NEWS & UPDATES

Butterflies and Peace - Debut ep

I grew up in Homer, a small town in upstate New York and left home right after high school to join the Navy. That decision probably shaped my songwriting more than anything else. I went from a small town where everybody knew everybody to traveling around the world and meeting people from completely different backgrounds. One of the strange things about military life is how quickly you can meet someone, become close to them and then suddenly one of you is gone. You learn how to say goodbye a lot. Between that, heartbreak and spending time in some pretty dangerous places, I ended up with a lot of experiences that would eventually find their way into my songs.

There are quite a few references to hell and the devil in my writing and I don’t think that’s an accident. There were times during my life, especially the military years, when it genuinely felt like that was where I was heading. I eventually deployed to Baghdad in 2005 and experiences like that have a way of changing how you look at life. Some of the darker imagery in my songs comes from those years but so does the appreciation for getting home, finding peace and realizing how quickly people and places can disappear from your life.

After the Navy, the world kept on spinning. I got married, moved to North Carolina, built a career and raised two beautiful and amazing kids. Becoming a father probably changed the direction of my life as much as anything else ever has. Raising two kids gives you an entirely different way of looking at the world. You watch them grow up, make mistakes, find their own personalities and eventually start figuring out who they are without you. Somewhere along the way you realize they’re teaching you just as much as you’re teaching them. When you write from your own life it’s almost impossible for that not to show up in the music. Some songs are inspired by them and some are pretty much written directly to them whether they realize it or not.

LATEST IN THE NEWS

2026 - VOYAGE RALEIGH MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

Featured by Voyage Raleigh Magazine in an in-depth interview discussing his musical journey, songwriting process, influences and experiences as an independent artist. Johnson shared insights into developing his sound, overcoming challenges and pursuing music on his own terms.

<a href="https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/conversations-with-banner-johnson/"

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6/8/2024 - ALBUM REVIEW

“Country music has a new hero, and his name is Banner Johnson.”

Reviewers praised Gasoline and Purple Weed for its soulful melodies, powerful lyrics, authentic storytelling and unique blend of country, blues and southern rock influences. The 14-track album was highlighted as a significant milestone in Johnson's career and a showcase of his artistic maturity and songwriting ability.

<a href="https://www.planetsinger.net/banner-johnson-s-gasoline-and-purple-weed-a-masterful-blend-of-soulful-melodies-and-powerful-lyrics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.planetsinger.net/banner-johnson-s-gasoline-and-purple-weed-a-masterful-blend-of-soulful-melodies-and-powerful-lyrics/</a>

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6/10/2024 - ALBUM REVIEW

"Banner Johnson is a name you may not yet recognize, but with his debut album Gasoline and Purple Weed, he’s set to change the landscape of modern country music."

College Radio Charts praised Johnson's authentic songwriting, rich vocals and ability to blend traditional country with blues-driven influences. The review called The Road is Callin' a masterful anthem and highlighted the album's honesty, emotion and storytelling.

<a href="https://collegeradiocharts.com/banner-johnson-gasoline-and-purple-weed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://collegeradiocharts.com/banner-johnson-gasoline-and-purple-weed/</a>

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2024 - NGR MUSIC ARTIST FEATURE

"Banner Johnson is a larger-than-life blues-rock artist who embodies the spirit of a wise, carefree, fun-loving party dude who's seen it all and lived to tell the tale."

NGR Music highlighted Johnson's evolution from indie country roots into a blues-rock artist known for gritty vocals, soulful performances and songs built for open roads, weekend escapes and backyard gatherings.

<a href="https://ngrmusic.com/banner-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://ngrmusic.com/banner-johnson/</a>

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2023 - QDR INTERVIEW

Featured on 94.7 QDR discussing original music, songwriting inspiration and the release of The Road is Callin'. The interview highlighted Johnson's growing presence in the North Carolina music scene and introduced his music to one of the state's largest country radio audiences.

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2/20/2023 - NEW REVIEW

Introducing the second single from songwriter and artist Banner Johnson, The Road Is Callin’ follows an upbeat country strum and soft-rock set-up, with Banner’s cleanly-mixed vocals guiding us through a story of inspiring sentiments and heartfelt, hopeful reflections.

<a href="https://stereostickman.com/music/banner-johnson-the-road-is-callin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://stereostickman.com/music/banner-johnson-the-road-is-callin/</a>

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2/18/2023 - REVIEW

A MUST-LISTEN: When Banner Johnson sings “I’ll try to stop and think of you or maybe I’ll just go about my day,” you will undoubtedly feel a cold chill in your bones.

Authentic, Memorable, and Relatable: Banner Johnson’s incredible collaboration with Marty Coolidge and Ariel Delgado results in this season’s most gripping folk single.

<a href="https://sizzling.news.blog/2023/02/18/theres-no-tomorrow-the-road-is-callin-by-banner-johnson-sizzling-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://sizzling.news.blog/2023/02/18/theres-no-tomorrow-the-road-is-callin-by-banner-johnson-sizzling-review/</a>

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6/29/2021 - INTERVIEW

Banner Johnson: “I’m sure the cliché response is ‘just be yourself’. I have to call BS on that. I don’t want to be myself when I’m writing or on stage.”

In this interview, Johnson discusses songwriting, musical influences including Muddy Waters and BB King, his approach to performance and the creative process behind his original music.

<a href="https://stereostickman.com/interviews/banner-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://stereostickman.com/interviews/banner-johnson/</a>

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2021 - CORTLAND STANDARD NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW

Featured in the Cortland Standard, where Johnson discussed the formation of the Jesus Rode A Dinosaur collective, independent music production, songwriting and his growing catalog of original music. The interview highlighted his blues influences and commitment to authentic storytelling.

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6/18/2021 - PRESS RELEASE

"Banner Johnson is a blues artist from North Carolina, whose song 'Smoke' is produced by DJ Brown and gives the album and label a certain depth unseen by most startup labels."

Press release distributed by ABNewswire recognizing Johnson's contribution to the Jesus Rode a Dinosaur compilation project.

<a href="https://www.ktvn.com/story/44131397/jesus-rode-a-dinosaur-prepares-second-compilation-album" target="_blank" rel="noopeners-rode-a-dinosaur-prepares-second-compilation-album</a>