Pony Bradshaw

A singer/songwriter with a soulful voice who spins thoughtful, atmospheric tales that live somewhere between country, rock, and blues, Pony Bradshaw is somewhat of a late bloomer. After taking up music in his early thirties, the Georgia-based musician made a name for himself in open mics and clubs and by 2018 had secured a deal with Rounder Records. His debut album, Sudden Opera, appeared the following year.
A Mississippi-born military brat, Bradshaw moved around a lot and even joined the Air Force himself for a brief period before getting kicked out when he was 21. His drifting years and love of classic literature would serve him well when he eventually took up music in the front half of his thirties and began writing his own songs. A natural storyteller who had always loved listening to music, Bradshaw quickly found his voice both as a writer and singer. His soaring, gritty vocals added a dynamic flair to his live shows as he worked out alluringly moody songs like “Josephine” and “Bad Teeth,” both of which appeared on a self-released album in 2016. It was enough to earn the attention of some bigger labels, and within two years, he’d joined Rounder’s roster and was paired up with a production team that included Grammy winners Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton) and Shani Gandhi (Parker Millsap). He re-recorded a handful of cuts from his self-issued set along with a group of new songs and made his proper debut in June 2019 with Sudden Opera. ~ Timothy Monger