Brooke Eden bringing, ‘Can-do’ attitude to Mid-State Fair performance
By Jackie Iddings
Brook Eden. Photo courtesy of Brooke Eden.
Eden opens for Tim McGraw who first influenced her at five years old
–Country music artist Brooke Eden brings her “can do it” musical style to the Mid State Fair as the opening act for Tim McGraw on July 24. Eden sat down with The Paso Robles Daily News to talk about her performance, her career and her inspiration.
Country music has influence Eden since she heard Tim McGraw sing his hit, “I like it, I love it” when she was five years old. “Opening for Tim McGraw is really cool for me since he is one of the reasons I love country music.” Eden also played along with her father who moonlighted as a drummer in a country band.
“I was pretty much all country until I got to college,” said Eden when asked about how her interest in song writing and performing developed. “I heard Etta James on the radio one day and discovered how important it is to explore other music styles.”
Eden’s single, “Daddy’s Money,” on the Red Bow Records label, released in December 2015 earned her a place on Buzzfeed’s “39 Songs You Need In Your Life This January.” The song was written specifically for Eden by her friends, Kallie North and Jessy Wilson of the Muddy Magnolias.
“Kallie and I lived together, but I’d go home every two weeks to Florida to make money by playing shows. One time Kallie said, ‘Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I always assumed you came from money.’ I said, ‘Girl, I never had daddy’s money!’ Two days later, she called me when I was still in Florida and said she had written the song.”
Greeting fans. Photo courtesy of Brooke Eden.
An accomplished performer at 13, she opened for big names like Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn all the while working her way through school to earn a degree in marketing from the University of Florida. A stint as a bartender followed, until her boss heard her sing, and promptly fired her — “You’ll thank me later,” he said. Being fired got her to Nashville and the honky-tonk Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge where she landed a recurring gig. She began writing her own songs under the tutelage of the late Greg Humphrey, Tootsie’s bandleader.
“He introduced me to people and they introduced me to other people.” said Eden. Before long she had penned over 100 songs and is currently wrapping up work on her full-length album debut for Red Bow Records. Eden has been named a CMT “Next Women of Country,” People Magazine’s “Seven New Country Acts You Should Check Out,” a Spotify “Spotlight 2016 Artist.”
Eden is on a heavy touring schedule for the summer. Just before her Mid-State Fair appearance she is opening for Dwight Yokum in Bishop and for Tim McGraw in Lake Tahoe. After the Mid-State Fair she’s off to Chicago then back to California for two more gigs in San Jose and the Gilroy Garlic Festival. “I love touring and especially love the West Coast,” said Eden. “It’s warm here in the winter and warm in the summer.”
When asked for words of advice for up and coming artists, Eden said, “Play every place you can. Get in lots of hours. Put the time in. Learn how to find your own brand of music.”
Ticket prices for the show are $45, $60, $70 and $95 and are available online at www.MidStateFair.com or by calling 1-800-909-FAIR, and at 1 p.m. at the California Mid-State Fair box office (2198 Riverside Avenue in Paso Robles) or any ValliTix location.
Learn more about Brooke Eden or listen to her music on her web site or follow her on Facebook.
Watch, “Daddy’s Money,” below:
