Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Bryant.
Hi Trey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started playing music when I was 8 years old. My first instrument was the drums. Around 12, I started guitar lessons and couldn’t put my guitar down. I played in churches for many years both as a volunteer and staff member. I performed in coffee shops occasionally as well, but it wasn’t until October of 2020 that I began playing longer form acoustic shows at local bars. I started listening to country music as a means to engage audiences over those three hour solo performances. That really led me into falling in love with the storytelling and musicianship of country music. In 2021, I began writing original music and adding my originals into my sets. In 2022, I went on tour as a drummer for an artist and spent a lot of our shows learning as much as I could about what to do and what not to do in a full band environment. In 2023, I assembled a talented group of friends to start my own band. We played our first show at a local bar. That was a high that I hadn’t experienced before. Throughout 2023, we continued to play shows at increasingly bigger and more well respected venues around Kentucky and Tennessee both in Knoxville and Nashville. In 2024, we really wanted to focus on quality venues over the quantity that we played in 2023 so that we could build a fan base in strategic regions of Kentucky and Tennessee. We also moved into the Cincinnati area and have built a great fan base there. Since our humble start in a hometown bar, we have played some historic stages and opened for national touring artists such as Walker Montgomery and Phil Vassar. I love country music and performing for people. I’m so excited to see what this journey has to offer through the rest of 2024 and beyond!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting out, there were struggles of trying to ensure that audiences were engaged with my performances. That forced me to grow as a performer and find new avenues to engage. As with any type of dream that a person wishes to chase, there are always roadblocks, both externally and internally. I’ve often struggled, as I imagine many artists do, with imposter syndrome. I’m just a guy from southeastern Kentucky. Why would people want to come out and see my band play and dance and have a good time? I feel that our commitment to excellence through every show and our energetic set list and performance keep people coming back for more every time we play.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We specialize in bringing a high energy show with songs that you would hear if you were driving down the road listening to your favorite country station. I think our setlist definitely sets us apart. We’ve been told by countless venue owners that the reason they continue to bring us back is because we bring an entertaining show, play songs that are current, and are easy to work with. I find that one thing I’m the most proud of is the work we’ve done to remain humble, and work with venues to ensure that the audience is served well. I’ve always said “You can be the best musician or performer in the industry, but if you are difficult to work with or have a chip on your shoulder, venues will hesitate to book you for a second show.”
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Covid was interesting for me as a performer, but I began performing post outbreak. So I had a unique perspective on live music through the pandemic. While it didn’t hinder my ability to perform, it did limit the number of people who could be present at performances.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.treybryantmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treybryantmusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@treybryantmusic
