Bio

Eli Locke is a California native raised on a mixture of country music and old school rock and roll. He’s got that young buck swagger of an Easton Corbin, Chris Young or Jon Pardi.  Eli’s a no-nonsense, no-frills kind of American musician –  “an appealing mixture of traditional and contemporary country,” says the LA Times, with “an amiable sense of irony and a simple, direct use of language.”  Eli’s not a flavor of the month, or a flash in the pan kind of artist – he may be a fresh new face, but he reminds you of the artists you grew up loving, and that’s alright with him. As far as Eli is concerned - if country music ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

While still living in California, Eli became a regular at Honkytonks and Night Clubs throughout the southwest as well as at festivals and fairs opening for acts such as Cody Johnson, Darryl Worley, the Eli Young Band and many others.  His love for storytelling drove him to the heart of Country music, Nashville Tennessee, but he made sure to bring some of that Bakersfield sound with him; mixing traditional elements of country music with elements of Southern and Classic Rock.  Equal part storyteller and songwriter, Eli has thrived in Nashville, working with some of the cities best and brightest, while still making sure to bring a raucous honkytonk energy everywhere he plays, whether an acoustic writers round, or a full band barn burner. 

Sure, country music is a tough racket – dive bars, long drives and late nights. But Eli wouldn’t have it any other way. "California once rivaled Texas and Tennessee as a home for country music," he says, "It's the birthplace of Merle Haggard and the home of Buck Owens, the launching point for both Dwight Yoakam and Gary Allan. I like to think that there is still plenty of room for the rough-hewn, honky-tonk style of country that was such a huge part of America’s past. “