Wade Bowen brings country to Nac dance hall

Rising Texas country artist from Lubbock, Wade Bowen, is performing at Banita Creek Dance Hall Saturday evening. 

Although he did not start playing guitar until he was 17, Bowen began playing gigs in college while attending Texas Tech University. 

“It was just cool getting to go to class and play in a band at the same time,” Bowen said. “Probably my craziest nights in college were just playing at the local bars and watching my friends go crazy.”

Although George Strait is one of Bowen’s biggest idols, Robert Earl Keen inspired his first band “West 84”. 

“He was a big changing point in my life,” Bowen said on his website. “I realized by listening to him that there was way more out there than I ever knew. So I started getting into Guy Clark and other great Texas music. But I was obsessed with Robert Earl. When we started the band we were sort of a Robert Earl cover band.”

Even though Bowen says one of his favorite places to perform is Billy Bob’s, Nacogdoches is home to many great memories. He and his fellow country music buddy Randy Rogers have had great times playing jitterbugs at Banita Creek Dance Hall. 

After college, Bowen took the leap to go solo and realized he loved writing his own songs. Bowen writes 95% of his songs. 

“I might every now and then put one on that I didn’t write just because it’s something different then what I’m used to playing,” Bowen said. 

Bowen said his favorites song is “Before These Walls Were Blue.” This song means so much to him because it is about his boys. Although it is tough being on the road often, Bowen says he loves his job and that when he is home with his family he is home. “I don’t have to do anything else so that’s really nice.”

For more information about Wade Bowen visit his website www.wadebowen.com. To purchase tickets to his show this Saturday visit www.banitacreekhall.com.