Today we’d like to introduce you to Utah Burgess.
Utah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I moved to Western PA in the late 90’s and immediately discovered the incredible local music scene we have here. It reignited my passion of playing and drove me to become immersed into the scene. I started my own production and record label in 2005, Shady Lady Studio Productions and Records, and recently celebrated 20 years in business. We promote, book, and manage shows ranging from local to national talent in our area.
I also made my way through several groups and played a lot of solo shows. In 2010 I formed Noble Hops, at the time a bar band acoustic duo. After a few iterations it has become what it is today, an American rock and roll band with some americana and alt-country grit. We deliver our own songs that speak in real life terms to the everyday person. We were honored with a couple of Jose Music Award nominations in 2025, as well as having spent several consecutive months on the Cashbox Magazine charts, and a few weeks on the UK Hot Disc Top 40 in early 2026. Our latest single “The Trunk” is an all too familiar story on the toll of military service on families and individuals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The early days of Shady Lady Productions was a lot of work. I dove into the major Pittsburgh area trying to do some events and ended up getting my teeth kicked in. I decided around 2012 that instead of being a small fish in a big pond, I’d just stay concentrated on the rural local areas outside of Pittsburgh and be the big fish in a small pond. That really helped turn the corner, both financially and also just in standing out as a brand.
As for the band, well… have you been in a band? It can sometimes be like being in a bad marriage times however many people are in the band. But overall, it really has been an incredible experience. I’ve had the great priviledge of playing with some of the most talented singers, players and songwriters in our area!
Oh, and then there was that one thing… Covid.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Keeping the focus on my entertainment company, Shady Lady Studio Productions and Records, I have a hand in a few different aspects of the music scene in our area. The production side, Shady Lady Productions, does booking and production management for a handful of venues, as well as some of the bigger events in our area such as the Big Butler Fair and the Moraine State Regatta. We also hold our own 3 music festival called The Band Jam Grass Roots Music Festival, which is sort of live spotlight on the great local music we feature every Sunday night at 7p on the Grass Roots Show on The Rock Station 97.7.
The Records part, Shady Lady Records, is the label that oversees my own band Noble Hops, as well as some other artists through the years like After The Fall, Rockabilly Junction, (kaj), and recently James LeVier.
I’d say what I am most proud of is that through all of my activities in our local scene here in Western Pennsylvania, I’ve helped bridge a lot of local scenes into a much bigger scene, helping to introduce so many artists to each other and help bring attention to them and their incredible talents and music. I’m also very proud of doing what I say I am going to do and honoring my word, which I think is part of what sets Shady Lady Studio Productions and Records apart.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t have a single childhood memory, there are different moments for different reasons throughout those years. I’d say during early middle-childhood, it was times with my friend Craig as we roamed the fields and farmlands of our youth. From sleepovers to camping, to building spaceships or forts out of piles of junk. They were very free and imaginative times.
During adolescence, the easy answer might be discovering girls, but that also might be to cliche. It was mostly just hanging with friends and discovering music. We’d skip school at times and hang out at at a house where the parent(s) was working and just throw on an album and air guitar/sing/drum. It was often bands like Cheap Trick, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and UFO. You know, pretending we were super talented rock stars!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shadyladystudio.com
- Facebook: @shadyladyproductions
- Twitter: @shadyladyproductions
- Youtube: @noblehopsmusic
