Wyatt Espalin
“….ADDS A FRESH VOICE TO THE ALTERNATIVE FOLK SCENE WITH SONGS THAT MOURN OPPORTUNITIES LOST AND CELEBRATE HOPE RENEWED……THE DUO CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF TODAYS TROUBADOUR.”
– WYLIE GRAVER / VERGE LIVE MAGAZINE
With the Ocoee River in East Tennessee as the backdrop, and North Georgia on the horizon, Wyatt Espalin’s debut album, Songwriter/Singer (2015), was born. Entertaining audiences in his hometown of Hiawassee, Georgia as early as age eight, Wyatt’s passion for music was obvious, even from the music barn stage built by his grandfather on the campground where Wyatt was raised. He and his brother Matt were known as “The Fiddling Brothers.” While Matt hung up his fiddle and bow after high school, Wyatt was just getting started. Armed with a guitar and a desire to write songs, he paired with his friend, Cobi Ferguson to form the acclaimed Americana duo, Trees Leave. Combining electric guitar with traditional bluegrass roots led to a noticeably unique sound and a growing fan base. Having years of touring under their belts and two successful albums, Run (2008) and The Gospel of Hurt (2010), it was time for Cobi to settle down, and Wyatt to find a new setting fit for a more personal level of songwriting. So alone began his sabbatical to the Ocoee River. While working as a raft guide and caring for his ailing Granddaddy, Wyatt began writing the songs for his debut album. His songs have garnered much attention winning the New Song Songwriting competition at the acclaimed L.E.A.F. festival in 2014. He also placed twice as a finalist in the Chris Austin Songwriting competition at Merlefest (2009, 2019), the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriting Competition (2014, 2019) and Eddie’s Attic Open Mic Shootout (2014, 2015). Wyatt won 3rd place at the 2019 Songwriter Serenade and is a finalist for 2020. Performing solo or traveling with a revolving set of talented musicians as Trees Leave, Wyatt Espalin has found a way to continue writing and performing these songs that have longed to be free; to be pardoned, like the river