Blake Gardner & The Farmers

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Blake Gardner & The Farmers break free from being able to be defined by a single genre through mixing together elements of blues, reggae, hip-hop, funk, and nearly everything else under the sun. Known for their improvisation and collaboration with other artists, Blake Gardner & The Farmers are sure to make each performance as unique and memorable as the last.

Blake Gardner & The Farmers sprouted out of vocalist/guitarist Blake Gardner’s solo singer/songwriter project (alternately under the name of “Blk Grdnr”), which had begun as far back as 2007. Within a few years after setting up shop in the Midwest, guitarist Sam Reed, bassist Zach Bentley, and drummer Tim Schrautemeier joined as “the Farmers” in early October 2012.  The band now includes drummers/percussionists Brandon Phillips and Leighton Dennis, guitarist Adam Fairchild, pianist Kevin Jerez, bassist Jordan Tucker, and also features occasional appearances by other friends and musicians.

Since their formation, BGatF has released one studio album and seven live mixes including SPOOKED @ KOPN [12.13.19], SWAMPED @ Summer Camp Music Festival [5.25.17], and BURNT @ Summer Camp Music Festival [5.26.16]. Blake also released a solo EP under the name Blk Grdnr that served as a foundation for what the Farmers would later contribute to.

As of 2018 BGatF has released their newest single “Feelin’ Fine” and is currently recording their second full-length album. Feelin Fine’ was featured in Relix Magazine’s 2018’s Februrary edition.

BGatF has opened up for and shared the bill with reggae acts such as the Dirty Heads, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops, Jah Roots, and Jon Wayne and The Pain. BGatF has also been featured on festival bills headlined by giants such as the late Tom Petty, Steve Miller Band, Trey Anastasio Band, Widespread Panic, Primus, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Slightly Stoopid.

BGatF competed and won in the local 2015/16/17 “Summer Camp On The Road Tour” and the “2015 Waka Winter Classic” and performed at both Summer Camp (2015, 2016, and 2017) and Wakarusa (2015).  Other festivals that BGatF has performed at include Sugar Creek Music Festival (2021), Midwest Bearfest (2020), Elderberry Jam (2017, 2018, 2019), End Of World (2016), Do The Dam Thing (2012)

BGatF plays regularly throughout the Midwest including their home state of Missouri from Kansas City to St. Louis, Western and Southern Illinois, and maybe even an occasioanl appearance in neighboring states such as Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Iowa. In addition, Blake Gardner performs solo and has held down weekly residencies in Kansas City (Pinstripes, MO Brew) and at the Lake of the Ozarks (Franky & Louie’s, Redhead’s).

BGatF has been featured on various online and live radio shows that reach audiences on a local, regional, and national platform, including KCOU and KOPN (Columbia, MO), KDHX (St. Louis), KHZTV (Baltimore), GasHouse Radio (Philadelphia), The Bud and Roach show (New York), and many more.

BGatF finished as finalists in Gorilla Music Entertainment’s Battle of the Bands (July 2014) and in the Breakout Artist Music Competition (October 2014).