Musician Caleb Caudle draws old-school country influence from greats like Gram Parsons, Merle Haggard and George Strait. Fresh off his album Carolina Ghost, Caudle performed at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club on March 13, 2016, with regional act Cicada Rhythm opening at 7 p.m. and limited $20 tickets.
Why Independent Venues Matter
When touring and building an audience, Caudle said, “It is important to have folks who want to help you build your audience.” Clubs like Callaghan’s take a chance on new acts and help grow the market. “I feel extremely fortunate to have a network of small dedicated venues,” he said.
Country, Americana and Crossover
Caudle calls himself a country singer but is fine being labeled Americana. “I have had people tell me that they are not huge country music fans but that they really dig what I do,” he said, hoping to be a gateway for listeners to discover the genre. A line from Glossary’s “Blood On The Knobs” guides his approach: “walk on that stage and play it like it’s the last time, ’cause it might be.”
On Getting Noticed
He does not think being a Southern musician is harder than anywhere else. “You really just gotta have great songs. All the other stuff falls into place with enough hard work and dedication,” Caudle said.