“I’ve always had a soft spot for really talented youngsters, and Brendan is one of the most talented I’ve ever encountered.” — Tom Rush

In 2019, Brendan Cleary hit the bottom — and his life restarted. 

After years of struggling with addiction while fighting to maintain a career as a live musician in Nashville, the world finally came crashing down around him. It was the beginning of the road back to finding his voice again.  

Playing hotel bars and restaurants, Brendan slowly felt his way back to the songwriter he had always been in his heart of hearts, using his struggles to connect with an understanding audience. 

His hard work paid off. In 2024, Brendan was named a finalist in the New Hampshire Music Collective Songwriting Competition and invited to tour with legend Tom Rush across the United States. Brendan has also appeared on NHPR’s The Folk Show with Kate McNally, and on WSCA’s The Button Factory Soundcheck.  

In 2026, Brendan Cleary is preparing to release his debut studio record, Soundbox, a folk-roots collection of songs that trace the long road through addiction, recovery, redemption, and of course, love. Produced by Carter Sanders, the record gathers together years of hard-won writing — songs shaped on barroom stages, open mics, and late-night notebook pages. Soundbox offers an intimate portrait of a songwriter rediscovering his voice and carrying those stories forward to audiences who recognize pieces of their own lives in the music.