JACOB BRYANT’S LIFE FUELS HIS SONGWRITING

At 28, Jacob Bryant has lived through more than many men twice his age. In fact, his life story sounds like the country songs he writes.

Hidden behind his blue eyes lies a past of addiction, death and divorce that has pushed him to record some of his most popular biographical anthems including “Save My Soul,” “This Side of Sober,” “Too Late to Turn Around” and “Up In Flames.”

“I’ve been aware of Jacob since his first album came out last year and was well-received. I noticed he was out doing some shows with Cody Johnson, and that’s a pretty big deal, so I talked with his booking agency,” says Mike Dougher, Songbirds entertainment coordinator.

Dougher says the fact Bryant is a North Georgian fits with Songbirds’ mission to raise awareness about local talent by booking them on a Songbirds stage

He’s booked Bryant for a gig at Songbirds North on Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m.

The Jasper, Georgia, native delivers a show that combines the storytelling of country music with the passion of rock.

“It’s country music done my way,” says Bryant.

His 2016 EP “Up In Smoke” debuted at No. 7 on iTunes Country Chart and the video for single “A Woman’s Touch” debuted at No. 1 on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown, staying in the Top 5 for 19 weeks.

Bryant grew up in the mountains of North Georgia, where he started playing bluegrass.

“I was 8 when I first started playing guitar. I listened to bluegrass music over and over again while strumming my Martin.”

He played in church, where he served as leader of the youth group. The singer/songwriter continued to hone his craft and took his show on the road after graduating from high school.

But on New Year’s Day 2010 he got a call that changed his life.

“My Mom had taken a nap and didn’t wake up. I was on my way to Nashville when I got the call and my whole world fell apart.” Bryant began a downhill spiral of addiction.

“I had trouble dealing with my mother’s death, and it took me looking in the mirror and realizing I wasn’t happy with the person looking back to turn things around. I was able, with help, to completely quit drinking for a long time and to get control of my life. My mother would have wanted me to continue on with my music; it was her dream. I kind of made her dream my dream,” he says,

If you go

› Where: Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station

St. (South), 41 Station St. (North)

› For more information: 423-531-2473

LOST DOG STREET BAND WITH MATT HECKLER

› When: 7 p.m. today, May 2 (N) › Admission: $12

THE SECRET SISTERS

› When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 3 (N) › Admission: $25

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION NIGHT FEATURING THE POWER PLAYERS, AARON CARNEY BAND, RACHEL SMITH

› When: 9 p.m. Friday, May 3 (S) › Admission: Free

JACOB BRYANT

› When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4 (N) › Admission: $15

DEPARTURE: THE ULTIMATE JOURNEY TRIBUTE

› When: 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4 (S)

› Admission: $12 in advance, $15 day of show

BLACK PISTOL FIRE WITH EMILY WOLFE

› When: 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 (S)

› Admission: $15 in advance, $18 day of show

He turned to songwriting to process his grief and wrote “Sometimes I Pray” as a tribute to his mother and later tracked a song that depicted his battle with demons in “This Side Of Sober.”

“I love playing that song live. The fans always sing it back to me. It’s the one that changed my life,” says Bryant.

He also wrote “Out There” for Luke Combs,

In February, Bryant released his first fulllength album, “Practice What I Preach,” after five EPs. The album was No. 1 on the iTunes Country Chart and its first single was “Pour Whiskey On My Grave.”

FACEBOOK.COM Jacob Bryant