Garner Sloan • Americana, gothic, blues, roots 

Local Austin artist Garner Sloan was born in Abilene and grew up in Coleman, Texas. He did not have the stereotypical “I grew up playing music” childhood. It wasn’t until the summer of 2008 that he picked up his first guitar. Self-taught, he found his passion for guitar by picking along to his favorite music until discovering his own sound. 

His earliest intention, however, was not to write and perform. It was something he did in secret, hidden in his room with no intended audience. A small passion soon turned to obsession as Garner turned every spare moment into an excuse to play. As he progressed and began to accomplish mimicry of his favorite artists with ease, it was only a matter of time until he began to write. The evolutionary process of writing his own music brought a new spirit to Garner. It was clear to him that writing songs was not something to be taken lightly. 

Garner cites Townes Van Zandt as his main inspiration when it comes to writing songs. His other influences include: Tom Waits,  Guy Clark, Blaze Foley, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, Son House, Woody Guthrie, Terry Allen and a couple hundred more. Having such influences, Garner transcends musical genres as an Americana artist, playing a mixture of folk, country, blues and roots rock and roll.

His debut album, “Old Heart, New Road,” offers a healthy dose of emotion, ranging from love to cynicism. It is available for purchase on iTunes, Spotufy, CD Baby and at all live shows.