Airdrie brothers Brad and Ryan Flaysher, the dynamic duo behind the eponymous band, are set to grace the stage at this month's Country Thunder festival in Calgary.
With their roots deeply entrenched in Airdrie and Alberta, the Flaysher brothers – a country and rock duo that has captured the essence of both storytelling and heartland rock classics – are continuing to make waves in the local and regional music scene.
Drawing inspiration from the evocative narratives of 1990s country and the exhilarating energy of heartland rock classics, the brothers have crafted a high-octane country-rock sound that resonates with music lovers far and wide.
Their impact has been acknowledged through multiple Country Music Alberta Award nominations, solidifying their place as a remarkable talent emerging from the local music scene in Airdrie.
Smoke Signals
Flaysher recently released their latest single, “Smoke Signals,” which ignites the soul and embodies the spirit of seizing the moment and trusting one's instincts.
“The inspiration was to write a song that really gets people’s blood pumping and makes them excited for the summer,” Brad said.
“We’ve all been to fun parties in the country and they get a little wild and they always leave you with some stories to tell so that’s kind of the inspiration behind this song. We wanted something that kind of portrayed that atmosphere,” Ryan added.
Flaysher's journey is a testament to perseverance and a genuine love for music. They began performing as teenagers in front of small, local crowds at community events and school functions. Over time, their songwriting process underwent significant changes and improvements.
“One of the things that happened through the years is more and more we prefer to write in a group setting as opposed to one just sitting on a corner writing a song. Collaboration and co-writing are always a huge thing,” Ryan said.
The road to success has been paved with milestones for Flaysher. Their achievements include being Top 12 finalists in Alberta Music's Project WILD competition in 2022, and clinching victory at the 2022 Ranchman's Rising Star contest.
Their previous single, “Good For You,” garnered over 150,000 streams within its first two months of its release and achieved a significant milestone by surpassing one-million global streams. The single's recognition further soared when it secured a spot in the top three on Sirius XM's Top of the Country radio.
Country Thunder
As the anticipation builds for their upcoming performance at Country Thunder, Brad and Ryan Flaysher are reflecting on their journey from local stages to sharing the spotlight with country industry legends like Tim McGraw and Jo Dee Messina.
"Those are a couple of artists we’ve grown up listening to and looked up to since the very beginning,” Ryan said.
Country Thunder is a well-known music festival brand that hosts concerts throughout North America. It has always been a great platform for artists to showcase their talent. The yearly festival takes place in multiple cities, and will be held at East Village's Fort Calgary from Aug. 18 to 20.
As Flaysher prepares to ignite the Country Thunder stage for the first time, their music resonates as a testament to the passion of two brothers who have set their hearts on fire. When they strum their first chords at Country Thunder on Saturday Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. (and then again for a second set at 6 p.m.), the echoes of their journey will resonate not only in the hearts of the audience but also as an inspiration to aspiring musicians across the province.
“We are proud of how far we’ve come. [This is] just another milestone and we got a long way to go,” Brad said.
“Also gratitude towards the fans that have supported us since the very beginning, it’s going to be amazing to be able to share that with them from a stage of that size,” Ryan said.
To obtain information on their upcoming shows, people can visit flaysher.ca.
For more info on Country Thunder, visit countrythunder.com
