A local LGBTQ boy is set for stardom! Born in Kansas City, MO, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jake Wesley Rogers combines skyscraping vocals, eloquent songcraft, and driving instrumentation to give pop a jolt of infectious integrity and soaring spirit.
Generating 20 million-plus streams independently, he has released two EPs, Evergreen EP [2017] and Spiritual [2019], and was signed by Grammy-nominated songwriter Justin Tranter to Facet Records/Warner Records in 2020.
Jake Wesley Rogers’ bold music is queer storytelling refracted through a universal lens; it’s inspired by the authenticity and artistry of his heroes like Adele, Regina Spektor, and Florence + the Machine. He has been championed by everyone from Sir Elton John and Zane Lowe to Billboard, PAPER, and People named him among “the Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark on the Musical Landscape This Summer” and went on to described him as “set to be one of the next queer artists to break into the mainstream” while American Songwriter crowned him “a tour de force.”
About Jake, Elton gushed, “I love him because he reminds me of me when I was starting out” and praised Jakes songwriting; “What I love as a songwriter is that [your] songs are so beautifully formed.”
Now, Jake Wesley Rogers continues his ascent to global stardom with his new single and music video “Weddings & Funerals,” available now via Facet Records/Warner Records – listen HERE.
About this stirring ballad, he commented, “When I sat down with Justin Tranter and Eren Cannata to write ‘Weddings & Funerals,’ my grandpa had just died, and all of my friends were getting engaged. Everything felt like it was monumentally wonderful or terrible. I wrote this song as a reminder to appreciate the magical mundane parts in my life—as I sing, ‘like the sun in the sky / like your body on mine’.”
On the track, his voice echoes through strains of soft piano as he observes, “Friends are getting high, married in July.” On the hypnotic hook, the lyrics chill and captivate all at once as he ponders, “Everything’s only weddings and funerals.”
Frequent collaborator Se Oh — who also takes fabulous and colorful photos of Jake — directed the accompanying sixties-inspired video which was printed to film to achieve an authentic effect. In the clip, Jake falls in love at the park and winds up walking down the aisle before all kinds of epic drama unfurls…
“I based the music video for ‘Weddings & Funerals’ in the 1960s, when my grandparents got married. What would it have looked like If I saw the love of my life in a park and then daydreamed he was JFK, and we got married and then assassinated? The answer is this music video, and I hope it serves as a reminder of the importance to tell someone that you love them before it’s too late.”
Tony®, EMMY®, and GRAMMY® Award winner Ben Platt personally chose Jake to open up his North American headline tour, kicking off February 23, 2022 at Amway Center in Orlando, FL. Additionally, he takes the stage at Bonnaroo on September 3 and has sold out headline gigs at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA on October 15 and a sold out two-night stand at Mercury Lounge in New York, NY November 3-4. Check out the full confirmed itinerary below.
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2021 Tour Dates:
9/3 Tennessee City, TN / Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
10/15 Los Angeles, CA / Troubadour (SOLD OUT)
10/27 Nashville, TN / The Basement East
11/3 New York, NY / Mercury Lounge (SOLD OUT)
11/4 New York, NY / Mercury Lounge (SOLD OUT)
2022 Tour Dates – Ben Platt Reverie Tour:
2/23 Orlando, FL / Amway Center
2/25 Miami, FL / Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
2/26 Tampa, FL / Amalie Arena
2/28 Atlanta, GA / Fox Theatre
3/2 Fairfax, VA / EagleBank Arena
3/3 Boston, MA / Agganis Arena
3/4 Atlantic City, NJ / Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
3/6 New York, NY / Madison Square Garden
3/8 Pittsburgh, PA / Petersen Events Center
3/9 Columbus, OH / Schottenstein Center
3/11 Toronto, ON / Coca-Cola Coliseum
3/13 Detroit, MI / Masonic Temple Theatre
3/14 Grand Rapids, MI / Van Andel Arena
3/16 St. Louis, MO / The Fabulous Fox Theatre
3/18 Minneapolis, MN / Target Center
3/19 Chicago, IL / Wintrust Arena
3/22 Nashville, TN / Bridgestone Arena
3/24 Houston, TX / Smart Financial Centre
3/25 Dallas, TX / Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie
3/28 Salt Lake City, UT / Maverik Center
3/30 Seattle, WA / WaMu Theater
3/31 Portland, OR / Theater of the Clouds
4/2 Las Vegas, NV / The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
4/3 San Diego, CA / The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
4/5 San Francisco, CA / Frost Amphitheater
4/6 Santa Barbara, CA / Santa Barbara Bowl
4/8 Los Angeles, CA /Hollywood Bowl