Fred Love - Live Music

Fred Love is a cowpunk singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in Ames, Iowa. Raised in a no-stoplight farm town where the only stages were flatbeds and front porches, Fred cut his teeth on outlaw country, punk rock and the kind of weathered blues that never makes it past the county line. His music blends twang, grit and distortion into a no-frills sound that’s equal parts honky tonk heartache and dive-bar defiance.
With a punk work ethic and a deep reverence for the American songbook, Fred delivers his raw, original material alongside reimagined classics from legends like Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. He’s on a mission to bring live music back to the forgotten corners of the rural Midwest—setting up in backroad bars, VFW halls and any joint with a working power outlet.
When he’s not flying solo, Fred plugs in with drummer Jonathan Shuka and bassist Pat Blair to form Fred Love and the Bakersfield Brawl, a scorching power trio that cranks up the volume and slaps a punk sneer on a honky tonk shuffle. Fred Love and the Bakersfield Brawl released their debut EP, “…And Out Come the Cows,” in October 2024.
This ain’t retro nostalgia. This is cowpunk: loud, loose, and unapologetically alive.