Brendan Cleary
Raw timeless songwriting
In 2019, Brendan Cleary reached the bottom — and his life restarted.
After years of struggling with addiction while trying to maintain a modest career as a live musician in Nashville, the world finally came crashing down around him. Music did not come naturally as it always had before, and Brendan stepped away from the stage entirely, unsure if he would ever play again.
Since then Brendan has rebuilt his life and his music one song at a time — playing hotel bars, restaurants, and small stages while filling legal pads with the stories that would become his songs.
Folk legend Tom Rush discovered Brendan playing in a hotel bar and invited him to appear on his video podcast Rockport Sundays. Rush now regularly brings Brendan along as a supporting act and accompanist at concerts across the United States.
Brendan was also named a finalist in the 2024 New Hampshire Music Collective Songwriting Competition.
He is currently preparing the release of his debut studio album Soundbox, a folk-roots collection of songs shaped by his journey through addiction, recovery, and redemption.
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“I’ve always had a soft spot for really talented youngsters, and Brendan is one of the most talented I’ve ever encountered.”
— Tom Rush, Folk Legend