Raelyn Nelson is a rising princess in country music. Granddaughter of the world-famous country icon Willie Nelson, Raelyn joins forces with band members Jonathan Bright, Preach Rutherford and Paulie Simmons to create a sound that she says is the midpoint between Loretta Lynn and Cheap Trick.
“I come up with country melodies, and I play my ukulele with this rock band,” Nelson said. “It’s just this hybrid.”
Tonight, the Raelyn Nelson Band is coming to High Dive, performing with Company Man and Carey Matthews. Show up at 8 p.m. to grab a drink and pick your spot in the crowd for the show beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are available for $10 at highdivegville.com, Hear Again and High Dive Box Office.
Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian, and those under 21 pay an additional convenience fee of $3 at the door.
Nelson grew up on gospel music and old-school country — Waylon and Willie. As a young mom, Nelson found herself subconsciously writing songs day in and day out. By the time her kids were done nursing, Nelson said she was dying to record.
Now, eight years later, the Raelyn Nelson Band is touring all over the country and putting out music with a unique sound. Their sound ranges from country-rock jams, to slow melodies like “Moon Song,” which features vocals from Willie Nelson himself.
“When I first heard his voice coming through, I cried,” Nelson said. “Sometimes I still have that surreal moment about it. It’s very special to me that he is on that song, a song that I wrote, and he found it worthy enough to sing on it. It’s a surreal moment every time.”
Like her grandfather, Nelson is an advocate for the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana. She is hopeful about the future of marijuana legalization, citing changes that have already come about. Willie Nelson now sells his own strain of weed, something that would have never happened a short time ago.
In addition to touring, the Raelyn Nelson Band will be releasing new music with Sweetwater Studios in late June and early July. Nelson is also releasing a new album Friday with her acoustic duo, “mmhmm.”
“A live music experience should be happy and uplifting, and caffeinated and fun,” Nelson said. “Let’s have a party so that we can forget about all the crappy things that are happening around us.”
