As Christmas approaches, so do two chances to see Pryor Baird live in concert without venturing outside of the Central Coast.
The prolific blues and country musician with local roots, widely known for his time on NBC’s The Voice, will perform in Atascadero on Friday, Dec. 20, at 6:30 p.m., and in Orcutt on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m.
During both acoustic Christmas-themed performances, slated to take place at Atascadero’s Blast & Brew and The Stockyard at Orcutt’s Blast 825 Brewery, respectively, Baird will be joined by supporting acts Stephen Styles and Jane & Shane. Tickets to both shows, open to all ages, are available in advance at my805tix.com.
Born and raised in Orcutt, Baird moved to Nashville in 2010 to pursue a career in music. In 2018, he gained popularity while competing on NBC’s The Voice. That same year, Baird spoke to the Sun about his Central Coast upbringing and early music days with the Coelho Academy of Music, under instructor Jerry Coelho.
“Jerry was my one and only guitar teacher for my entire career,” Baird told the Sun. “I had guitar lessons every Tuesday for, God, I don’t know how many years.”
Baird is also known for his distinct voice, which was not the result of vocal lessons during his youth, he explained.
“I remember listening to Freddy King’s voice and saying to myself, ‘When I get older, that’s exactly what I want to sound like.’ I never took a vocal lesson,” Baird said. “I didn’t know what to do, and then one day I had to sing and it just came out like that and it kinda stuck.”
Baird’s upcoming acoustic concerts in Orcutt and Atascadero will feature performances from Jane & Shane, a duo with years of experience playing country, dance, and ’90s rock, and Stephen Styles, a country rocker who was raised in the Santa Ynez Valley.
To find out more about both upcoming shows or purchase tickets, visit my805tix.com.
The Stockyard at Blast 825 Brewery is located at 241 S. Broadway St., Orcutt. Call (805) 934-3777 for more info on the venue.
Blast & Brew is located at 7935 San Luis Ave., Atascadero. For more details on the brewery, call (805) 788-8990.
Admission to the Atascadero performance is free, but reservations through my805tix.com is advised, as seating is limited. Tickets to the Orcutt concert start at $15.
This article appears in Dec 12-22, 2024.