Jamie Kent grew up in Florence and it was while he was living there that he began his career as a country rock singer-songwriter. Kent frequently played area clubs and festivals and, over time, became a well-known local musician.
But about four years ago, he realized that if he was going to take his career to the next level, he needed to move out of his hometown. So he packed up and headed to Nashville.
“The thing about Nashville is that if you are willing to work your butt off, there isn’t a better place to be,” Kent said in a recent phone interview. “It can be overwhelming because everyone is trying to do the same thing at the same time. But you can connect with these other people. It’s competitive, but it’s also a community. I love it.”
But Kent also loves coming home, and he will do just that when he plays an unplugged show at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield Friday night at 7 p.m. Singer-songwriter Mikey Sweet will open the show.
The move to Nashville was a big one, but Kent has no regrets. Soon after arriving in Music City, he nabbed the opening slot on a Huey Lewis and the News tour. Lewis became a strong supporter of Kent and even played on his 2016 album “All American Mutt.” That album, a collection of country and roots rock tunes, debuted at No. 16 on Billboard’s country chart, which led to Rolling Stone naming Kent as an “Artist You Need to Know.”
Which leads to the question: Can an artist launch their career while based here in western Massachusetts?
“I think that western Mass. is an incredible place and I miss it all the time,” Kent answered. “But to launch a career, I think you’ve either go to be really lucky or be in a place like this where everybody else is working on the same thing. At least it happens a lot quicker that way.”
It may be quicker, but sure not easy. Kent works hard, constantly writing songs and touring and trying to figure out how to make a living in an ever-changing music business.
“For a while, I was trying to make a living writing songs for others artists, but that was like playing the lottery,” he said. “As streaming goes up and CD sales go down, everyone is writing the same damn song over and over again.”
Kent, who studied business at Babson College, has a knack for coming up with innovative approaches to sustaining a career in the ever-changing music industry. In 2009, before websites like GoFundMe were the norm for musicians seeking support, Kent established the Collective as a way in which fans could invest in his career in exchange for incentives like free music and concert tickets, as well as a chance to vote on various aspects of his work. From there, he established the Collective Music Group and also organized a summer concert series in Northampton, both as a way for bands to support each other and showcase their music.
Kent is currently writing music for film and television, and has experienced some success with this venture. If you see a promo on television for NBC’s Today Show, the music playing in the background is a Jamie Kent original. He is also at work with his business partner on developing a tour called The Rising Star Roadshow that will help raise money for school music programs.
“The idea of it is that it’s like a traveling roadshow, kind of like a Grand Ole Opry with one backing band and four different artists. Every town we go to, we partner with a local school and collaborate with the school’s musicians on stage, and raise money for their music programs at the same time,” Kent explained. Four Rising Star shows have been done so far, with the goal of growing the program into a full-fledged tour.
In addition to these projects, Kent continues to perform about 200 shows a year, and is writing and recording material for a new album.
“It’s going to be more of a rock album with Americana roots,” said Kent, who was preparing to record at the famed Sun Studios in Memphis the day following our conversation. “I have been inspired by Springsteen’s ‘Tunnel of Love’ album, so this is going to be different from what we’ve done before.”
In May, Kent returned to the area with a big full-band show at the Academy of Music in Northampton, but for this show at Hawks & Reed, he is planning a more intimate performance. Kent will be joined by his bassist Rhees Williams and drummer Dan Holmes. Both are from the area and moved to Nashville after Kent did. He also said there will be special guests popping in.
“This will be a stripped down show with more focus on the storytelling and more songs that people haven’t heard,” Kent said, adding that Greenfield is one of his favorite places in the Pioneer Valley. “I want to share new stuff with (western Massachusetts) first before anyone else gets to hear it.”
Advance tickets are $20 standing, $25 seated and are available at www.HawksAndReed.com. Day of show tickets are $25 standing, $30 seated. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Festival season is fast coming to an end, but it’s not over yet. There is a new festival debuting this weekend called Virgo Vibe that will be held at the outdoor stage at Deja Brew Cafe & Pub in Wendell on Saturday.
The festival, presenting all types of local music, will begin at 1 p.m. and will feature 11 bands, a tandem DJ dance party, food trucks, vending, local art and more
Virgo Vibe is the brainchild of Jason Moses, the keyboardist/vocalist for the Afrofunk band Shokazoba. He has said that the goal of the festival “is to bring our valley’s music culture back to its roots of warmth, appreciation and a celebration of local talent.”
Virgo Vibe will present a level of musical diversity that you don’t often find at festivals; from the outlaw country of Josh LeVangie and the Pistoleros, to the roots reggae of The Equalites, the psychedelic rock of Outer Stylie, to the bluegrass-folk of Mamma’s Marmalade. The performances will wrap up with a set by Moses’ band Shokazoba, followed by DJs who will keep the party going until 1 a.m.
Tickets are $20; children under 12 are admitted for free. Advance tickets can be purchased at The Enthusiast in Greenfield, the Wendell Country Store, Element Brewing Company in Millers Falls and various other locations. Visit www.Facebook.com/VirgoVibeMusic for more information.
Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at soundslocal@yahoo.com.