The Justin Trawick Group Returns to Grist Mill Park

Justin Trawick picked up his father’s classical guitar when he was 13 years old, and he hasn’t stopped playing since.

The 27 year-old Leesburg native and his collective, the Justin Trawick Group, will return to Grist Mill Park this Friday night to perform in the Mount Vernon Nights concert series.

Trawick taught himself how to play guitar by following along with songs on the radio. When he began college at Longwood University, he started a band called Woodburn Road and opened up for Edwin McCain and Jimmy’s Chicken Shack. His cousin, who lived in Austin, TX, sent Trawick compilations from local radio station KCRW. One compilation featured Bob Schneider, and Trawick connected with his music. He counts Bob Schneider among his top influences.

“Influences are influences,” said Trawick. “What you’re inspired by, people can hear it.”

Fast forward a few years: Trawick has established himself in D.C.’s music scene. He is a regular performer at IOTA Club and Café in Arlington and has traveled across the U.S. Trawick has opened for stars including Sara Bareilles, Hanson, Travis Tritt, and the Ying Yang Twins. Trawick easily balances the roles of singer/songwriter and frontman.

His collective, the Justin Trawick Group, includes Trawick, an upright bassist, and a slew of performers who come and go as they wish. Trawick’s blend of urban folk rock is versatile; when he performed with the Ying Yang Twins, he hired a rapper to perform with the group.  

“It’s different every night, and we have the ability to kind of arrange songs. Some songs have three different versions,” said Trawick. “How I’m feeling that night will dictate how we play that song.”

Catch the Justin Trawick Group at Grist Mill Park tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.