ARTIST INTERVIEW: TRAVIS DENNING

A week or so ago I featured an interview about The Gin in Tifton, Georgia. I got quite a few emails about the names that were dropped as performers at this venue. Of course I heard a lot about Jon Langston and Cole Swindell and how I should feature them on TL.
However, I received the most feedback about a country guy named Travis Denning.
I was familiar with Travis and reached out for an interview. Luck was on my side and he kindly agreed to let me feature him with an artist interview.

So, meet the guy who says he will never get tired of singing. Well that and Georgia football...

 

Full Name:

Travis Rentz Denning

Age:

22

Hometown || Currently Living:

Bonaire, GA/Nashville, TN

What made you want to start writing songs and singing?

I began playing guitar at the age of 10 and never lost interest. I was completely obsessed with playing music, and my passion only got stronger until I decided to start singing, and later start writing songs. I have always driven to play and create music from the first time I started playing a guitar.

Do you play any instruments?

I play guitar, mandolin, some drums, and I pretend I know what I'm doing when I sit behind a piano.

Did you teach yourself?

I took lessons for a year and a half to play guitar.

 

Who are your biggest musical inspirations?

The Allman Brothers Band, Alabama, The Marshall Tucker Band, Neil Young, Jason Isbell, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen were some of the biggest influences on me. Some more musically, some more from the way they mastered songwriting, but all have been very influential in my journey as a music lover.

Where do you get inspiration to write your songs?

Life, and that's my favorite thing about writing. It's the honest truth from someone's heart that made me, and so many other folks fall in love with songs.

 

Favorite songs you have written/co-written?

It always changes at any given time what song I am most in love with, but "The Fall" that I co-wrote with Cole Taylor and Jaida Dreyer is one I think I will never get tired of singing. It is very special.

 

What moment in your music career is your favorite so far?

Signing my publishing deal with Red Creative Group.

 

Finish this sentence…if I could write a song for or with anyone I would choose______.

I would choose to write a song with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.

 

Finish this sentence…if I could sing a song with anyone I would choose______.

Otis Redding.

 

Where do you see yourself in a year?           5 years?

For both answers I sure hope on a bus playing music all over the country and writing songs.

 

If I wasn't a singer/songwriter I would be…

Unhappy.

 

I'm afraid of ______.

Not being able to do what I love, and spiders. I dislike spiders.

 

I never get tired of_______.

Music and Georgia Football

 

Okay, I always ask people to tell me one thing about themselves that is random or strange that most people don" know!

I don't own any white socks, only black socks. And I don't really know why. I just like black socks.

 

C O N N E C T

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F E E D  Y O U R  A D D I C T I O N

[INHALE MY FAVORITE TRAVIS DENNING JAM]

VENUE INTERVIEW: THE GIN

A little about the man behind The Gin:

My name is J.D. Groover. I’m 28 and I’m from a little town called Kingsland, GA that resides in Camden County, GA. I went to school at Valdosta State University. Worked at the famous Flip Flops! That’s where i learned the business and my love of music grew. A typical day for me is always different. Different days bring up different things. I do more than unlock a door though!!

T H E    G I N

Location:

Tifton || Georgia

When did your venue open and how did it come to happen?

I opened The Gin in March of 2010. It was my first business venture on its own. I noticed while living in Valdosta, Ga that a lot of people from Tifton, Ga would drive 45 minutes down to party. I knew there was a college there called ABAC and it always amused me they would drive. The thought hit that they must not have anywhere to go or anything to do. I took a scouting trip up here and that was very evident that it was a sleepy little town. I knew if 100 people were driving every weekend 45 mins to party that there were way more who didn’t want to drive, so I came to them!

Describe your venue/bar in three words.

We have a saying “ The Gin always Wins” so “It always wins” This place can take down professional drinkers. Ask Cole Taylor. hahaha

You have been labeled the number one nightlife establishment in South Georgia. What sets your venue apart from others?
I think it’s a couple of things. We have grown as the town has grown. Some people come in drop a lot of money and flop in the bar business. We catered and grew. I always say Tifton and I grew together. Haha. In this part of the state no one offers the entertainment or can throw a party consistently like we do. We take pride in our service to our customers. Also, ask anyone who has played my venue we take care of them. My job is to not only keeping customers happy but also staff and entertainers. You keep the entertainers happy they wanna come back again and again and give it their all!

Big names in country music like Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Chase Rice, and Cole Swindell have graced the stages of The Gin. How did you build relationships with them and attract them to Tifton?

This is one of the questions i get all the time! Our track record is unbelievable and
i work hard at it. I do listen to some mainstream people but i try to stay ahead of the curve. We took a chance on FGL. Paid them 700 dollars and then two weeks later Cruise is on the radio. The following Friday, Parmalee. Then it seemed like everyone on XM radio thought we were a good luck charm. I work hard. I study hard and sometimes i get lucky. Now with Cole, me and him go back for years so that was an easy one. He actually played my place a couple time’s acoustic just to get out of Nashville before he was big. I wish i could list all the people, but it would take forever!

What moment in the time you’ve been open has been your favorite?

It’s really hard to choose. For a while, I would have told you that it was the 2 year anniversary party. There was a guy in the bar that told me when we first got open that we have a cool place but it wouldn’t last 3 months and I kinda got drunk on the mic and told that story and popped a bottle of champagne. But now its when artist from XM come and already know me and know the gin and tell me they wanted to play here for awhile and they respect my reputation in Nashville. Gives me Chills.

Busiest night/largest crowd?

Hands Down Feb 15th 2014. Sam Hunt. A lot went to pushing that show. He was still a “nobody” but I seen it coming. I had seen it October 2013. I pushed that show like no other and it took off and so did he.

With the calendar year coming to a close, what can we expect fro 2015 from The Gin?


Man we have a lot in store. Old Dominon. Adam Sanders. Dylan Scott. Canaan Smith. Chris Lane. Joey Hyde. John King. Ricky Young. And a few of the usual suspects Cole Taylor. Jon Langston, Jordan Rager, Travis Denning, Highway 55, Ray Fulcher and many many more! Make sure to follow us on twitter and instagram at @thegintifton and on Facebook at GIN TIFTON!

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