Tom Gillam

Philadelphia and South Jersey may not seem like a hotbed for the country's burgeoning Americana music scene, but the area has developed it's own identity within the genre...look no further than Philadelphia based singer/songwriter Tom Gillam.

As the Americana genre builds, Gillam throws his hat into the ring with his national debut, Dallas, on Gotham Records. Dallas was recorded with the help of his touring band Tractor Pull, and was produced and engineered by the band's guitar/mandolin player, Joe Carroll, at his home studio in Philadelphia.

Gillam's fiery brand of slide guitar is uncommon in today's era, and it stands out in the genre. His original sound stems from the ability to weave his guitar playing into the fabric of his music, leaving no part without a strong emotional pull. His lyrics tell the emotional stories of the many characters he has encountered in his travels. "All the songs have a little bit of truth, a little bit of lies, and a little bit of rock 'n' roll", jokes Gillam. "Each song has a specific scenario in mind, and it just flows from there."

Either solo, or with Tractor Pull, Gillam performs regularly throughout the East and Midwest. During his career, he has shared the stage with artists such as The Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty, Son Volt, and Garth Brooks. He has also performed live on Billy Block and the Western Beat, and has gotten spins on commercial and independent radio stations from Kansas to Canada.

As Americana continues to grow as genre, expect Tom Gillam and Tractor Pull to be at the forefront.