Williamson. "Eagle Eye" Williamson is a one man band that plays drums, electric guitar and sings at the same time. All songs are original works, composed and written by Eagle Eye. He was born in south Texas and was raised in Austin, Tx. Eagle Eye currently lives and works in Austin, Tx. His music is focused around roots blues/rock.
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A mere 57 seconds into the opening track of the Josh Abbott Band's "She's Like Texas", you're likely to be hooked. One intro, one verse and one chorus are pretty much all that's required to recognize something special in the Texas-based act.
Kristen is currently in Nashville working on some exciting new music. She has signed a recording contract for Sony Music-Nashville, and will be spending the summer making a new record with famed producers Tony Brown and Paul Overstreet. Kristen will still be playing shows all over Texas this summer, so keep an eye out for her. Her new music will be well worth the wait...
Kyle Park, the Austin-born Texas artist has been writing since the release of his last album, his second, the irreverent and powerful ANYWHERE IN TEXAS, which featured a dozen songs written and co-written by Park. He sings. He writes songs. He plays guitar. And 2010 has seen two new recordings — four- and five-song EPs of cool, crisp country tunes, just like him, released in April and September — that are the foundation of a full-length album he plans to release next year.
Along comes Kylie Rae Harris, an improbable mix of a beautiful, silly-hearted young girl with the biggest blue eyes you ever saw, a beat-up guitar, songs that are real, and an amazing bluesy voice that belies the package it comes in.
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Philip Q. Morrow has been singing and writing songs since he taught himself how to play guitar at age 16. His musical influences stem from artist such as Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder and Dave Matthews to relative new comers like Matt Nathanson and Sean McConnell. Within his songs you’ll hear country, rock, pop and on occasion a little jazz. When asked what he liked most about being an artist, Morrow said, I love to sing, and for me performing can be such an emotional experience, but I’d consider myself a lyricist first.
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The Rankin Twins’ story is a tale that is just beginning. Having already been nominated for several awards, opening for Texas country music legends and a top-50 hit single on the Texas charts with their first effort, it’s safe to say that The Rankin Twins’ best days are ahead of them. If you don’t know and love the Rankin Twins now, you will soon.
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Rosehill are Myers and Mitch McBain, whose lifelong friendship began when both connected as music fans and fledgling performers while growing up together on Rosehill Drive in Cypress, Texas. “We met in high school,” Mitch explains. “I wasn’t a singer yet and Blake didn’t play guitar. Our bond was created because we needed each other. When we started writing songs, everything clicked.”
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