Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent Atwood.
Hi Brent, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I started singing as a small child. Around age 6/7 I could be caught in my room standing on my bed (my stage) belting out tunes from Grease. I grew up in the South and church was a huge part of everyday life. My 1st experience singing in front of a crowd was on Sundays. My Mother, Father, Brother, and I would travel the low country of South Carolina and sing at different churches for their Sunday service. There was never a charge, but they always took a “Love Offering” to help us keep going. I remember my solo song sing was called, “Get all excited” and I still remember it to this day. Throughout middle and high school, I played in a few “garage bands” and toward the end of 12th grade, several friends and I started an R&B/Rap group called the “Uptown Posse” in Myrtle Beach, SC. For a few years, we played shows around town and won local competitions. As things usually go with young men with little guidance that ended in 1990. As much as I loved music and playing it took a backseat for many years as we say, life got in the way. I started a career as a Fire Fighter in 1992. I still played and sang but only to myself, for a long time. As with many folks my view and taste in music changed as well. I started to go back to the good ‘old country songs I’d listen to with my dad, and fell in love with it again. in 2017… yes that long… I decided that my music would no longer take a back seat and I started the Southern Country Outlaws. We started out with pretty much nothing when it came to equipment. But, by the grace of God and a good friend named Dale Edwards who owns the Blackwater Rhythm and Blues Band, we got it together. Dale gave us all kinds of badly needed equipment like main speakers, wireless mic systems, soundboards, racks, cables, etc… He was truly sent by the big man to help us out. He told me he could see how much I loved music and wanted to bring it to the world, and he wanted to help. So, in 2018 the Southern Country Outlaws played its very first show. Since then, we have not slowed down. Although some things have changed, as they always do, we have stuck it out and are looking to push the envelope even further. In 2020 I planned to arrange and produced a 1-day music festival called, “Vet Fest Carolina’s” on a rainy Saturday day we raised over $10,000 for local veteran programs. In 2021 I did it again, but with some help. We had a three-day festival with over 40 artists playing. Even though several setbacks we pulled it off and were able to help several local and even regional veterans. The plan is to scale it down and do 3-to 4 smaller shows in 2022 and to move them to different areas of the state and even into North Carolina. Helping Veterans is very close to our hearts. The 1st single we ever put out is called, ” This is my story” it is based on the life of my best friend who was a 3rd 75th Ranger. Every time that song is streamed or purchased the funds made, however small an amount, goes to veteran programs. We have never and never will make one cent off that song. It was written for our veterans and they will forever be the ones that get the benefit of it. We now have a great business sponsor in a company called Dark Moon Distilleries. Just as it sounds, they make whiskey… moreover… Moonshine!!! The best you will ever have… I promise. Through our Dark Moon family, we have obtained a new manager to take that load off of me. We also now have a new tour bus available when we get to that point. Which we hope is soon… lol We have been able to meet and play with some of the best names in country music and will soon be able to record in the iconic Sound Kitchen Recording Studio. We are blessed beyond belief and could not be more thankful to our fans, friends, followers, family, and mostly to God above for everything that has come our way…We got nothing but BIG LOVE for everyone…
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
A smooth road… Oh, wow… no way!!! It’s never easy chasing a dream. We all know that. Everything you want is right there, but a million miles away. We all still have bills to pay, families to take care of and for that it takes money. Well, that takes work… a lot, and hard! Not one part of this business is easy from what I’ve seen. From countless calls, emails, and miles to try and book shows. Keeping the right people in the right places. Picking the right songs, writing our own songs, playing production/studio time, and money. Every bit of it was a struggle. Every one of us maintains a full-time or as my wife would say a “Big Boy” job. Until the day comes that we can play enough shows, or the shows that pay enough for us not to, we, just like most musicians out there are stuck in this rut. We all hope and pray for that big break. For that one right person to hear our music and say, “Hey, I like these guys! Let’s bring them on this tour!” Until then, it will always be a struggle. We’ll just keep, keeping it real… But… at the end of the day, in the middle of a show, or after it ends and you see the smiles on the faces staring back at you… man… every single one of those struggles is 1000000% worth it… every time!!!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, for starters I have been in public service for 30 years. As I said, I started as a Fire Fighter in 1992. I have been in Law Enforcement/Fire/EMS that entire time. I have served in 2 cities and two different states (SC, NC), and two counties. I love helping others and it is no different with my music. I use all the things I’ve seen, done, and lived through to fuel my stories. I grew up playing drums and singing. I started to learn to play guitar 2 years ago. I’m not really good, but I am not bad either… lol I guess my specialty would be in writing songs. I’ve been doing that since well before I started the band. Back then they were poems. When you add music, they become songs. I got that talent from my mom. She was amazing at poem writing. When you combine that with my love for others and helping them, I feel like that sets me apart. That is what I am proud of… being able to use the gift God gave me to help others…
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Good Lord… where to even start with this list. My biggest supporter by far is my wife. Kelley has backed me in every way since day one. Without her, I could not have even started this life, to begin with. She understood what it would take from her and has never ceased to amaze me. I have met some of the best people in the world because of music. People that started out as, that guy I met and turned into the family I can do without. To name a few. Dale Edwards, without him we would never have had the equipment to start. Keith & Sylina Corderra, Dan & Cole Acosta (soon enough…lol) are longtime friends that are now our family. Tony Pruitt, Angel Norton, Jennifer Lauren, Ricky Gunter, Gary Pettus, Randy Kohrs this is our Dark Moon Entertainment Family. Together we’re about to change the face of Nashville… then the world… lol Shine on Fam!!! Seriously, there are far too many people that have supported, backed, been there, and loved us to even be fair in a list… We love y’all so big!!!
Pricing:
- Solo Shows Acoustic – $250-$350
- Duo Shows Acoustic- $350 – $450
- Trio Shows Acoustic – $500 – $700
- 4 piece Acous/Elect – $800 – $1000
- Full Band – $1000 _ $1600
Contact Info:
- Email: socooutlaws@gmail.com
- Website: www.southerncountryoutlaws.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoCoOutlaws
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoCo_Brent?t=YNueSEFZ0uhhMKYEgBwpyA&s=09
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCDzk7bbfwAuJBolqW0nG1aA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/Ky1yq
- Other: https://www.reverbnation.com/southerncountryoutlaws
Image Credits
Dan Acosta
Cole Lauren
