KT Vandyke

Born and raised deep in the black diamond hills of southwestern Virginia, K.T. Vandyke is a unique and gripping song-smith, who wields folk songs and prose that reflect his vibrant and tempestuous life. His songs tell the story of growing up in the coalfields of Buchanan County, Virginia and the trials of being young vagabond musician devoted to honing his craft and experiencing all that life has to offer.



Currently stationed in Abingdon, Virginia, he has been performing in the greater Appalachian region and neighboring metropolitan areas for more than a decade. Vandyke graduated from East Tennessee State University in December of 2015 where he spent three years developing his artform as a songwriter and musician majoring in Bluegrass, Old-Time, Celtic, and Country Music. During his senior year Vandyke performing with a variety of bands, but most notably was featured as the lead vocalist for the distinguished ETSU Celtic Pride Band (an student group comprised of the universities finest celtic music students).


In 2012 Vandyke took home 1st place in the Richard Leigh Songwriters Competition with his song "Huck Finn", and was a featured performer in the festival the years following. In 2014 he was named a Troubadour finalist in the nationally renowned songwriting competition held by Planet Bluegrass at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival held in Telluride, Colorado. Amidst his musical tenure he has performed throughout the U.S. and has performed as an opening act for Jason Isbell at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Pokey LaFarge at the Thursday Jams Concert series in Abingdon, Virginia, Blackberry Smoke at the Buchanan County Fair, and Larry Keel and Natural Bridge at the Catawba Music Festival. That same year he was also named a top ten finalist for the Visit Music City Songwriting Competition.



Vandyke released his first work the "White Coat EP" with Grammy Award winning sound engineer David Castle of Castle Recording in 2012. His latest collection of songs titled "Portrait of a Nomad" is currently in development and slated for release in late 2018. The album features his latest single "On My Way", and and a testament of songs written during the migrant years of his life.