Daily Inspiration: Meet Blake Gardner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Gardner. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Blake Gardner & The Farmers sprouted out of vocalist/guitarist Blake Gardner’s solo singer/songwriter project (alternately under the name of “Blk Grdnr”), which had begun as far back as 2007. Within a few years after setting up shop in the Midwest, guitarist Sam Reed, bassist Zach Bentley, and drummer Tim Schrautemeier joined as “the Farmers” in early October 2012. The band now includes drummers/percussionists Brandon Phillips and Leighton Dennis, guitarist Adam Fairchild, pianist Kevin Jerez, bassist Jordan Tucker, and also features occasional appearances by other friends and musicians.

Since their formation, BGatF has released one studio album and seven live mixes including SPOOKED @ KOPN [12.13.19], SWAMPED @ Summer Camp Music Festival [5.25.17], and BURNT @ Summer Camp Music Festival [5.26.16]. Blake also released a solo EP under the name Blk Grdnr that served as a foundation for what the Farmers would later contribute to.

As of 2018, BGatF has released their newest single “Feelin’ Fine” and is currently recording their second full-length album. Feelin Fine’ was featured in Relix Magazine’s 2018’s February edition.

BGatF has opened up for and shared the bill with reggae acts such as the Dirty Heads, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops, Jah Roots, and Jon Wayne and The Pain. BGatF has also been featured on festival bills headlined by giants such as the late Tom Petty, Steve Miller Band, Trey Anastasio Band, Widespread Panic, Primus, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Slightly Stoopid.

BGatF competed and won in the local 2015/16/17 “Summer Camp On The Road Tour” and the “2015 Waka Winter Classic” and performed at both Summer Camp (2015, 2016, and 2017) and Wakarusa (2015). Other festivals that BGatF has performed at include Sugar Creek Music Festival (2021), Midwest Bearfest (2020), Elderberry Jam (2017, 2018, 2019), End Of World (2016), Do The Dam Thing (2012).

BGatF plays regularly throughout the Midwest including their home state of Missouri from Kansas City to St. Louis, Western and Southern Illinois, and maybe even an occasional appearance in neighboring states such as Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Iowa. In addition, Blake Gardner performs solo and has held down weekly residencies in Kansas City (Pinstripes, MO Brew) and at the Lake of the Ozarks (Franky & Louie’s, Neon Taco, Redhead’s).

BGatF has been featured on various online and live radio shows that reach audiences on a local, regional, and national platform, including KCOU and KOPN (Columbia, MO), KDHX (St. Louis), KHZTV (Baltimore), GasHouse Radio (Philadelphia), The Bud and Roach show (New York), and many more.

BGatF finished as finalists in Gorilla Music Entertainment’s Battle of the Bands (July 2014) and in the Breakout Artist Music Competition (October 2014).

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been fairly smooth! Being able to enjoy everything that goes with it, including what most people would consider a headache (traveling, long/late hours, little pay/opportunity, awkward schedule, etc…) and feeling lucky and grateful that I even get to regularly play music at any level makes any struggle seem like a joke. Surely nothing too awful or worthy of being called a real struggle can arise from pursuing something like music, right?

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I play in a multi-genre groove (not really a “rock” band) that focuses on the live performance over everything else. The band I play in (Blake Gardner & The Farmers) is known for keeping things fresh via friends sitting in, playing all kinds of genres from 50’s to modern, unexpected/improv jams, and anything else we can do to make each show a little different than the next! IE…we’re basically your avg jam band but with a little bit more flow.

So far our main difference from other jam bands is perhaps our likelihood to dive more into some more hiphop grooves. IE I can sing words faster than most of my friends.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
No favorites in particular, but the most meaningful and perhaps most imprinted from my teenagehood would be playing some of my first shows with my band in junior high and high school.

Pricing:

• $100/hour (minimum 2 hours) = Solo set
• $175/hour (minimum 2 hours) = Small ensemble (2-3 piece)
• $250/hour (minimum 2 hours) = Full band (4+)

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://owngrownproductions.com/bgatf
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blkgrdnr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BGatF
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/blkgrdnr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BlkGrdnrMusic

Image Credits
Tracy Hutton