Every year, Songwriters festivals are happening all over the world, with a critical mass happening in around many of US's quote-unquote music cities. These are the dripping springs of Austin and the 30A Songwriter's fest happening next weekend in Florida's panhandle. These are meant to be different from a traditional music fest in that they focus on the story telling and attempt to create an environment for the focus to be on the song. 

The fall of 2019, in our market, we attended the first official Downtown St. Petersburg's songwriter's fest. Some of the venues need some coaching for year 2, but on the whole, the weekend was full of local and national songwriters showcasing their story telling. We saw previous Song Divers guests like Nashville's Lydia Luce, and St.Pete's Rebekah Pulley, and we saw a lot of other notable writers that we will likely see on the show in the coming months, and one in this episode.

Brian Sutherland is every bit of what Song Divers is about. The guys is a musical Swiss army knife. A trained cellist turned guitarist, turned band leader from just north of the Tampa Bay area, Brian has spent time on tour playing alongside some really notable acts including... the Beach Boys. His resume is impressive, but it doesn't prepare you for the knock-your socks off songwriting that Brian is cranking out. 

I wish we had done one of our video performances with him, because the way his fingers effortlessly float around the guitar neck was really fun to watch.  I got to spend some time with Brian throughout the weekend prior to us sitting down with him, and they don't come better, more natural, or more fun than him.

When we recorded this episode, Brian had just finished his last slot at the songwriter's fest here in town, as well as a private gig and filling in for a festival no-show. To say his voice was raw is an understatement, and yet it sounds all the more full of feeling, emotion, and conviction. We wouldn't have had him tell us his story any other way. Divers, meet Brian Sutherland. 

Hear more of Brian and stay up to date on his up coming release by following him on the social medias. He's @briansuth on instagram, and on his website, sutherlandsongs.com .

You'll be able to hear even more of him soon, but get listening on Spotify, iTunes, and everywhere you get your music. If you have a heartbeat, you'll dig his catalogue. #SongDivers #RadioStPete  #TampaBay #radio