After opening for Jerrod Niemann and Lee Brice during their January concert, singer and songwriter Chris Cavanaugh decided he wanted more.
“I’ll be honest, that show in Athens was one of the highlights of the year for me,” Cavanaugh said. “I debuted my song ‘Country as I wanna be,’ and it was definitely a moment for me.”
Rob Kreger, a freshman studying journalism, said Cavanaugh’s performance was one to remember.
“I liked his style of music and his ability to get the crowd's attention even though it was an acoustic performance with just him and his guitar,” Kreger said.
After he first picked up a guitar at 13-years old and exposed his talents during a seventh-grade talent show, Cavanaugh hasn’t stopped making music since. The vocalist said he finds inspiration in everyday life.
“It could be anything and everything,” Cavanaugh said. “A lot of times I see a movie and I’ll get an idea. Sometimes, it’ll even be a conversation.”
As a result, Cavanaugh has created a sound that he describes as fun and real country. He has taken on a style similar to Garth Brooks, he said, with songs such as “Fishin’ for the Beer,” which reflects a night of country music and grilling steaks.
“It’s not like really, really country,” Cavanaugh said. “I grew up on artists like Garth Brooks and stuff like that so it’s really up tempo country music, fun country music.”
Though Cavanaugh hasn’t yet topped the charts with his country-pop mix, he said he plans to. His manager, Scott Gunter, said he believes the musician has got the talent to make headlines.
“I just wanted to work with someone who's struggling and fighting to make theirown way with theirown voice,” Gunter said. “That's why I'm working with Chris. Chris is neither Craig Wiseman or Bruce Springsteen, but Chris Cavanaugh is Chris Cavanaugh and I admire that just as much.”
With plans to entertain with good music and a good time, Cavanaugh has great expectations for Wednesday’s concert. He said he is excited to return to the small college town and put on an even better show than the last.
“I love college towns and if Athens is half as fun as it was last time, it’s going to be incredible,” Cavanaugh said.
If You Go:
What: Chris Cavanaugh
When: 10 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Red Brick Sports Pub, 14 N Court St.
Admission: $3 cover 18+, $2 cover 21+
