Get To Know: Brooks Dixon Brings Breezy Americana Soul On New Album ‘Rhododendron Highway’

Spanning roughly a decade’s worth of songwriting and performance experience, South Carolina’s Brooks Dixon knows a thing or two about southern charm.

His notable new track, “Charleston” is an upbeat introduction to Dixon’s latest album, Rhododendron Highway. Love is the driving force of this breezy tune, as Dixon sings, “If I go to Charleston / Our love will never be / I’m blinded by my true love for the sea.” The track is a tribute to Dixon’s Americana melting pot sound; a playful balance of Appalachian folk and South Carolina beach music.

With mighty inspirations like James Taylor and Bob Dylan, Dixon has always been drawn to the deeply poetic and folk-oriented songwriting style. Beginning as a solo act out of college, Dixon has picked up a few key band members along the way that help shape his sound. Sara Middleton is one such member, as her smooth vocals croon alongside Dixon in “Charleston” and within the rest of the album.

In 2016, he and Middleton joined to create Brooks Dixon and The Noble Sound, which included members Shane Byler (drums), Bennett Dixon (bass), and Ross Krieg (saxophone). The group would soon boil it down to the Brooks Dixon Band in 2018, adding Jake Watson to bass. With his group, Dixon released two EPs: Weather the Storm in 2016 and White Roses in 2018.

Under his solo name, Dixon hit listeners with his 11-track Rhododendron Highway on August 11th. An exploration of love and humanity, this release is a showcase of the songsmith’s ever-evolving style. He fills his tracks with life stories and lessons learned, offering his fresh perspective to listeners. “Charleston” is the face of Dixon’s musical message with this album; breezy, but full of depth. 

Dixon has a handful of shows in his city of Greenville this month, and we’ll see what else the talented songwriter has up his sleeve down the line.