Former Townsend Resident Finds Success Playing In Red Dirt Country Scene
Author: MT43 News Reporter
Former Townsend Resident Finds Success Playing in Red Dirt Country Scene
MT43 News Reporter
From Montana’s big skies to Southern honky tonks, Nick Hamburg is making a name for himself in the Red Dirt country music scene. The Townsend native and 2013 Broadwater High School graduate is now touring with one of the genre’s most respected bands, turning his lifelong love of music into a career.
Nick picked up his first guitar at seven, and the connection was immediate. He began lessons with the late Hal Amundsen, a well-known local musician and mentor. “Hal taught me more than just chords,” Nick said. “He showed me how to feel the music and play with heart.”
He credits his parents, Jay and Jen Lane, for their support and for teaching him the work ethic he developed while working construction with his family throughout high school and into his twenties. “Long days, tough jobs, and no shortcuts—that mindset stuck with me when I decided to pursue music full time.”
In high school, Nick started playing in local bands in Townsend and Missoula. Wanting more than just to play guitar, he decided to teach himself the pedal steel—a complex, expressive country music instrument known for its haunting, melodic sound. “It’s like singing through strings,” Nick said.
In 2023, Nick moved to Austin, Texas, a city rich with musical talent. Within weeks, he joined the Bart Crow Band, quickly earning a place with his signature pedal steel sound. Just six months later, he was invited to join Jason Boland and the Stragglers, one of Red Dirt’s most iconic bands.
Nick plays pedal steel and electric guitar with the Stragglers, whose roots run deep in the Red Dirt genre—a blend of country, folk, and Southern rock that values storytelling and authenticity over polish. His debut performance with the band took place at the Professional Bull Riders event in Big Sky, Montana—a poetic homecoming. “After working construction in Big Sky for years, stepping on that stage felt surreal,” he said.
The Stragglers have long been a pillar of the Red Dirt movement, with acclaimed albums and devoted fans. Nick’s biggest moment so far came last weekend when he performed with them at the sold-out Boys of Oklahoma concert in Stillwater. The four-night event featured Red Dirt legends like Turnpike Troubadours and Cross Canadian Ragweed and drew over 180,000 fans. “It felt like standing inside a living piece of history,” Nick said.
Despite his rising success, Nick remains humble and rooted in the values he learned growing up in Townsend. “Townsend raised me,” he said. “Those local gigs, Hal’s lessons, and working alongside my dad, grandpa, and brothers—they all played a part in getting me here.”
When not touring with the Stragglers, Nick also performs with emerging Austin musicians like Coleman Jennings and Paige Plaisance. “Collaborating with them keeps me sharp and helps me grow as an artist,” he said.
From small-town stages to the heart of Red Dirt country, Nick Hamburg’s journey is a testament to talent, grit, and staying true to your roots.
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Image 1 Caption: Nick Hamburg plays pedal steel along with Jason Boland at the Boys from Oklahoma Concert in Stillwater, Oklahoma recently.
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Image 2 Caption: Jason Boland and the Stragglers at the Stillwater, Oklahoma concert. From left: Nick Gedra, Grant Tracy, Jason Boland, Chris Compton and Nick Hamburg.
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