"Arkansas Dave" Pennington gives his childhood in rural Arkansas a good deal of credit for the music he makes now -- which should come as no surprise given his moniker.

While the circumstances weren't always ideal, growing up split between parents who lived on opposite ends of the moral spectrum, the conflict and struggle he saw pushed him into music for solace and retreat. Rock and blues were his salvation, even if that feels, as the singer-songwriter says, like a bit of a "romantic cliche."

Arkansas Dave has been called everything from an alt-rocker to an Americana act, from blues to indie rock to Southern country; clearly, he runs the gamut of styles and moods in his music. Read on to learn more about the artist -- and why you should be a fan.

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