As a solo performer, Garrett channels the fun and energy of rock with the great storytelling of Americana and country music -- with a few dozen originals under his fingers and list of covers that has just the right amount of everything.
Garrett Burris with Time To Kill is a new collaboration with longtime friends Austin Stark, Taylor Steele, Kendell Scott, and Nash Swisher. Part cosmic country. Part rock and roll. It's prairie rock from the 217.
Life story: Garrett Burris uses his boundless energy to not only create original music about the people, places, and stories of rural Illinois, but also to create and contribute regularly to the thriving music festival scene in Southern Illinois.
In addition to being the co-founder and production manager of the Summer Sundown Music Festival, Garrett supports the local scene in Effingham, IL hosting open mic nights, writing songs with his group Time To Kill, and writing, recording, and performing with Taylor Steele & The Love Preachers.
At the heart of it all is a love of Rock 'n' Roll and old Soul and Country records. Garrett became hooked on playing in bands at age 12, after his parents bought his first guitar. He grew up in Pana, IL in a family that loved classic rock bands and eclectic music across all genres. Weekdays were spent in a highly musical daycare across the street from his house. Car rides were spent listening to classic rock hits from the 60s to the 90s on 106.7 The Fox...or Jack Buck calling Cardinals baseball games. Sunday mornings meant John Prine, The Allman Brothers or The Black Crowes blaring from the stereo at 8am and breakfast at the kitchen table. Great music was everywhere.
His studies in radio and communications at Lake Land College and University of Illinois led him to a production management position at the Belleayre Music Festival in Pine Hill, New York for 4 years. After two brief stints in Chicago and seeing the strong DIY music scene there, his focus on writing and producing music became even more enthusiastic.