Category Archives: Wade Bowen

A Texas-born country singer/songwriter influenced by the outlaw country and neo-traditionalist stars of the 1970s and ’80s, Wade Bowen emerged in the early 2000s with a Texas country/red dirt style that eventually began to incorporate elements of contemporary country, gospel, and pop/rock. A regional fixture in the early part of his career, Bowen broke into the mainstream with the release of his third LP, 2008’s If We Ever Make It Home. His move to Sony imprint BNA Records in 2010 earned him an even bigger audience, leading to acclaimed outings like The Given (2012) and the Randy Rogers duet LP Hold My Beer Vol. 1 (2015), the latter of which elicited a 2020 sequel.

Try Not to Listen

Born and raised in Waco, Texas, singer/songwriter Wade Bowen started his musical career in the band West 84 with longtime friend Matt Miller. In 2001, after flirting with the idea of life outside of the music business (he graduated from Texas Tech with a public relations degree), Bowen decided to head out on his own, self-releasing his 2002 debut Try Not to Listen and playing up to 250 gigs a year. The hard work eventually paid off as the title track climbed into the Top Ten on the Texas music chart, and the rising star began planning his follow-up. Live at the Blue Light and Lost Hotel arrived in 2006; both were released on the Sustain label and earned him an audience outside of Texas. Collaborations with Pat Green, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Radney Foster, Randy Rogers, Brandon Rhyder, Bleu Edmondson, and brother-in-law Cody Canada of Cross Canadian Ragweed followed, with a new album, If We Ever Make It Home, arriving in 2008. The album wound up peaking at number 29 on Billboard’s Country albums charts. Before he delivered another studio set, he released Live at Billy Bob’s Texas in 2010.

Then Sings My Soul: Songs for My Mother

Bowen signed to the Sony-distributed BNA Records for 2012’s The Given, which went to number nine on the country album charts; its single “Saturday Night” topped out at 39. Not long after The Given‘s release, though, BNA restructured and Bowen was once again independent. He released an eponymous album in 2014, and commercially it performed just as well as its major-supported predecessor. One year later, he had his greatest success with Hold My Beer, Vol. 1, a duet album with Randy Rogers; it went all the way to number four. The next year, he released the country gospel-themed Then Sings My Soul: Songs for My Mother on his Bowen Sounds label. Another collaboration with Rogers, Watch This, arrived months later. In early 2018, Bowen issued the well-received Solid Ground, which climbed to 27 on the Billboard country charts, and in 2020 he and Randy Rogers issued a sequel to their acclaimed duet LP, appropriately titled Hold My Beer, Vol.2.

Artist Biography by James Christopher Monger

Wade Bowen Surprises Fans with New EP “The Waiting”

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Featuring long-awaited studio recordings of fan favorites, including “Who I Am” Country star and Red Dirt hero Wade Bowen just pulled off a huge surprise, releasing a brand new (and previously unannounced) EP featuring studio recordings of some of his biggest live-only favorites. THE WAITING features six tracks, including several that have become Bowen staples at live shows, like his runaway hit “Who I Am.”

Wade Bowen Classic 2013

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The “Wade Bowen Classic” Celebrity Golf Tournament and Concert Has Been Set For June. Wade Bowen’s 15th Annual Bowen Classic celebrity golf tournament and concert to benefit The Bowen Family Foundation is just around the corner. The benefit is set for June 2 and 3 in Bowen’s hometown of Waco, Texas. Over the past four years, Bowen has raised close to half a million dollars for various charities. “’The Classic’ is something I look forward to putting together all year,” said Bowen. “I’m so proud that my fans and artist friends keep coming out to help raise so much money.” The event kicks off with an all-star concert at 2:30PM on June 2 at Indian Springs Park featuring Bowen and some of his friends, including the Josh Abbott Band and Neal McCoy, with more artists announced soon. The event resumes the next morning at 10AM with a two-man golf scramble at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course. Tickets to both portions of the event are on sale now at www.wadebowen.com/classic. Tickets to golf in the tournament are $180 and include two concert tickets. Fans interested in just the concert can purchase tickets for $20 in advance or $25 day of show, kids 12 and under get in free. Location Addresses: Indian Springs Park – 100 University Parks Drive between Franklin and Washington Ave. Cottonwood Creek Golf Course – 5201 Bagby, Waco, TX.

Wade Bowen At The Longhorn Saloon-Show Review

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Wade Bowen Makes His Way To Fort Smith, Ark. Last Thursday (April 4) Wade Bowen made a stop at the Longhorn Saloon in Fort Smith, Ark. Being so close, I obviously made a little trip down I 540 to catch his show. The night began with Hellcat Susie and their high-energy set. I had never seen these boys before, but I was impressed. The mixture of songs was money, with classics and some of their originals thrown in. They announced that their new album would be available soon and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. When it was time for Bowen to take the stage, everyone was pumped and ready to listen. He played music from his album The Given that was released last spring (“A Battle Won,” “Say Anything,” “Before These Walls,” “Saturday Night” and more) and some of his earlier hits. Although I enjoyed the show as a whole, my favorite moments were when Bowen played “Mood Ring” and his version of “Please Come To Boston.” Looking ahead, Bowen will be playing Red Rocks Amphitheater May 26 with Randy Rogers Band, Stoney LaRue and Casey Donahew Band. More dates for the annual “Hold My Beer & Watch This” tour with Randy Rogers are in the process of being confirmed. The annual “Bowen Classic” will be June 2 and 3 in Waco, Texas, with all proceeds going to “The Bowen Family Foundation.” On top of his busy schedule, Bowen is getting ready to start on a new album! So y’all catch a show near you and keep your ears open for talk about new music!

Wade Bowen Saturday Night Video

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Here Is The Music Video For Wade Bowen’s “Saturday Night!” Wade Bowen’s latest single, “Saturday Night,” was released at the end of 2011. The song has become one of my favorites here lately! The lyrics are about a broken-hearted guy who isn’t really feeling crowds, bars or the 6th day of the week, because they are taking him down memory lane. One of the best lines in the song says, “there’s nothing quite as lonely as a crowd when your all alone.” How true is this statement?! Very! Here is the recently released video for the acoustic version of “Saturday Night!” Take a listen and tell us what you think!