Trent Nelson
Professional Musician & Instructor
bio
Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Trent Nelson started playing piano at the age of 6. Growing up, he’d listen to his grandparents play gospel songs on the piano before discovering his father's records of some of the great rock and blues guitarists. At the age of 11, he picked up a guitar and became obsessed with learning anything he could from past to present - old blues records, Hendrix, Joe Walsh, George Harrison, and the grunge scene happening at the time. These influences fostered a love for blending the old and new, with a style deeply inspired by these classic guitarists, but also deeply inspired by modern Rock, Indie, Folk and Americana music.
In 2009 Trent collaborated with Matt Hoffman in Denver and began writing material that would become Strange Americans. Their debut album, A Royal Battle released in 2012 and was received with "almost unanimous enthusiasm" in the Denver community. The record placed on many best-of lists including Marquee Magazine's 10 Best Local Releases of 2012 and landed Strange Americans alongside Denver bands to watch including the Lumineers. Since then, Strange Americans has released two more albums, a 7” vinyl, and toured nationally.
Trent maintains a busy schedule in other projects and has collaborated and performed in studio and live performance environments with Brent Cowles, Blake Brown & the American Dust Choir, Lost Walks, Gun Street Ghost, and others. He has toured and shared stages alongside artists such as Chris Stapleton, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, The Head and the Heart, Lucero, Shakey Graves, and many others.
Trent was voted as “Ten of the Best Guitarists in Denver” by Westword.
As an educator, Trent has been working at Swallow Hill Music school in south Denver since 2013 teaching private lessons and group classes in guitar, piano, and rock band ensemble classes. He also teaches piano and guitar lessons out of his home studio in the City Park neighborhood of Denver. With a laid back and approachable style, Trent brings a fun-loving spirit that encourages creativity. He has a love for all kinds of music, and one of his own greatest goals as a musician is to never stop learning and to never stop playing for the song.
Lessons
Trent has been working at Swallow Hill Music school in south Denver since 2013 teaching private lessons and group classes in guitar, piano, and rock band ensemble classes. Swallow Hill group classes and private lesson schedules can be found and scheduled through Swallow Hill’s website. Trent also offers piano and guitar lessons out of his home studio in the City Park neighborhood of Denver. Please contact trentanelson@gmail.com for rates and availability.