Ry Bradley Strummin' Country Rock at AMFM Fest

La Quinta musician headlines Cathedral City gathering

Michele McManmon Arts & Entertainment

 

With amps and guitars strewn around his apartment instead of furniture, Ry Bradley is California country music.

Growing up, Bradley heard endlessly about some guy he thought was a distant uncle. Turns out Merle Haggard, though not related, along with Dwight Yokam, Buck Owens, and Gram Parsons rank as Bradley’s musical heroes.

As a kid, however, he preferred Aerosmith and Guns ‘n’ Roses.

“Country is the new rock, so it’s important to keep the songs honest, but put on a good show and rock it out,” says Bradley.

That message carried Bradley to the finals of the Fantasy Springs Casino Resort Regional Country Showdown, and gained the attention of AMFM Fest musical director Brad Mercer. Bradley will headline the three day AMFM Fest dedicated to art, music, film and other artistic expressions at 9 p.m. Nov. 15  in Cathedral City. The fest runs Nov. 13-16 based at the Mary Pickford Theater.

photo Courtesy of ry bradley

"Country is the new rock," says La Quinta musician Ry Bradley.

Though Bradley didn’t win the Fantasy Springs finals, he felt as if he had because of meeting Mercer and the tons of fans that showed their support at the competition.

More accolades are coming Bradley’s way. He will be in Hollywood Nov. 12 to attend the LA Music Awards after receiving four nominations.

Bradley can be found most often in in La Quinta spending time with his No. 1 fan, his mom.

“We didn’t grow up on tractors, but I keep that tradition of singing about real life [in my music],” Bradley says.

Real life in the desert inspires Bradley so much he chose it for his music video location for Freedom Like This. Drawn to places were “stone cold country” musician Parson’s ghost let his “freak flag fly”, Bradley also hangs in the high desert and dreams of one day playing at Pappy & Harriet’s to a packed room of ravenous country rock music fans.

Music has given Bradley a life he only could dream about.

“I had a pretty rough childhood, so the music [has] made life worth living,” he says. “If I can make people happy, then my job is done and I feel like I’ve done something right.”

Photo courtesy of the Pedestrians

Los Angeles-based Pedestrians play AMFM Fest on Nov. 14.

Other bands to catch at AMFM Fest:
Nov. 14
• LA’s Alt Rocker band Pedestrians
• Joshua Tree’s hot soulful group Gene Evaro Jr. & Family

Nov. 15
• Bermuda Dunes local hot rock driving talent Alyce Bowie

AMFM Fest, Nov. 13-16, Mary Pickford Theater, 36850 Pickfair St., Cathedral City, www.amfmfest.com

 

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