In a time when the popular choice is to chase the double yellow line down the road to country radio, Boy Named Banjo thrives on its fringes. The Nashville-raised five-piece is a fusion of contemporary country, Americana, and folk-rock stacked on a foundation of bluegrass.
“We’re trying to find our own niche within popular country music today,” says Sam McCullough (drums). “But not straight down the middle.”
The band, which has been together in some iteration since members were in high school, comprises Barton Davies (banjo), Ford Garrard (bass/standing bass), Sam McCullough (drums), Willard Logan (mandolin, acoustic/electric guitar), and William Reames (acoustic guitar/harmonica). William and Willard played in a middle school garage rock band together, but it wasn’t until William met Barton in high school English class that Boy Named Banjo started to take shape.
Barton had just started playing banjo when he heard William listening to bluegrass music. He suggested they jam together, which led to them asking Willard to join them. The guys started playing music on the streets of downtown Nashville, where the name “Boy Named Banjo” was created outside of the famed Robert’s Western World. While playing, a man walked by and yelled to Barton “Play that banjo boy!” Later that night William came up with the name Boy Named Banjo, which has stuck ever since.
Ford started playing bass when he was 13 years old, and he, Willard, William and Barton shared a guitar teacher. They played a couple of shows together in high school but it wasn’t until after college that Ford and Sam joined the band and together the five guys formed the band Boy Named Banjo known today.
“I was like, ‘I don’t think you need a drummer because you’re a bluegrass band, but I’ll be your drummer if you want me to be,’” Sam recalls. “They were like, ‘Hell yeah, let’s do it.’”
That was the summer of 2013 and the addition of bass and drums immediately started evolving the group’s sound from its rootsy string band feel into something more commercial. Not only did they continue releasing music independently—releasing two albums and an EP—but they also developed their one-of-a-kind live show over the years until it attracted Mercury Records Nashville’s attention in 2019.
Boy Named Banjo had just launched their most extensive headlining tour to date when the pandemic commanded them to drive 36 hours from Portland back to Nashville and put their lives on hold for 18 months. They became Universal Music Group Nashville's first act signed via Zoom about two weeks later.
“We’re a very live-driven band,” William said. “We love to play live. We love for people just to have a great time. We also have many banjo solos and electric guitar. I feel like our music is an escape from everyday life. You come to a show, and we have something for everyone.”
While the pause wasn’t what anyone planned for Boy Named Banjo released their debut EP "Circles" in summer 2021. The collection includes seven tracks co-written by members of the band including "Go Out Dancing," which takes on larger meaning post-pandemic thinking “if it really was ending” what would we do? They used this time writing songs honing their sound with writer/producer Oscar Charles (Carly Pearce Charlie Worsham Elvie Shane). With many songs ready they are deciding what comes next.
“They built themselves into something great and Nashville noticed," says Charles."These guys are realer than real deal."
“The pause was tough touring-wise because that’s where we thrive is on road,” William said.“If people haven’t heard us they seem get it seeing us live.That’s huge aspect figuring capturing our live sound studio tricky.But allowed figure out little bit.”
Until now members say finding way through musical adolescence.“We have special chemistry together,” Barton said.“I think really starting know what sounds like here out,” Sam said.
The band currently plays some country music's largest festivals including Dierks Bentley's Seven Peaks Country Jam recently made CMA Fest debut at Ascend Amphitheatre Nighttime Concert.They head out this fall as direct support multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Kip Moore Fire Wheels Tour.
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