Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge

At age 17, Grace Bowers has already lived a lifetime of musical dreams. From an endorsement deal with Gibson to appearances on stage with Daniel Donato, Duane Betts, Luther Dickinson, Kevin Martin (Candlebox), and Duane Trucks and accumulating upwards of 100k plus fans on Instagram, Bowers has checked off career highlight boxes that most players would spend years in the trenches trying to achieve. It's the stuff of dreams, of a kid locked in their bedroom woodshedding for hours a day to the music of their heroes, imagining stepping onto the stage alongside the greats. And for most young dreamers, it begins and ends within the confines of those bedroom walls.

But cue a window into that private world via live streams of those hours of a young girl's imaginative and inspired practice… and the world quickly took notice.

Having received her first guitar on her ninth birthday, Grace focused on the music of her original guitar hero, Slash. She notes, "I got into blues and classic rock and started listening to artists like Marc Bolan, Leslie West, Steppenwolf, and B.B. King." The pandemic fast-tracked Grace's affinity for the guitar into a full-blown obsession. Bowers remarks, "I locked myself in my room all day, and all I did was play guitar."

Her family's move from San Francisco to Nashville opened the door for Grace to jump from behind the camera to the front of the stage. Grace quickly stood on some of Nashville's most prominent venues, including the iconic Ryman Auditorium, alongside Devon Allman as part of the Allman Family Revival and The Gaslight Anthem. Grace has shared the stage with Wynonna Judd, Lzzy Hale, and Charlie Worsham. "The Nashville community is so supportive. People are so welcoming and ready to share their music; the opportunities to perform live are endless. I feel so lucky to be around this energy 24/7. It's absolutely thrilling."

2023 has brought multiple opportunities for Grace to showcase her crafts and prompt offers from other artists and festivals such as CMA, Bonnaroo, Pilgrimage, and her own set at Newport Folk Festival.

Grace performs almost every night of the week while she continues to write and work on her own music to be released soon.

When a recent interviewer inquired about Grace missing out on "normal childhood activities," asking, "Do you ever think, 'Huh. I wonder what that's like, going to the mall instead of having to play at the Ryman?'" her response was immediate.
"No. No. Not for a second."

Anyone who hears her play will agree Grace Bowers is precisely where she needs to be.