Jake Durkin

I've spent years playing shows all over the country. My 4 years playing gigs in Nashville TN gave me a deep appreciate for upbeat music, how to work the crowd properly, and, most importantly, how to pick a setlist.

So... What can you expect from me?
As a one-man band you can expect:
- A top-notch playlist of songs catered to your genre specifications and the needs of the event.
- A professional (myself) to show up in formal, casual, or whatever style you'd prefer for the wedding anywhere from 2-3 hours before the event to make sure everything is set-up, ready, and aesthetic.
- A full EV PA system, 2 acoustic guitars, 1 electric (if requested), a Yamaha keyboard (if requested), electric kick pedal, vocal harmony pedal, and 4 wireless mics.
- Whatever additional sound/lighting equipment you would like (an adjusted quote will be sent with rental expenses included).
- Everything from Pop, Classic Rock and Country, to Jazz, Folk and Singer-Songwriter.

If you would like to request full band you can expect
- A new quote for the additional musicians.
- All of the above to apply.
- Anywhere from 3-12 piece band (to your discretion) in whatever style you'd prefer. My roster of musicians are incredible session players and performers with a tremendous amount of experience playing weddings. You can expect all of them to show up ready to bring the show to another level and also dress according to the clients specifications.
Regardless of whether you want a one-man band or a full band (3-12 piece) it will surely be a wonderful night filled with excellent music, high energy, love and memories.

Outside of the actual performance and wedding day, you can also expect me to work with whoever my POC is for the wedding and check in 3-4 separate times after the date is locked in. 6 months out, 1 months out, 2 weeks, and 1-2 days before to finalize details of arrival, setup, etc.

I'm an American singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, TN.
The best way I can describe my sound is soulful Pop-Folk. Some of my musical influences include: John Mayer, The Lumineers, Ed Sheeran, James Bay, Jason Mraz, Leon Bridges, and Allen Stone.
American Idol
I was featured in season 17 of American Idol. The audition aired March 6th, 2019 and I got three yes’s from the Judges (Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan).
Early Years
I was born and raised south of Boston where I began my music career by playing at bars, weddings, and parties. Like many singers, I was told by my parents that I practically came out of the womb singing. At first, it was humming, then there were some vowels, and at some point or another I started thinking “wow, you can actually sing as a career?”
I started playing piano at a very young age and began writing songs shortly after that. The guitar was really the tool that opened up my songwriting. I grew up as a chubby kid more-or-less incapable of getting any girl’s attention so there we’re a lot of emotions to get out hahah. I stayed home, wrote songs and learned all my favorite songs on the radio.
I performed on a stage for the first time in 8th grade and I honestly hated it. That’s what an all-boys school will do to ya I guess. Freshman year of college, however, I performed in a talent show at school and really caught the bug for performing. From that point on, all my spare time was spent writing, practicing, and performing.
Shortly after graduating from college in 2016, I moved down to Nashville, TN to be around the best songwriters in the world. I figure, you have to be around the best to become the best.

Nashville
Since moving down to Nashville, I've written a song a day, played hundreds of shows, and grown as an artist and writer. I don’t think I really knew who I was as an artist before moving down here. There was a lot of artistic growth that took place over my first 2 years in Nashville. I learned so much about performance from all the veterans in town and I learned how to be a better writer while writing with hit-makers in town. Nashville feels like home. Everyone around is pursuing the same goal and yet there’s no negative feel of competition. The music industry is no longer about competition, it’s about collaboration and I love it.

A Soldier’s Child
I’d been writing with Don Goodman, writer of “Ol’ Red” and several other hits, for 6 months when he introduced me to an organization that would soon become a huge part of my life- A Soldier’s Child. The goal of A Soldier’s Child is to “reach the children of all fallen US military persons and to adopt those children into A Soldier's Child until they are of adult age.” They have many programs, but the one that I have the opportunity to work on is the songwriter camp. During the camp, we get the chance to use songwriting as a form of music therapy. I’ve never been more proud and grateful to work with an organization.
The kids we write with have lived through more heartbreak and sacrifice in the few years that they’ve been alive than most people have to in their entire lives. The songs are deep, beautiful, and very difficult to write. We unearth emotions, perspectives, and memories that are truly heart-wrenching and, by the time the songs are done, many tears have been shed, hugs have been shared, and everyone feels more grateful to be alive. Most importantly, the kids no longer feel alone. Music is the closest thing to magic that I think we have in this world and I’m truly blessed to take part in making some of that magic happen.

Requirements:
-Specified setup zone
- Stable ground to set-up on
- Rain coverage
- Access to outlets
- Time to load in and load out
- Details regarding the volume specifications and hours of performance

Equipment:
- Two EV PA Speakers
- 12 input Yamaha mixer
- 2 EV Monitors (Or in-ears monitors, if preferred)
- Carpets to set down on the band area
- 4 wireless mics
- 2 SM58
-2 Sm 57
- Quarter inch cables
- 2 x 50 ft extension Chords
- 3 Acoustic guitars(Martin, Taylor, & Gibson)
- 2 electric (Fender & Gibson)
- Yamaha M-88 Weighted keyboard
- Electric Guitar amps
- DJ Software (if requested)
- Live Mixer for band (if requested)
- Lighting (if requested)
- Generator (rentable if needed)