Hayseed at Old Hilliardfest 2016

"Hayseed is, in my mind, on the same level as Bob Dylan and Neil Young and Van Morrison," “That's just what I think, that's my opinion, for what it's worth. I don't say that about everybody who comes down the pike, and you can ask anybody who knows me. Music has to grab me in a certain way, and the stuff that does that, it's a time-transcendent thing. I put Hayseed right in there with that batch of stuff." – Lucinda Williams

Hayseed (born Christopher Wyant) grew up in Western Kentucky, where his father was a minister in the United Pentecostal Church International, a stern sect that traces its origins to a 1916 split in the Assemblies of God. "We were taught that we're separate, we're in the world but not of it," he says.

Hayseed is reliant on his friends, and he's appreciative. "Because I don't play anything, I'm in a real precarious position; all I can do is sing it and explain, 'Well, this is where I'm coming from here,'" he says. "And I've been fortunate to hook up with guys who have the same kind of background. I can say, 'Think as though you were playing this church song in a nightclub, and how that kind of tension just naturally would exist.'"

Wyant explains the reason behind the name Hayseed "It’s so that I can deconstruct and then reconstruct the image of what a hayseed is. Musically, I've got this whole body-of-work idea, that who I am is not going to be seen by the public until years from now when they look back over it. “

Hayseed will perform at #OHF2016. Catch him on the Credit Union of Ohio #Americana #HeritageStage, Saturday, September 10th at 4:00 p.m.

Check out all of our other awesome performers: Credit Union of Ohio Americana Heritage Stage, Americana Roots Stage, and the Pediatric Physicians Kid's Fair Stage.

The Americana Heritage Stage is sponsored by Credit Union of Ohio. Check out all of our other awesome Partners!