_{By Mike Romero}

Baden Ballard is the frontman of Provo stomp-and-holler folk band Local Kin. Known for his gravelly and heartfelt vocals, his songwriting draws heavily on decades of authentic Americana and bluegrass traditions. Local Kin won Velour Live Music Gallery’s Summer 2023 Battle of the Bands – a competition with acclaimed winners like Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, The Backseat Lovers, and more.

Since that time, the band has released 3 new songs: “Rust,” “Stand Your Ground,” and “The Gardener.” Their next song is entitled “The Bear” and drops on April 5, 2024 – this Friday! In today’s Provo Music Magazine Acoustic Session, Baden Ballard performs an acoustic take of their unreleased song, “The Bird.” It was shot live at June Audio.

Royalties from these acoustic sessions are split equally between the artist, the audio engineers, and Provo Music Magazine. Every time you stream, you support local artists, local studios, and local music journalism. It’s just one innovative way we’re building a sustainable, well funded music industry in Utah.

Make sure to follow Local Kin on Instagram, and check out the performance below.