The Back Forty is a 5 piece band playing Country/Southern Rock/90’s & 80’s Rock. From Eric Church to Tom Petty and Def Leppard, we keep em rockin

Biography

Founded in 2011, The Back Forty is a five-piece band based out of Norfolk Nebraska that plays Modern Country, Southern Rock, and 80's & 90's Rock. The band has experienced a great deal of success carving out their niche at bars, street dances, county fairs and other venues throughout Northeast Nebraska, performing their high energy, no nonsense style of music. The key to The Back Forty's success lies in their ability to turn an unsuspecting crowd into immediate fans that continue to follow them, wherever they play.

Craig Baumgart (Craig Roger Band, Beer Can Alley, C&K) brings over 8 years of experience as a professional singer and musician, as both a solo artist and front man. An original founder of the Back Forty, Baumgart brings vocals that style country as well as 90’s rock. Mix his ability to play a tight rhythm on 6 string, 12 string, or electric guitar and you have a combination in the Back Forty that keeps fans coming back for more. His high energy style keeps the party rockin’ all night.

Nick Wieman (Suppress the Affliction, My Last Heartache, Twisted Fate, Eventruth, Broken Image) with over 10 years of experience as a lead guitarist has the ability to ignite any crowd, whether by ripping a solo behind his back or surfing a rowdy crowd while playing recognizable riffs. Wieman’s distinguishable style has earned him the reputation of a prodigy and one of the best guitarists around. As a radio personality, Wieman brings more than his guitar abilities to the stage. From Country to Hard Rock, Wieman does it all.

Steve Wemhoff (Steve Loran Band, Beer Can Alley) is the 5th and newest member of the band, Wemhoff is just what The Back Forty needed to move to the next level. He brings huge riffs, monster vocals, and a hell of a personality with him to every show. Our own Eric Church, Steve showcases his talent across multiple instruments. Versatile, fiery, dynamic.

Sam Vacha (Suppress the Affliction, Eventruth) brings an experienced mentality to the group. After nearly 9 years of experience onstage in both hard rock and traditional country, Vacha continues to entertain crowds with his antics and roaring basslines. As a musician, Sam is a valuable cornerstone to The Back Forty’s stageshow.

Stewart Havranek (Public Indecency, Tragic Fall, Suffer In Faith) holds the Back Forty together with tight rhythm and percussion expertise. Havranek took up the trade of drum building and finished his first drum kit in May of 2013. His current setup is a birch beauty that boasts precision engineering and sound quality paramount to stock kits. A four-year scholarship winner and drumline captain, Havranek also plays in orchestras, pep bands, ensembles, and previously in bands ranging from hard rock to country, bringing the savoir-faire to every show.

Hadley Brickner (SandBox SoundWorx) The pilot of the Back Forty’s more technical aspects of sound and lighting, Brickner provides a solid base for the band to create an environment that keeps fans engaged throughout the performance. Brickner brings experience gained from his time in the recording and sound engineering program at NECC, where he worked side-by-side with some of the most knowledgeable engineers Nebraska has to offer. When the band’s not rockin’, he keeps the party hoppin’ with today’s popular music and yesterday’s old favorites.

Today, The Back Forty entertains audiences with a mix of Modern Country, Southern Rock, and 80’s & 90’s Rock. Playing sets that range from Dierks Bentley and Brantley Gilbert to Matchbox Twenty and Tom Petty, The Back Forty brings a mix of youthful energy and experienced talent to the stage that not only keep the crowds rockin' every night... they keep them coming back for more!