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The WDVX Blue Plate Special — 7/15 — Will Wesley / Florian Fox

July 15 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Will Wesley is a Country Rock and Americana artist. A storyteller whose sound blends a soulful edge with country rock energy into heartfelt storytelling. Born in Baker, Louisiana, Wesley was raised with a rebellious spirit and a love for music inspired by his father’s guitar. By age 15, he was sneaking into bars to perform with a beat-up six-string and a fire that would soon define his music career.

He paved his path in the Baton Rouge blues scene, performing and touring alongside with legendary figures. He served as Grady Champion’s Music Director for five years. His talent earned him two International Blues Challenge regional victories and a reputation as one of Louisiana’s fiercest young guitarists.

But Wesley’s journey took a turn when life’s hardships — including personal battles and deep loss — pushed him toward a new musical path. Drawing inspiration from artists like Hank Williams, Marty Stuart, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, and Eric Church, he began merging his blues background with the modern energy of country rock and americana.

In 2021, Wesley released his breakthrough album, “Both Sides Of The Tracks.” The record featured 17 original songs, including “A New Kind of Blues” (feat. Kern Pratt), “Leah” (feat. Michael Cleveland), and “Attitude”, which reached #1 on the Euro Academy of Country Music Charts in Milan, Italy. The project marked his official crossover from blues prodigy to full-fledged country-rock and americana artist.

Tragedy struck in January 2021, when Wesley lost his brother Daniel Dale to a drug overdose — a loss that became the emotional core of his 2024 single “12 O’Clock in Texas,” his most personal song to date. The single’s heartfelt storytelling and raw emotion struck a deep chord with fans around the world.

Despite the road miles as a devoted Worldwide Touring Troubadour, Wesley returns home to Louisiana in-between tours for hometown shows, staying true to his roots and fans. Known for his humility and heart, he continues to give back by performing at Veterans’ events and outreach programs — bringing the healing power of music to those who need it most.

Florian Fox is the “Swiss guy of the hour”. With his neo-traditional country style, Florian Fox (33) has played his way onto some of the most renowned festival and club stages and into the heart of the US music metropolis of Nashville in less than four years. His new country-pop EP “True Love”, released on February 14, 2025, accompanies him on his “True Love Tour” alongside U.S. singer Drake Milligan and other renowned artists. On May 24, 2025, he was given the most important award in the Swiss show industry, the Prix Walo, in the category Country, live on Swiss national television.

In the middle of the pandemic, Florian ventured to the music metropolis of Nashville, where he recorded his first solo album “Made in U.S.A” with U.S. star Chuck Mead (BR5-49, Musicians’ Hall of Fame) and shortly afterwards recorded an EP with original members of Johnny Cash’s band. Since then, his career has taken a steep rise: In 2024, he released his first live album on Swiss national television, became a voting member of the US Country Music Association (CMA), nominee of the foremost Swiss culture award “Prix Walo” and won a Texas Sounds Int. Country Music Award for “Entertainer of the Year” as well as a certificate of recognition from U.S. Congress. In October, after an extensive tour through the States, he performed at the legendary CMA Theater of the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Florian now regularly performs on the main stages of major country music festivals and high-class venues. He has developed a stunning presence on the air and in the media.

On May 24, 2025, Florian was given the most important award in the Swiss show industry at the Prix Walo gala in Zurich. He impressed the jury in the Country category and received the Prix Walo 2025 for his outstanding musical achievements on both sides of the Atlantic.

On his new EP “True Love” released on February 14, 2025, Florian skillfully combines a powerful Nashville sound with delicate roots music elements such as banjo and dobro. The songs tell the original story of the young, but already tested, matured and well-traveled singer: In the single “Home” (pre-released on January 24), Florian has found his center both musically and personally and conveys the message with a stomping, very catchy tune. “Country Man” is a loving ode to his ageing father, who awakened in him his love of country music. In the funky “Toxic Fascination”, Florian remembers a fiery lover who almost threw him off his life’s track. With the ballad “True Love”, which he co-wrote with U.S. artist Drake Milligan, he makes even the most sedate of souls pine with him for one true love with a voice reminiscent of Roy Orbison. “Daphne and Till” is a modern country fairytale that proves that great love can be found even in the age of dating apps. With the honky-tonk smasher “Friday Night”, Florian rounds off the EP in the spirit of an exuberant night in the music capital of Nashville, Tennessee.

Details

Date:
July 15
Time:
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Venue

WDVX
301 S. Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902 United States
+ Google Map
Phone:
865-544-1029
Website:
View Venue Website

Organizer

WDVX
Phone:
865-544-1029
Email:
info@wdvx.com
Website:
View Organizer Website