Brandt Carmichael of Royal Center will open for successful country hitmaker Gary Allan at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis on Thursday.
Performing on a stage is nothing new for Brandt Carmichael.
The Royal Center native has made himself a familiar name locally for nearly 20 years, first winning the Cass County 4-H Fair talent contest in 2008 at age 7.
A multi-instrumentalist who describes his style of music as “country rock,” Carmichael has been a regular presence at the fair and other local events since, even hosting several benefit performances for local nonprofits and organizations.
“Growing up as an only child, (music) became a friend that was always there,” Carmichael, 25, said in an email interview. “I really can’t imagine a life without playing music. In 2013, I played my first show, the Battle of the Bands at Brandt’s HD in Marion, where we took home a $500 cash prize. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I can make money from this!’ From there, the race was on.”
Carmichael took his love for performing and moved to Nashville in 2019 to pursue his music dream. On Thursday, September 24, Carmichael will hit a significant milestone in his early career when he opens for successful country hitmaker Gary Allan at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis. This will be Brandt’s first Live Nation concert.
Carmichael said his musical style is a product of growing up in a rural farming community, listening to 103.7 with his mom, Jodi, and listening to rock bands like AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Mötley Crüe with his dad, Kevin.
“My music is right down the middle,” he said. “I call it country rock. Rock music for the tractor.”
Carmichael started in the Pioneer School Corporation and later transitioned to homeschooling, which he felt would lead to greater opportunities and resources to grow his talents. He is currently studying biology at Middle Tennessee State University and is set to graduate in December.
Before moving to Nashville permanently, he spent a year after high school making weekend trips and trying to connect with as many people as possible, including hit songwriter and Logansport native Dan Couch, who helped guide Carmichael on where to land to pursue his dream.
With his first Live Nation performance ahead of him, Carmichael said he never gets nervous about performing.
“Before big events like this one with Gary, where I’m experiencing a lot of firsts — opening for such an influence of mine, my first show at the Old National Centre, and my first time working with Live Nation — I get nervous about the logistics leading up to the show,” Carmichael said. “Is everything covered? Is everything loaded? Is the set list printed? Basically, I’m still handling the role of the tour manager. But once I get to the venue, all that noise fades, and a level of confidence consumes me.
“The Murat Theatre, in some ways, is just another show. The job and the expectations are the same, but the demand is much greater and the stakes are amplified, which brings excitement but also risk.”
For more information on the show and to buy tickets, visit www.murattheatreoldnational.com. For more information on Carmichael, visit www.brandtcarmichaelmusic.com/home.
Following the show at the Murat, Carmichael will be performing at the Dutch Mill Bar in Logansport at 8 p.m. Oct. 23.
“Cass County will always be home,” he said. “The roots and memories I have there will be forever tied to my outcome and who I am as a person. I do my best to honor the fan base who believed in me first.”
Original Source: CNHI News
