CLAY HAWKINS

Blending rapid-fire finger style slide guitar and honest, heartfelt songwriting, Clay Hawkins creates his own unique brand of acoustic rock. Influences like Neil Young, John Fahey, The Black Keys, Nick Cave and even Radiohead come together behind a well worn yet lush vocal style. Clay's music unfolds naturally, taking the listener on a ride that is entirely his own.

As far as his "story" goes, well that began in Phoenix, AZ...

Born into a household of professional rodeo cowboys (truly) it wasn't immediately obvious that music would be the chosen path. But the nights spent on the road, listening to country music, (when it was still good) on the way to the next town made an impression. Since carrying a guitar around is a lot easier than hauling horses..., maybe there was something floating in the dust all along.

Fast forward to the discovery of guitars, classic rock and the life sustaining qualities of coffee and a warm smile. It was all uphill from there. Eventually all roads led out of town. Clay refined and supported his new songwriting habit up and down both coasts, across Europe, in and out of clubs, cafes, street corners, bars, barns, back yards and back alleys.  Hanging his hat in New Orleans and then San Francisco, he listened and turned the sound echoing in those halls into the basis of the music he makes now.  What he calls, "Late Night, Boot Stomping, Road Music from the Heart".  
That road became home, and eventually the wild hills of Northern California claimed another as their own.  With a rolling band of co-conspiritors, an assortment of slide guitars, old amps and a great affection for good times, (and a dog), Clay spends his days playing music around California and taking it one mile marker at a time.

He still doesn't own a horse though.