Breakout Country Artist Waylon Hanel to Perform at Bay City Music Festival
This year’s Bay City Music Festival will feature outlaw country artist Waylon Hanel performing both nights – June 17 and 18 – marking the first time an artist has played both nights since the festival’s inception.
The young vocalist will share the spotlight as an opening act for chart topping and Billboard artist Chris Cagle on the 17th. The following day, he takes stage to open for ACM and CMT Awards-nominee Elvie Shane, along with legendary country artist and 2-time Grammy winner Travis Tritt.
“I was blessed enough to get to share the stage with Trace Adkins in early May, and to be invited to open for these distinguished artists is truly a dream come true,” says Hanel. “I am blown away with the support I have been shown and the opportunities that have been given to me in my short career. Being from the surrounding area, this festival holds a special place in my heart and I look forward to cementing my place in its history by sharing my story and my music with everyone on that stage.”
Tickets for the festival can be purchased through Ken Shelton Promotions.
About Waylon
Waylon was born in Flushing, MI in 2002 and just 17 months later he and his parents welcomed his baby brother, Landyn. The family moved to rural Clio, Michigan (pop. 2,421) before later settling in Millington, Michigan (pop. 1,120) in 2013, where seven years later, Waylon graduated from Millington High School.
At 16, this self-taught musician was invited to play his first show at local pizza shop, Cardinal Country Pizza, wowing clientele there and spring-boarding him to larger venues throughout Michigan.
Tragically, in early 2021 his brother, Landyn, unexpectedly passed away due to complications from a serious automobile accident. Understandably, his passing was a huge blow to the family. Overwhelmed, Waylon considered never booking another gig again. After some time off from the rest of the world to grieve, he told his parents he wanted to do a show in honor of his brother. This was a turning point where literally hundreds of people came out to show their support.
“Music saved me, and more importantly, saved my family,” he states. “Losing someone so close to you changes your outlook on life. I try to live my life by a simple motto: Be good to everyone. Be nice. If I can continue to do these things, I know that Landyn is looking down on me and proud of my accomplishments.”
The determined tunesmith went on to impress a local radio station host, Dan Richards (host of The Sunday Night Flashback at 98.1KCQ out of Saginaw, MI) and his wife Georgeann Ricketts at the Montrose Pub in late 2019. The couple was so impressed by Waylon’s talent and earnest work ethic that they surprised Waylon and his family with a trip to Fredericksburg, Texas to meet and write music with Michigan native, legendary hit songwriter Bernie Nelson (Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind by Confederate Railroad; House on Old Lonesome Road by Conway Twitty).
In early August 2021, the Hanels met Nelson in Nashville, TN to record Waylon’s EP at Omni Studios. He also crossed paths with songwriter Gary Vincent, who has written songs for Chris Ledoux, John Anderson, Gary Morris and many more.
Waylon has taken stages across in Tennessee, Texas, Florida, and Indiana in 2021 as he fine-tunes his craft.
To stay up to date with Waylon, visit the following:
Website: waylonhanel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/waylonhanelmusic
Instagram: @waylon_hanel_music
Twitter: @Waylon_Hanel
TikTok: @waylonhanelmusic