Wade Bowen



































Wade Bowen
Wade Bowen Videos


Across five independent albums and a decade-plus of touring, Wade Bowen has amassed a string of regional hits and awards, 

and also a fan base who is passionate about music. Indeed, in the fourteen years since Bowen launched his career at Stubb’s Barbecue

 in Lubbock, Texas, he’s risen from collegiate

greenhorn to the top of the Texas music and Red Dirt circuit. His colleagues and friends Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Eli Young Band and

others had made the major-label leap, helping to take a vibrant regional sound to the rest of America. Now Bowen is poised to bring

that Red Dirt and independent spirit to country music at large.

 

Wade’s baritone is dense and concentrated, with traces of whisky and smoke and an

autumnal warmth. Bowen takes command of his songs, cutting over the top of producer Justin Niebank’s sculpted guitar-scapes on his latest release "The Given." The

sound is one hundred percent country, rife with pedal steel and vivid emotion, but it’s also music that could easily find a home with fans

of Bowen’s rock idols – folks like Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne. Take a few passes through this project and you’ll hearing a

singer’s singer and a focused songwriter who’s adding layers to his music all the time.

 

On a live circuit where the overwhelming mandate is to stir up a party, Bowen has aimed to leave folks with

a memory. As a writer, even one from a state with some tall literary traditions, he’s not trying to earn a PhD in poetry; he’s trying to

communicate. “My style,” he says, “is more to try to evoke an emotion. I’m more about trying to leave a mark on people.”

Growing up in Waco, Bowen’s exposure to the music of Texas was limited to whatever made it on FM country radio. George Strait

was king. Guy Clark was a name he’d not have recognized before getting to college. But at school, in Lubbock, he discovered the full

spectrum of Texas artistry, starting with Robert Earl Keen. “He was a big changing point in my life,” says Wade. “I realized by listening

to him that there was way more out there than I ever knew. So I started getting into Guy Clark and other great Texas music. But I was

obsessed with Robert Earl. When we started the band we were sort of a Robert Earl cover band.”

That band was called West 84, and they found that with their large posse of friends who’d always show up for a good time, it was easy

to land gigs. Bowen meanwhile began to channel a lifelong love of writing into songs, and when college ended he made two major

decisions. He took on the role of solo artist, and he moved to Austin. By then, about 2001, fellow Waco native Pat Green had busted

out to national prominence and the Texas music phenomenon was the buzz of Nashville. It was part of Wade Bowen’s inspiration to

charge ahead.

Try Not To Listen is the album Wade regards as his true debut, the project that kicked off a life and living made of 200-plus nights a

year on the road and patient grassroots fan development. Then with Lost Hotel in 2006, things really began to click. The opening track

“God Bless This Town” reached No. 1 on the bellwether Texas Music Chart, and to date, 

 Bowen has had a total of 10 Number 1's and 15 Top 5 Singles on the Texas Music Chart. 

He achieved another landmark in 2010, when he was invited to add his name to the roster of great artists

who’ve made a Live At Billy Bob’s CD/DVD combo at the iconic club in Fort Worth. 

Date Venue City State Note
No Tour Dates Available
08/27/2010 - Local Favorite Bowen Returns With New Hit Single From Live CD - Read More
05/30/2010 - Dreams continue for Wade Bowen - Read More
03/31/2010 - Brazos Nights Concert Series Begins Friday  - Read More
02/01/2010 - Wade Bowen makes history in Texas  - Read More
More News
No Blogs Available
02/01/2006 - Wade Bowen Q&A - Read More
More News
Average Rating : 0              Total Reviews: 395


Wade Bowen  02/20/2003            
TxGal
To Wade and West84- you guys are awesome. I love the newest album "try not to listen"....It is very hard not to. Keep up the good work! I can't wait until April for the live cd to come out. "Good Luck in the future!!!"-as if you guys need it. You rock!
Wade Bowen  02/19/2003            
robin
hey wade it is robin just to say hey and hellow hope to see you soon . love robin texas music's bigest fan wade and west84 are good in consert go see them some time
Wade Bowen  01/14/2003            
walt harris
I just got both cds and would like to say they both are extreamly good!!!! Its not very often when you here a texas music band put together such great sounds as wade bowen does with the rest of the band.
Wade Bowen  12/06/2002            
Christina
Great show last night at the Blue Light. We had a fun time. Thanks for finally coming to Amarillo!
Wade Bowen  11/30/2002            
A Texas Music/Red Dirt fan from Seattle
I am way up here in Seattle and I just purchased this fine new album from Wade and his band West 84. What a great collection of songs. He's poetic with his lyrics and does an outstanding cover of the song "Please Come To Boston." Whew, I didn't expect that one to be a rocker but it was! If you like CCR, The Great Divide, Jason Boland etc, then Give Wade Bowen & West 84 a shot
Wade Bowen  11/26/2002            
dixiechicklet
more practice
Wade Bowen  11/18/2002            
Music Critic
What an amazing show on Sat. night at the Blue Light! I can't wait to purchase the new Live album when it comes out! When is it coming out? The songs were great and everyone sounded really tight! Great job guys!
Wade Bowen  11/13/2002            
Karen in the Garden
I agree with TX ajr. Wade was very polite when I met him. I can't wait to see him again. Foul mouth Wayne Fisbo does not need to be posted on this site again. Why do plan to attend another Wade Bowen show if you hate him so much. GROW UP!
Wade Bowen  11/08/2002            
Can't Wait for LIVE Album
Who are you, ?"practice"? to make such a comment? There happen to be a lot of people really looking forward to this live album. And for your information, most artist go back and RE-PRODUCE there so called "LIVE" albums anyway! So before you get off telling a band to "practice" before they record, why don't you tell other artist that do these "LIVE" albums to make them LIVE! Something WB & W84 will have no problem doing.
Wade Bowen  11/07/2002            
practice
you guys need some good sit down practice.to many bar bands.why a live cd.the fun will be there but what happens to the quality.
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