In February 2013, singer-songwriter Wes Tirey self-released his new EP I Stood Among Trees. Playing the guitar since the age of fourteen, and writing songs at seventeen, Wes began cutting his music chops playing open mic nights and small local gigs around Dayton, Ohio. He soon assembled Wes Tirey and The Easy Hearts, who later became The Bull and The Bear, a “country noise rock” outfit that gathered local acclaim. After the band split, Wes went back to playing solo shows, even opening up for nationally known acts like the Avett Brothers and Josh Ritter. In his quest to find a vibrant music scene, Wes moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where he is currently studying Philosophy and creating music. For Wes, Asheville is a way to connect with his Southern roots, but it represents something much more. It’s a kind of music Mecca, if you will. It means life, energy, creativity – all things that are essential to an artistic spirit like Wes. And, it’s this admiration for his family and Southern culture that is apparent throughout his music. Also present in Wes’s music is his uniquely Midwestern childhood experience in Dayton where the Rust Belt, Corn Belt, and Bible Belt collide. Not only has his music been impacted by his upbringing, it has also been impacted by his love for the Arts and Letters, as well as stark singer-songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, and The Harry Smith Anthology, all of which distinctly color his music. I Stood Among Trees is available for order and digital download at www.westirey.bandcamp.com <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Wes+Tirey">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.