North Carolina's Jonathan Byrd has been served well by his time on the road. His travels have inspired his songs – both the gritty and gentle ones – and have earned him a huge following, especially in Canada.
He's a star in Quebec and southern Ontario.
"I sell out every show. The reception is just incredible, and I'm honored to be a part of that."
Jonathan Byrd's latest recording is "You Can't Outrun The Radio."
Byrd was born in Fayetteville and spent a lot of time moving around until he came to Chapel Hill with his mom as a teenager.
Tough times at school, a stint in the Navy, and playing in beach-based hard rock bands didn't quite get him where he wanted to go, so he started playing acoustic music with friends he met at old-time music get-togethers in the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia.
That path led to a handful of critically lauded albums and countless tours.
Now, Jonathan Byrd is back in town to play a record release show at the Cat's Cradle Back Room tonight.