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In the past year, Hudson Westbrook has taken the country music scene by storm. A self-taught singer-songwriter, his first single Take it Slow took social media by storm and Hudson has not slowed down since.
Before Hudson Westbrook was a well known name, he was a Texas Tech student working at a feed store in Lubbock, Texas. He began playing guitar in 2020, and wrote his first song during his first year at Tech. His band consists of all guys from church, and the chemistry they have on stage together is top notch.
One day when they were in the studio, Hudson’s fiddle player videoed him singing Take it Slow and posted it on social media. By the next day it had almost 2 million views.
In less than a year your music has really taken off. What have the last 9 months been like for you?
Every time that happens I feel like you don’t know if it’s actually going to work, or if it’s a one time thing or a two time thing, whatever it may be. Then we went through the next month and I released Two Way Drive. Then I bought a van, and I bought a trailer, and I bought a bunch of sound gear and all this stuff that I didn’t know if it would work. I said I’m going to go all in if I’m going to go all in. We ended up playing three sold out shows on my first headline tour which was really cool. We went on tour with Josh Abbott, and then this last year we played ACL and Cottonfest and all over the states. I worked on writing the EP and it’s been a lot of change. I’ve had to say goodbye to a lot, but at the same time I feel like I’m super lucky to be in the position I am now. This year we are touring more than 100 dates. It’s been really crazy to say the least. I’ve had to adjust with not seeing my family and going from doing homework to now writing songs, but it’s been really cool. I’m glad to be from Texas and being able to represent Texas in other states.
You just got back from MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. What was that like?
It was really cool because I hadn’t had the chance to meet everyone yet. I just got into this and so nobody really knew much about me. I got to meet Wade (Bowen) and Cleto, and all the Texas dudes who have kinda built Texas music. To hear them comment on our live shows meant so much to me. Anywhere you can ski and play live music at the same time I am there.
Your tour has just kicked off. What are you most excited for during this run?
I am insanely excited for Billy Bob’s. I’m also excited for Floore’s. I’m excited for these bigger rooms that we haven’t played yet because I feel like so far where we have played has been very personal and intimate, and I want to have the opportunity to make the bigger venues super personal and intimate. I want to do things differently to make sure that everyone feels involved, whether you are playing pool in the back lounge or you are sitting in the front seat at the tables. I feel like what we have with our live set can make people feel super included so I am excited to see the reaction to that.
What is it like going back to your hometown of Stephenville to play a show?
It was cool. The coolest part about it was that it wasn’t just my friends that were there. Even though I am in my hometown, there were people there that didn’t know me. There are also people there that have been my best friends forever. They tell me I seem like I am being myself on stage and that’s what matters the most to me. I want the people who knew me prior to this to know I am still the same person I was before. It’s always going to be very important to me to stick to my roots.
It was just announced you will be at Chilifest in College Station this April. Are you excited and do you know what to expect?
Considering that Treaty Oak Revival and Koe Wetzel are headlining, and hearing what I have heard in the past, I think it’s going to be fun. I am ready for some beers to be thrown on me.
You are also opening up for Parker McCollum this summer at Red Rocks. How excited are you for that?
That venue has been my dream since day one and to get to do it with the first guy I really listened to in country music is awesome. I don’t want to put us in the same book, but Parker is what I was kind of shooting for as an artist career, but trying to make it my own. It’s really cool to play with someone you listened to when you were seven years old, and now you are getting to play Red Rocks with them.
In Texas what would your dream venue be to play?
Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels. I love DosXX Pavilion as well. The Blue Light in Lubbock was a dream venue. Billy Bob’s is my dream venue as a whole.
Do you have a favorite song to perform live?
Take Your Time. It shows a different side of my writing and it’s just a little bit different of a sound. Everyone just loves it which is weird because it doesn’t have the most streams, but that is what makes a live show so special. That is the one that always just pops when we play it live and people love it.
Your new single Mine Tomorrow drops January 24. What does the rest of the year look like for you?
We have a special surprise drop coming. We are looking to drop an album later this year. An album is nothing I want to rush. It should be 110% of what I have to offer to my crowd, so I want to spend the next four months just writing and recording that.
At only 20 years old, Hudson Westbrook is a name to remember. His live shows are something you do not want to miss. See where you can catch a show here and stream his new single Mine Tomorrow on your streaming platforms.
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Cover Photo James Westfall
Emily Hord is the Assistant Editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine and a native Texan. She graduated from Texas A&M University and in her free time, she enjoys going to see live music and spending time with her friends and family.
