MEEKER | Rising country music star Rowdy Rosendahl made a triumphant return to his hometown this past weekend, performing at Riggs Bar in Meeker, Colorado. The venue was packed with community members eager to support their local talent, creating an electric atmosphere for the highly anticipated homecoming performance.
For Rosendahl, playing in his hometown is always a special experience.
“Performing in my hometown never gets old. I enjoy showing family and friends what I’ve been working on, and they like to watch me grow and get better at what I do each time,” Rosendahl said.
He reflected on how the town of Meeker has influenced his music and songwriting throughout his career.
“My hometown has grown me and raised me. I’ve seen everything here. I’ve been lifted and broken along the years,” he said. “Having conversations with other people and learning about them helped me understand them better. Some of the songs I’ve written that are unreleased help me touch their souls and make music they can relate to. Everything I write comes from my life experiences—whether it’s pain, love, or happiness. If I go through a sorrowful moment, I write it out and record it. That way, all the bad goes away. And I felt like if it works for me, it could work for others.”
Rosendahl also shared his favorite memory of performing in Meeker, reminiscing about when he first took the stage as an 11-year-old.
“My favorite time ever playing here was the first time I played. I didn’t really sing yet—I was barely 11. I just loved to play the guitar. I just know if it wasn’t for learning guitar, I wouldn’t have sung. My guitar helped me learn how to sing,” he said.
Though every performance is unique, Rosendahl acknowledged that playing in front of his hometown crowd carries a special energy.
“Playing in front of my hometown is like playing in my room. Either way, any crowd I play for, I get lost in my own world and chill out,” he explained. “My hometown crowd is special because they know me on a different level. They fully listen—not just to my singing or playing, but to my words. I know that all my pals are happy to see me.”
Rosendahl credited his hometown with providing the foundation for his musical career, allowing him to grow and reach new audiences.
“My music is always growing in its own way. It’s reached a little further since I’ve had more opportunities, but those opportunities had to start at home,” he said. “I’ve been able to play at venues farther away and meet new people, all because the people in my own town had connections. It all works in unison.”
When on the road, Rosendahl admits he misses certain aspects of Meeker, Colorado.
“When I go somewhere, I miss how long I could be gone, depending on what may happen. Meeker is a place for me that I couldn’t immediately miss like a loved one, but it’s more like I need to come back because I belong there either way,” he said. “I’d miss the people that made me who I am.”
For aspiring musicians in Meeker hoping to follow in his footsteps, Rosendahl offered words of encouragement and advice.
“The best advice I can give anyone that wants to do the same thing is to make the sacrifices to never miss an opportunity—big or small. You never know who could be listening and could help get you further,” he said. “Even the music industry works in numbers. You need the help of everyone you can get. But also take your time. Don’t expect things to come to your front door—you have to search for it a little bit.”
Rosendahl also expressed his willingness to mentor local artists looking to make it in the music and songwriting industry.
“I would definitely consider mentoring another artist from home. Music is meant to be shared, and I would learn a lot more if I could teach as well,” he said. “Everybody has similarities, but we also have differences that can fully breed into something of our own.”
After his performances, Rosendahl immediately gets back to work, writing new music and preparing for what’s next.
“After I play, I go to writing more. I collaborate with other musicians I know and exchange advice. I’m working on more tracks to release,” he said. “It would feel wrong of me to slow down now. No matter what, I’m going to be pitching songs on Music Row until the day comes when it might not let me anymore.”
Fans can find Rosendahl’s music on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and more. He is also excited to announce that additional releases are on the way.
