by Nicole Sipple
After a snow storm caused the cancellation of his March 2017 show, WCL is thrilled to welcome back Nashville singer-songwriter Will Hoge to our downstairs stage this Wednesday, September 20th! With 9 studio albums and 3 EP’s which showcase the evolution of his music from full-band rock ‘n’ roll to solo country artist, Hoge has kept up a relentless touring schedule over the past 16 years, sometimes playing more than 200 shows in a year. While he had built up a loyal fan base throughout these years, it wasn’t until 2012 when he suddenly found himself in the spotlight, when Eli Young Band hit #1 on the Billboard Country chart with their recording of his song “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Soon he was earning nominations at the CMA, ACM, and GRAMMY awards, playing gigs at the Grand Ole Opry and The Late Show with David Letterman, and earning a steady paycheck by writing songs for other artists. The songs on his latest album, Anchors, are the result of a man who found himself uninspired by the redundancy of being in a band, so he made the decision to let his band go and tour the country by himself with just a guitar and a keyboard. As a result, he found himself feeling reenergized by his newfound freedom as a songwriter and performer, which fueled the creation of some of his strongest work to date.
Supporting Will Hoge is former Augustana front man, Dan Layus. After putting out four albums with the (now disbanded) rock band from 2003-2011, Layus recently began his solo venture as a country artist. His debut album, Dangerous Things, which was released in 2016 and features several tracks with singing duo The Secret Sisters adding harmonies, is some of his most personal work to date. Over the last couple of years, he has been given some incredible opportunities to expose his music to new audiences, with gigs opening for country superstars the Dixie Chicks and pop sensation One Direction. Dan Layus bears his heart and soul in his songs and on stage, and this special tour with Will Hoge is one not to be missed! Tickets are still available.
