Nashville's Premiere
Artist & Industry Showcase!
Wednesday, February 12th 7:00pm
Nashville's Premiere
Artist & Industry Showcase!
Wednesday, February 12th 7:00pm
Experience 22-minute sets from six
up-and-coming Nashville superstars!
If you're an artist or a musician, you'll want to hang with the heavy-hitter industry pros in attendance!
Register For A FREE Ticket Here.
This is a free service and credit card is NOT required.
Experience 22-minute sets from six
up and coming Nashville superstars!
If you're an artist or a musician, you'll want to hang with the heavy-hitter industry pros in attendance!
Register For A FREE Ticket Here
This is a free service and credit card is NOT required.
Wednesday, February 12th
Wednesday, February 12th
Waylon Hanel
Twenty-three-year-old Waylon Hanel is a self-taught singer songwriter characterized by his textured vocals and endearing ability to captivate audiences. The Michigan native has quickly become recognized for his down-to-earth style, bold delivery and vivid storytelling. Named after country music legend Waylon Jennings (one of his biggest influences), Hanel has worked to hone his skills in developing a vintage signature style of his own. His music and recordings are a testament to his unique, artistic individuality and powerful delivery well beyond his years.
Waylon Hanel made his official introduction with his self-titled EP (WAYLON HANEL/Nov. 2022), featuring five original tunes, and followed by his sophomore CD, NEW OLD OUTLAWS in May 2023. “New Old Outlaws Rewind”, the spotlighted bonus track charted No. 54 on the MusicRow Mainstream Country Breakout Chart in Spring 2023. Waylon released his second single “He Don’t Mind” to country radio in June 2023 also charting at No. 54. His third single “Lighten That Load” off his third album entitled DON’T MESS WITH MY COUNTRY charted No. 43 in Spring 2024. Waylon’s current single “Blackberry Brandy” at country radio now entered the chart as the HIGHEST DEBUTED SINGLE in early December 2024.
In the five short years since Waylon Hanel launched his music career, he has performed as support act opening for Trace Adkins, Travis Tritt, Chris Cagle, Walker Hayes, Ashley McBryde, Josh Turner, Jo Dee Messina, Tyler Farr, Mitchell Tenpenny, Lonestar, Matt Stell,
Elvie Shane, Jerrod Niemann, Uncle Kracker, Creed Fisher, Ray Scott, Colt Ford, Chayce Beckham and Ward Davis. September 2024 Waylon Hanel had the honor to perform the National Anthem for PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP in Flint MI as well as VICE PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE in late October 2024 in Saginaw MI.
Michael Austin
With a bold sound influenced by the legends of Outlaw Country, Americana and Rock, Michael Austin has had impressive chart success in over 25 different countries with his debut CD “Neon Halo”
Austin grew up in a small Missouri town (Cole Turkey Acres) and sang from a very young age. He even had his first paid gig at age 7, when a performer at a local establishment put the young singer up on stage promising to pay him if he sang well… well, Michael earned his first singing fee that day and has been impressing audiences ever since with his incredible songwriting skills and strong command of the stage.
The depths of his professional credits are as diverse as his talent, having served our country in the United States Air Force from the age of 18, to working everything from street patrol to high-security gang units for the San Bernardino, County Sheriff’s Department to studying opera and then appearing on Season 4 of NBC’s “The Voice” (chosen by “Team Adam”). Still passionately dedicated to our troops and their families, Michael performs often for the U.S. Armed Forces and he is frequently requested to sing his powerful version of the National Anthem at events and festivals. Always striving for the top level of musicianship from himself and his band, he gives his fans music and live shows they will not soon forget.
Herrick
Herrick has been called diverse, dynamic, and electrifying. Fronted by power vocalist, Donna Herrick, the band is part of the new wave of Country alt-traditionalists.
With flavors of Soul, Americana and Roots, Herrick is at once every edgy tradition and something brand new. Their spirited live show features compelling songwriting with assiduous instrumentation and arrangements, all punctuated by Donna’s soulful vocals. She is, after all, the singer Billboard Magazine called “… the next great female voice of this generation.”
Together since middle school, Donna and husband, bass player, co-producer and co-writer Kerry Herrick launched a DIY career early on, releasing music independently when the industry machine didn’t crank their direction. The lack of major label support has not hindered the impact of Herrick’s music. Their 2012 debut album “New Dance” co-produced by Donna and Kerry, Michael Bonagura, and Buddy Cannon delivered two singles that hit the Music Row Chart and a music video that hit the Top 20 on The Country Network’s Countdown. Their second album “Cottonfields” followed in 2016. Top music critics are counted among the band’s legion of fans.
The band boasts an impressive list of music awards including two IAMA International Acoustic Awards (Folk/Bluegrass/Americana Group of the Year), and more recently, Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Country Single of the Year at the Josie Music Awards. The band has also received a Bronze Telly Award.
In 2025, Herrick is satisfying the appetite of fans once again with a new collection of music. Bolstered by the talents of percussionist Richie Rivera, guitarist Jon Wisecarver, and keyboardist, David Van Walker, Herrick brings the goods.
The unmistakable sound of Herrick is the truly unique result of personal chemistry meeting musical chemistry.
Kaitlyn Kohler
Texas-based singer-songwriter Kaitlyn Kohler has been making a name for herself in Texas Country music over the last few years, and has gathered many accolades along the way. When listening to her first album release back in 2018, Michael Allsup, the original guitar player of Three Dog Night, had this to say— “I never thought I’d hear something as passionate as what Linda Ronstadt did, but I heard it today”.
Since then, Kaitlyn has released four singles, three of which breaking the top 10 on the Texas charts, and her current single well on its way.
Her single "Break Another Heart", which she penned with award winning songwriter Bobby Terry, was her first to reach #1. Kaitlyn has also written with many other award winning writers such as Dean Dillon, Marla Cannon Goodman, and Don Rollins, and has released multiple songs written by Jason Matthews as well. Her music has also notched two nominations for New Female Vocalist of the Year and one for Female Vocalist of the Year for the Texas Regional Radio Awards on her belt.
Cliff Dorsey
Cliff Dorsey, a Nashville-based country artist from High Springs, Florida, is known for his rich baritone and storytelling reminiscent of Cash, Haggard, and Strait.
The title track of his debut EP, New Neon, produced by Zach Swon & Colton Swon, reached Top 40 on MusicRow charts. Now collaborating with Janelle Arthur on a five-single project through 2024-2025, with the team's first release from the project 'Your Guess' reaching Top 40 on the MusicRow charts.
Dorsey’s performances captivate coast-to-coast audiences. Having opened for acts like Justin Moore, HARDY and Riley Green, Dorsey is a rising talent connecting fans with traditional country roots.
When he's not on the road for music, you can find him hunting, fishing or exploring his favorite Florida river the Santa Fe River.
Dariann Leigh
For Dariann Leigh, this is so much more than country music. From her one-stop town in Karlstad, Minnesota (pop. 713), Dariann Captured the star power of the original women of country music. From lyrics bleeding through static-filled radios and scratched CDs; even in the middle of nowhere, those melodies set the scene for a dream that would ultimately define the course of her life.
Dariann Leigh doesn't just want to make music, she wants to writer the soundtrack for hairbrush singers, dashboard drummers, and air guitar players everywhere.
Dariann Leigh has been featured on The Boot, Country Rebel, CMT, and more with her previous singles, "Closer", "Let Me Go", "10,000 Miles", "Leave", and most recently with her new single, "Bury Me On Broadway".
"As a kid," says leigh, "I remember closing my eyes, plugging in my headphones, and listening to tracks that ended up being the theme songs to my daydreams. I want to be that artist for someone else."
© Copyright Big Damn Music Jam - 2025