Wesley Hanna

Wesley Hanna is a Texas country singer-songwriter living in Fort Worth, TX. When he’s not hard at work in his role as a petroleum engineer, he moonlights as a showman and barroom poet. His honky tonk repertoire has made him and his bandmates, Stacie Hanna (bass) and Michael Durkan (fiddle), a hit in the dancehalls and dives in the great state of Texas. The group brings a neo-traditional Texas swagger to their sets like none other, that pays homage to the roots of the Lone Star State and its unique culture.

The album Brand New Love Potion was recorded in 2022 at the Zone Recording Studio in Dripping Springs, TX. Produced by veteran engineer Pat Manske, the 10-song LP is filled with original honky tonk hits that provide the listener with a pure lone-star experience. The album consists of mostly traditional country tracks that take the listener back to a time when country music was played on country radio. Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos of Saving Country Music writes, “This is one of those albums where some of the songs are so good, you would swear they must be covers. The opening title track sells you on Wesley Hanna within the first 15 seconds. “Back to the Honky Tonks” is an idea that’s been done in a dozen country songs before, but perhaps nobody has done it better than Hanna does here. “Texas Road Trip” and “Concho Pearl” are perfect examples of how to use geography in songwriting to favorable results. And “The Waltz” is just a stellar country song, plain and simple.”

Featured on the record are some of the best musicians Texas has to offer, with none other than “the pride of Lubbock, Texas,” Mr. Lloyd Maines, on the pedal steel. On lead guitar and bass is Scrappy Jud Newcomb, a producer and well-known stage musician himself, who lends his talents to Slaid Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Adam Carroll, and several other Americana legends. Brian Beken, who currently plays in Robert Earl Keen’s band, can be heard on the fiddle, which is a prominent fixture on several of the very traditional country tracks. Bukka Allen is featured on the keys and Pauline Reese on harmony vocals for a handful of songs, providing the finishing touch.

The stars that shine on this album prove they really are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas. The record also features Pat on the drums. Pat says of the project, “Wes Hanna has a heart of gold and sings the truth. His lyrics make you feel his characters’ pain, and hope. His voice is pure, powerful, and vulnerable. He’s put in his time at the writer’s desk, these songs prove it.”