Singer-songwriter Chris Long, music is an adventure that keeps getting better and better. He grew up with a father who was a musician, and learned to play guitar at age 12. Since then, the adventure’s just kept going. Chris Long writes and performs music from the Heartland, Roots Rock & Americana genres.

Chris played in two bands with his father in the late 90s and early 2000s. They played together in the bands Sloe Ginn and Stonewall Gray. Since then, he’s moved away from performing with a group to focus on a career as a solo singer-songwriter. He has performed across the US and internationally, including performances at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe and The Commodore. Chris has graced the stages of Dollywood’s famed DreamMore Resort, Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse and the infamous WDVX “Blue Plate Special” along with radio & television appearances.

Chris’s music blends Americana and rock to create a rough yet classic sound. His focus is on telling stories of everyday life and the world around him through his songs. He’s heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The sounds of classic rock come through in his music. He’s also a history teacher, something that’s had a strong impact on his songwriting. He says, “For me, music has to mean something. I love songs that speak about life and the world we live in. That’s the music that tells our story. That’s the music we carry with us throughout life.”

The Matt Byrd Band was formed in late 2021 when friends Matt Byrd (Frontman/Lyricist) and Wayne Stambaugh (Lead Guitar) came together after having worked together on several previous projects. After some time had been spent finding outlets for Matt’s previously recorded singles, the two found that what he needed was a band. After months of scouting powerhouse musicians, Rodney Tomlinson (Bass) and Ryan Miller (Formerly Drumkit) were officially made part of the ensemble. Shortly after, Derrick Blankenbeckler (Formerly Keys/Drumkit) joined the group and the Matt Byrd Band was well on its way.

In September of 2022 the band broke ground on their first album. Eight Months later, Movin’ On was released to the public in April of 2023. The album has garnered a collective 30k+ streams across platforms from 4000+ listeners. Notable performances include the Capitol Theatre of Greenville, TN – 2022 & 2023, Lakeway Chamber of Commerce Music Festival – 2022, Morristown’s Jeep Invasion – 2023, and the Grainger County Tomato Festival – 2021 & 2022