Meet Andrew Wakefield | Bluegrass Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Wakefield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
That having your moment in the spotlight is selfish. Do what brings you joy and if you shine while doing it, great! And letting other people shine in no way takes away from your shine. Everybody can and should shine! Give incredible players their due respect and bask in their talent. Let them inspire you. There is enough spotlight to go around and competition should always be friendly. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong! On the topic of advice, I’ll share something else I heard that always stuck with me: “Do not take advice from anyone whose life you don’t want.” Truth is, most advice comes from people who have no business giving it. For the best advice, find someone you aspire to be like and ask them how they do it. There was a time when I took advice from people I shouldn’t have simply because they forced their opinions on me. Looking back, a lot of it was useless and sometimes even harmful…don’t worry about pleasing someone if their wants and dreams aren’t in sync with yours. If going against their wishes is a dealbreaker, they might not care for you as much as you thought.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a bluegrass guitarist, songwriter, and singer. I strive to have a unique style and avoid being an exact replication of what’s popular, though I will always continue paying homage to the greats. There have been major challenges but I’m deeply grateful. One thing I’ve learned is that doing things ‘by the book’ doesn’t always(or even often) equal success, so I’m usually trying to think outside the box with promotion, live show ideas, recording, or whatever else I am working on. There are eleventy bazillion bands with the same sound vying for popularity…you’re better off being different than trying to compete! I want the world to know I appreciate all the support immensely. The folks that come to every show, the three dollars someone dropped in my guitar case, people sharing my music and reaching out to contacts for me, every word of encouragement, people coming up to me after a show and telling me what music means to them, the venues for having me…I could go on and on. I’m thankful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Chimney Rock, so you know we gotta do a hike in the state park. Chimney Rock might be the most beautiful place in the state, and I’m not just saying that cause I live there! After taking in those 100 mile views we can head ‘downtown’ to the Tiki Bar to grab a beverage, sing some karaoke and jump in the river. Then it’s on to Lake Lure to kayak, get sunburned, marvel at the place they shot Dirty Dancing and joke about what kind of people come to the annual Dirty Dancing Festival they throw here. And finally we’re going back to my place to pick until the sun comes up, so don’t forget to bring your instrument!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I truly owe it all to my wife, Kristen. Taking the giant leap of going full-time with music was scary, stressful, and came with its fair share of doubt. Her belief in me is and has always been the coal that powers this train. She has never questioned my aspirations and never asked me to stray from the path. On the contrary, she holds me to my dreams and expects me to fulfill them with unwavering confidence. Believing in myself is of course a major component of this journey, but the power of someone I love believing in me with every fiber of their being is indescribable. It’s something I truly hadn’t felt before knowing her and it makes me feel like I can move mountains. She is an incredible artist in her own right and inspires me daily. Seeing her thrive as a painter made me realize making a living as an artist was possible, and that being an artist is more than just a lifestyle; it’s something that emanates from your soul. We share a bond as artists and the discussions we have exploring what that means to us are some of the best conversations I’ve ever had. She’s gorgeous, smart, kind, funny, talented, the mother of my child…and I’m the luckiest man alive!

Website: https://andrewwakefield.net

Instagram: https://instagram.com/wakefieldmusic

Facebook: https://facebook.com/wakefieldmusic

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Wakefield-Music