Brandon, The Wandering Bard

Brandon the Wandering Bard is an artist based in Alexandria, VA, but he is far from being your average singer-songwriter. In fact, he came up with a rather unique idea, which lets the audience experience the music actively, rather than just being passive listeners. His most recent release is an actual quest game, in which the Wandering Bard himself will lead the audience through a thrilling treasure hunt. This is a bonafide riddle adventure game with a geocache twist, making for an even more engaging vibe!
Musically speaking, the track is really intriguing, bringing a completely unique touch to the adventure theme of the concept. The sound of the acoustic guitars is timeless and exciting, allowing the audio to have more of a storytelling vibe, which really suits the dynamics of this release. If you love role playing games, adventures, and folk music with a bit of an energetic kick, this one is definitely going to be right up your alley, so don’t miss out!
I am always very impressed when artists go against the grain and find new ways to bring their content to the audience. This is definitely one of the most unique ideas we had the chance to feature, and the creativity that push Brandon to bring this project to life is absolutely remarkable! Besides all that, the music aspect of the project is simply awesome. Brandon The Wandering Bard strikes a chord (well, quite literally!) with the audience, due to his heartfelt passion, and due to the fact that he really wants to turn the listening experience into something that is more immersive and memorable in the long run.
Brandon the Wandering Bard is a true pioneer, approaching his music in ways that are not easy to define in the traditional sense of what you’d expect. This isn’t an artist dropping a single, but rather a full-rounded entertainer, who avidly curates various aspects of his work and stage persona!
Find out more about Brandon the Wandering Bard, check out this unique project - and why not, join the treasure hunt! The video features some clues, which might lead you to the secret treasure, hidden somewhere out there in this big wide world.
New video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXMtTjhO8tQ
Website: thewanderingbard.co
Facebook and Instagram: Brandon the wandering bard
Podcast: The Wandering Bard podcast (available wherever you might listen) - the Band Camp Diaries

The Wandering Bard creates an ambience with only his guitars, fiddle and voice, on his new single “Lord Franklin.” The persistent pluck of guitar strings is the sound of all that’s fleeting and makes it clear that the artist wishes to mine and fuse all aspects of indie-folk music together.



These folksy riffs ride on wavy stretches of adventure, yearning, and hope that looks like the horizon on open seas— The Wandering Bard adds a layer of nuance to the song but what makes it so effective is how it’s surrounded by themes of passion, empathy, and tenderness, to truly become a song that helps convey a full range of human feeling.

“Lord Franklin” is a record so precise as to be sensory, whose arrangements of harmonies, strings, and lonesome trills are like the intake of breath before a faltering step. While the tempo and density might scan as “chill,” the music is so elegant as to resist stereotyping. It’s relaxing in the way that listening to a Fleet Foxes record is relaxing, and sweet in the way that the soothing, honey-voiced of Sufjan Stevens is sweet.



Doing away with drums make any patch of folk melody sound “new,” but can be a challenge to pull off without diminishing the music’s atemporal mysteries. But the rhythm section in this song escapes that mode, and the artist is able to find balance within the instrumentation. Although, on occasion, the song hovers at the fine line between laid-back and merely tasteful, it gradually grow and glows with musical warmth.

Though the music isn’t always urgent, the bliss comes through in the atmosphere, which is what makes the music sound special. “Lord Franklin” carves out a space where the audience can feel the artist directly confront his fears and desires. He creates a tune that doesn’t require much active listen, but allows you to dive in and submerge yourself in warm, welcoming heartfelt tones. - XTTRAWAVE.COM

A joyous, communal spirit defines Brandon, The Wandering Bard’s “A Curious Collection of Songs and Tunes, From Travels Near & Far”. The celebration of life’s small and large moments feels lovely. Everything is tied together in an epic journey, with each piece yet another suite in a larger portrait. With a slight hint of defiance, his words have a poetry to them, offering a respite. By offering this sense of reflection mixed with adventure there is a tenderness there that comes with a life lived most fully. Melodies are rich, the arrangements lush, and all nicely drawing from traditional folklore, those ancient bards.

His voice, though points towards folk’s future. Though he is clearly indebted to the past, his offers a sense of tremendous comfort. Rather gorgeous, his approach has the togetherness of Richard Dawson’s epic odes. Buildup proves to be equally important for the sheer amount of color incorporated into the compositions adds to its epic sprawl. Everything shimmers and shines with ever so much light to it all. Usage of the sheer speed of things further gives it a pastoral optimism. Lyrics focus too upon the greatness of the world at large, the beauty of the nature.

“Nancy Spain” starts things off akin to a wonderful lullaby. However, he plays with listener expectations as it becomes ever more energetic. Incredible spritely fiddle work rests within the soulful “The Torn Jacket/The Virginia”. On “Rosin the Bow” they go for a sense of true friendship. Passion pours from inspired “A Boys Lament for His Dragon”. Galloping along “Roddy McCorley” has a great urgency to it all. Things get stripped down a bit on the ode of “The Hut on Staffin Island/Calum’s Road” as the piece becomes quite multifaceted. Glowing guitar gestures take their time on the highlight of the album “Loch Tay Boat Song”. Perfectly concluding things is the lush “Blind Mary”.

Brandon, The Wandering Bard delivers something straight from the heart on the soulful “A Curious Collection of Songs and Tunes, From Travels Near & Far”. - BeachSloth