Theo Lawrence

One Liner:  Shockingly excellent classic country crooner from Paris

Wikipedia Genre:  No Wikipedia, but country

Home: Paris (although now Austin!)

Poster Position: 24
Weekend Two Only.
Friday at 2pm.

IHG Stage.

Thoughts:  His very short Spotify bio claims he is "France's favorite songbird," which seems unlikely with this few streams, then also claims he is based in Austin now and that he is a one-of-a-kind Country singer.  Pick a lane.  No one who sings country is France's favorite songbird.  They only like Edith Piaf and Daft Punk.  But, one bio I read says that although he was raised in Paris, his "heart and soul have been basking in the deep sounds of early American rock and roll and country music since he picked up an electric guitar at 11 years old."  And it sounds like it.  He doesn't sound like a Frenchie at all - could easily be some Bakersfield country dude from the 50's.  Haha, get this quote from him: "French people love rock and roll. For example, French people like Iggy Pop and David Bowie. They like Elvis, too, but they fucking hate country music. All of it. They just can’t stand it."  Good choice bro!

Instead, this is a dude who has opened for Robert Plant and really was on the cover of the French Rolling Stone.  Kind of has the vibe of Charley Crockett - that pure throwback country thing.  It is honestly fascinating.  If I didn't know what I know, I would very seriously think that I was listening to an album from 1958 by some country/doo-wop guy.  So many of these throwback things this year?  I mean, hold on, I just have to play you the newest single.  "Penny's Chair."  16k streams so far, but just listen to this song!

How is that a 20-something French dude?  So fascinating.  And very good - I'm digging his schtick for sure.

Three albums - 2019's Sauce Piquante, 2023's Cherie, and 2023's Pickin' & Singin'.  The top track from those albums is "California Poppy," from the middle one, with 395k streams.

What is happening!?!  Sounds awesome, but this is seriously from 60 years ago and this guy is just wasting his opportunity with his time machine.  Instead of wisely going to other way to make it sound like he wrote "Let It Be" and "The Gambler," he has come to modern times to replay classic country.  Fool!

His top track overall is his very first one, which was a 2017 single, called "500 Dances."  This is a live version but you'll get the idea - sounds kind of like a Dan Auerbach produced thing, but this is probably what got him noticed by Robert Plant.  1.9 million streams.

This is more weird stuff - not sure how many times I have noted that a band on this poster is a throwback - but whatever.  I really like this guy.  I'd go check it out.  I honestly should just go find him at the White Horse sometime this summer and enjoy him that way before the Fest!