Country Wide

It only took three months for Kentucky-based County Wide Band to leap from their first show to opening for Chris Stapleton.

Recognition initially came fast for the five-man County Wide Band, which can trace its roots to a local gym.  Thirteen years ago, drummer Travis Clem and singer Aron Bunch met in the weight room, discovered they were both musicians, and got together to jam. Bunch brought in a couple more players, and three practices later, the band played its first show.

"If Jason Aldean and Lynyrd Skynyrd made love and had a baby, boom County Wide," Clem said. "We're more on the southern rock side than country. Today's country does not fit in with what we do. We play outlaw country, the Waylons, the Willies, the Merle Haggards, Vern Gosdins, stuff like that."

Anthony Campbell (bass guitar, vocals), Steven Standifer (lead guitar), and Evan Crawford (keyboard, guitars) complete the band.

"We have played all over the country and opened up for some of the biggest names in music history," he said. "To do that independently prior to signing with our record label Clearwater, what we've done has been pretty good on our own."

The band has gigged from Portland, Oregon, to Cancun, Mexico, Florida, Mississippi, and more. County Wide opened for artists including Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker, Cole Swindell, Brantley Gilbert, and Charlie Daniels.

In the early days, members piled into a 2007 Suburban and towed a trailer to show. When their shows got larger and further away, the band flew. 

Clem said the band is looking forward to getting a bus but that it hasn't happened yet. The next goal is to play music full-time.

"We want to do this for a living," Clem said. "We all have daytime jobs. We know the likelihood of being a Jason Aldean or somebody like that is very slim. But, we think we could make a good run and live comfortably doing it."

Country Wide

Travis Brittain Clem

Aron Joe Bunch

Anthony Wayne Campbell 

Richard Evan Crawford

Steven Ray Standifer