Conversations with Bryan Eklund

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Eklund. They and their team shared their story with us below:

The Wrecklunds are a bluegrass/Americana/country/rock band based in Evergreen, Colorado. Over the last six years, the band has established itself as a force to be reckoned with along the Front Range. The band features renowned singer Bryan Eklund (Rapture Valley, Bobber Johnson, Woodfire), mandolin player Mark Swaim (Home, Soul Tyme), and doghouse bass player Eric Drobny (40 Gallon Still, Some Train Yard).

In 2020, The Wrecklunds released their debut album ‘Moon Over Broadway’, produced by Vince Herman (of Leftover Salmon), and performed on the RockyGrass main stage as finalists in the Planet Bluegrass band competition as well as many other memorable shows for their supportive fans. With tight vocal harmonies, masterful instrumentation, song craft, and a passion for live performance, the Wrecklunds are a must-see act for Colorado music fans and beyond.

In the summer of 2022, The Wrecklunds made the transition from a five-piece bluegrass act to a crossover Americana/JamGrass act with the addition of Mike Dooley (Three Days in the Saddle) on drums and Paul Copoulos (Flash Mountain Flood/Extra Gold) on keys. The band has also had the distinct pleasure of frequently working with a wide range of extremely talented soloists, including Kyle O’Brien on fiddle, Bret Billings on pedal steel and harmonica, Dr. Poz on saxophone, and Brian King on trumpet.

Swelling from a 3-piece act to an 8pc act when the horns are on stage, this band continues to prove its versatility and prowess to hop genres and entertain big crowds. From a soulful 3pc string band with three-part harmonies to an 8pc dance band, The Wrecklunds continue to impress crowds of all ages and build their following. They are currently working to finish a live album from the summer of 2022 and have begun a new studio album due in the summer of 2023.

Notable Venues/Festivals Played:

-Hops n Drops Festival (support for California Honeydrops), Evergreen, CO — 2022
-Rapidgrass Festival (support for Rapidgrass), Idaho Springs, CO — 2022
-The Big Wonderful Series (support for Meadow Mtn) Denver, CO — 2022
-Evergreen Lakehouse Concert Series, (headliner) Evergreen, CO 2018/21/22
-Lakewood Summer Concert Series (support for Woodbelly) Lakewood, CO – 2021
-Rocky Grass Main Stage (band comp finalists) Lyons, CO – 2021
-Durango Bluegrass Meltdown (featured artists) Durango, CO – 2018/19
-Buffalo Rose (headliner w/Buffalo Commons) Golden, CO – 2019/21
-Cervantes Ballroom (support for Chain Station) Denver, CO — 2019
-Cervantes Other Side (headliner) (Denver, CO – 2019,2022)
-GoldenGrass Festival (support for Rapidgrass) Golden, CO—2022
-UllrGrass Bluegrass Festival, Golden, CO – 2022
-Wanderfest, Golden, CO – 2021
-Caribou Room (support for Float Like a Buffalo) Nederland, CO – 2021
-Parker Days, Parker, CO – 2019
-Kittredge Canyon Fest (headliner, support for Ryan Chris) Kittredge, CO – 2019,20,22
-Morrison Cider Fest, (headliner) Morrison, CO 2018/19
-McAwesome Fest (support for Kitchen Dwellers) Lonetree, CO – 2019
-Boulder Theater,(support for Victor Wooten Band) Boulder, CO – 2018
-Denver BBQ Fest, Mile High Stadium grounds, Denver, CO —2019
-Globe Hall, Denver, CO – 2018

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with almost any creative venture, the struggle to generate sufficient income for the band members to rely solely on the proceeds of concert and merch sales is a constant adversary.

Although we have been able to gradually demand a higher price tag for our performances over the years, it is still difficult to put away enough money to fully fund recording projects. We make do in a variety of ways but definitely look forward to a time when monetary barriers won’t block our way to being able to document and share our music.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The Wrecklunds are an ever-evolving professional alt-country/grass/rock band. We thrive on the process of creating our original song material and bringing that to the people in live performances.

While we were finalists in the 2021 RockyGrass band competition, we have continued to grow and expand our musical genre boundaries through a more diversified approach to our repertoire and contributing musicians. Our songwriting and out-front 3 part harmonies are the signature of our sound and reputation.

How do you think about luck?
Fate is a fickle mistress. For instance, our debut album was in the final stages of mixing when the Covid curtain came down and thwarted our efforts to tour to support that labor of love.

On the other hand, a stroke of good luck happened, as it turned out when our banjo player had to move to accept a faraway job, and we added a drummer (Mike Dooley) and keyboardist (Paul Copoulos) to the band, in essence, expanding the spectrum of our musical possibilities.

Contact Info:

• Website: wrecklunds.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewrecklunds
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrecklunds
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thewrecklunds6586