How many 8-year-olds form a band, then play more than 1,000 gigs before graduating high school at age 16?
South Carolinian Hannah Wicklund, who knew at that early age her life would be consumed with music.
Now a 22-year-old triple- threat vocalist, songwriter and guitar player living in Nashville, she fronts Hannah Wicklund & the Steppin Stones, which plays Songbirds on Friday night, June 28.
The first rehearsal of The Steppin Stones was in 2005, after which they were soon playing six to nine shows every week. When Wicklund was 13, the band played for AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson and his vintage racing car team - the first of many private shows she arranged.
As word began to spread about this musical phenom, the band went on to share billing with Jefferson Starship, Kansas and St. Paul & The Broken Bones. They performed at major events such as the Peach Music Festival and Firefly Music Festival.
In late 2017, they toured Europe and then performed more shows in the U.S., finishing out the year with a string of shows with The Marshall Tucker Band.
With the release of their third album in 2018, the self-titled "Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones," the band was on its way to becoming rock and roll's next marquee act.
This year, Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones are supporting Stone Temple Pilots and joining Peter Frampton and Joe Bonamassa on a Mediterranean cruise in August. They brought the heat to Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta in May to kick off their summer headline tour across the United States.
If you go
Where: Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station St. (S), 41 Station St. (N)
For more information: 423-531-2478
TOWN MOUNTAIN WITH REV. JEFF MOSIER
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27 (N)
Admission: $12
HANNAH WICKLUND & THE STEPPIN STONES WITH C2 & THE BROTHERS REED
When: 7 p.m. Friday, June 28 (N)
Admission: $12 in advance, $15 day of show
THE BREAKFAST CLUB: AN '80S DANCE PARTY
When: 9 p.m. Friday, June 28 (S)
Admission: $15
EG KIGHT
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29 (N)
Admission: $15
GIRLS NIGHT OUT WITH NEON QUEEN: ALTERNATIVE ABBA
When: 9 p.m. Saturday, June 29 (S)
Admission: $12 in advance, $15 day of show
WILLIE CLAYTON WITH RICK RUSHING & THE BLUES ALL STARS
When: 7 p.m. Monday, July 1 (S)
Admission: $20 in advance, $25 day of show, $50 VI