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Thursday, March 28, 2024
Cory Branan
Cory Branan

Cory Branan, who has been heralded as one of the most talented musicians in his industry, is performing in Gainesville on Sunday.

The singer-songwriter, who was named one of Rolling Stone’s 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know in 2014, will be performing at High Dive, located at 210 SW Second Ave. Doors will open at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased for $12 at the door or $10 in advance on ticketfly.com.

Pat Lavery, owner of Glory Days Presents, said Branan is a highly acclaimed songwriter.

“Chuck Ragan, of Gainesville’s Hot Water Music, called him the greatest songwriter of our generation,” Lavery said. “That’s saying a lot.”

This is Branan’s first time playing at High Dive, but certainly not his first time playing in Gainesville. While Branan has performed in numerous cities across the nation during his career, he said he always enjoys coming into town.

“I like Gainesville,” Branan said. “I’ve got a lot of good friends from there so I’m always stoked when I get back around.”

Branan describes his style as folk, but tries not to limit himself musically, recognizing that he holds a broad definition of what can be considered folk.

While his songs have a distinct country twang, his overall style is too edgy and raw for mainstream country.

“American is what it’s supposed to be. That’s what American music is, you know,” Branan said. “It’s a gigantic f***ing mixtape. That’s the idea for me.”

The singer said he is constantly adding to what he calls his “grab bag of music.”

“I’m always learning flatpicking and cross picking and all kind of things trying to add to it,” Branan said.

At about the age of 12 or 13, the singer began playing guitar. At the time, he would play for whatever band would have him.

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It wasn’t until his 20s that he took a leap in his career by writing his own songs. That was when he began playing folk and fingerpicking on guitar.

“That’s a big part of my shows, a lot of blues-based stuff.”

Now, the singer has been playing music for 15 years.

“I always knew that I sort of wanted to play music for the rest of my life,” Branan said. “But I didn’t know that it was going to be a career or anything like that.”

With his mix of humility and confidence, he jokes that he still doesn’t know from day to day.

The artist recently shot a music video in 3-D and will have 3-D glasses at his upcoming show. He said he thinks it’s pretty cool.

He also emphasized the importance of putting on a great live show and giving fans their money’s worth.

“Just make it count every time,” Branan said. “Leave a little bit of blood on the stage.”

[A version of this story ran on page 9 on 6/18/15]

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