BEHIND THE MUSIC: Hannah Wicklund’s 'LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR'
- bethanyhildebrandt
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
Growing up on the beaches of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, blues-rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, Hannah Wicklund has always had music in her bones. Through hard work and determination, she built her career on her own. Starting her band at eight years old, then graduating at 16 and hitting the road, she has performed at major US festivals including Firefly Music Festival, Shaky Knees Music Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Summerfest, and Kaboo Del Mar, toured as direct support for Marcus King on his North American tour and opened for Greta Van Fleet on the Canadian leg of their Dreams In Gold tour. Hannah released her debut LP - Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones - on her own label, Strawberry Moon Records, in 2018.
The tracks on Hannah's latest full-length 2024's The Prize were hashed out slowly, growing up together like siblings. Born for the most part in Wicklund’s childhood home, they matured across the country during a bit of a wander. After some time in South Carolina, she ventured up to the Poconos, Pennsylvania, where her grandparents had built a darling little A-Frame cabin in the 60’s.
"Most of the songs took their final form in that house which would be the last time I got to spend inside that family heirloom before it was sold- a very fitting full circle moment." - Hannah Wicklund
Songs in hand, Wicklund moved back to Nashville. Produced by and featuring Sam Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet on bass, keys and organ, and accompanied by Daniel Wagner of Greta Van Fleet on drums, it was in East Iris studio that the album only started to truly take shape and come to life. "As soon as we met, we were off to the races and the album began to unfold effortlessly. It was a level of collaboration I never thought I’d experience with a fellow musician."
A multimedia creative, Hannah moves between visual art and music effortlessly, truly bringing the world of The Prize to life. Each song on the record has an accompanying large scale oil painting, depicting a unique scene for each song, but all taking place within the same setting- a castle floating on a cloud.
Both the music of The Prize and its visual components deal broadly with the transition into womanhood. Yet while for Wicklund the baton was truly passed with the completion of this album, it speaks to the universal sisterhood. "Part of becoming a woman is trusting your innate feminine instinct and power, which us ladies are all born with, and can choose to tap into at any age.", she explains. "Whether you are 6 or 60, I hope the messages of self-love, self-exploration and resilience will resonate."
Hannah Wicklund's latest offering Live At The Troubadour was recorded at her March 2024 performance at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles as part of her Hell In The Hallway world tour. To celebrate the album release, Hannah has now released the entire concert footage on YouTube which is available to watch HERE.
Hannah’s captivating performance along with her full band sees them playing hits and fan-favorites from across her two hugely praised albums Hannah Wicklund and the Steppin Stones (2018) and The Prize (2024).
Regarding the live album Hannah states, "Performing music for a live audience is such a beautiful exchange of energy, and certainly the place I find my balance and inner peace. It has always been an intimate experience for me and one that cannot be recreated or replicated the same way twice. The night of my first headlining show at the Troubadour was the first time I have been able to capture and harness that experience to be shared, and it was a magical and monumental moment in my life I will never forget. Truly one for the books."
HANNAH WICKLUND
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