Live Music: Everett Wren

Everett Wren’s life has revolved around music since he began performing at age 4 in his family’s band. After winning an Arkansas state fiddling championship and playing in the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra, he toured the country with Wagon, his St. Louis, Missouri-based Americana band, which recorded albums for the Hightone (with Lloyd Maines producing) and Glitterhouse labels.

He busked in Europe, earned a master’s degree in acoustics from the University of Texas at Austin, cofounded the bands Lost & Nameless (which included Harmoni Kelley, now Kenny Chesney’s bassist) and Chalkboard Poets, and produced records for several other artists.

In 2022 he completed a record of his own: Porchlight, which Wren produced, recorded and mixed with help from some talented friends. Through his expressive vocals and masterful playing of many stringed and percussive instruments, Wren channels myriad influences into his own distinct style — conveyed via a dozen folk/Americana originals, a pair of reinterpreted traditionals and a cover of “Long Black Veil.”