Brent Cobb at the Raccoon Motel -- June 18.
Sunday, June 18, 7 p.m.
Raccoon Motel, 315 East Second Street, Davenport IA
Touring in support of last year's release And Now Let's Turn to Page..., an album that Glide magazine called "warm and heartfelt" and that Americana Highways said "challenges the listener to jump from their pew and holler hallelujah," Brent Cobb headlines a June 18 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the southern-rock, country, and Americana singer/songwriter also praised by Americana UK as an artist who :"revives gospel classics with his distinctive voice and instrumentation."
The 36-year-old Cobb was born in Americus, Georgia but raised in the nearby town of Ellaville, and his father Patrick was an appliance repairman who was also in a rock band. Brent made his vocal debut at age seven when he sang Tim McGraw's "Don't Take the Girl" with his father's band in a Richland, Georgia festival performance. As a teenager, Cobb fronted a local band called Mile Marker 5 which had some regional success, and at age 16, the nascent artist met his cousin, Dave Cobb, at a family funeral. Dave was a producer based in Los Angeles, and Brent gave him a demo CD. Dave, along with Shooter Jennings, would later fly Brent to Los Angeles to record his debut album No Place Left to Leave.
Cobb made that recording in 2006 with his cousin while in Los Angeles, and after deciding to return to Georgia, country star and acquaintance Luke Bryan suggested that Cobb move to Nashville, which he did in 2008. After obtaining a songwriting contract with Carnival Music Publishing, Cobb went on to write a variety of songs for many prominent stars, such as Luke Bryan's "Tailgate Blues," David Nail and Frankie Ballard's "Grandpa's Farm," Kellie Pickler's "Rockaway," Kenny Chesney's "Don't It," and Miranda Lambert's "Old Sh!t." Cobb released a self-titled EP in 2012, and began opening for established stars such as Blake Shelton and Sara Evans, playing around 120 dates per year. In 2016, his song "Down Home" appeared on Dave Cobb's compilation album Southern Family alongside songs from artists including Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, and Zac Brown.
That same year saw Cobb's major-label debut album Shine on Rainy Day released via the Elektra Records imprint Low Country Sound. The album peaked at number 17 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and at number five on the Top Heatseekers chart, and led to Cobb receiving a 2018 Grammy Award nomination as Best Americana Album. Since then, Cobb released 2018's Providence Canyon (a number-two smash on the Heatseekers chart), 2020's Keep 'Em on They Toes, and 2022's And Now Let's Turn to Page..., with Nashville Scene describing Cobb's voice as "soft and sweet, with surefooted hints of soul."
Brent Cobb headlines his June 18 Davenport engagement with an additional set by George Shingleton, admission to the 7 p.m. concert is $20, and tickets are available by visiting TheRaccoonMotel.com.
