Pretend Friend is a nationally touring progressive Americana & bluegrass band based in Wichita, Kansas. A songwriting project founded by singer and guitarist, Grant Boesen, Pretend Friend melds engaging lyrics and soulful melodies into timeless original songs. The blending of traditional familiarity with improvised jamming, driving bluegrass, vocal harmonies, soaring tenor leads, and anthemic choruses only begins to encompass the soundscape created by Pretend Friend. Caleb Drummond, virtuoso upright bassist, and Rami Stucky, dynamic drummer supreme, solidify Pretend Friend’s powerful, high-energy delivery.

Pretend Friend has opened for acts such as Bela Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart, Yonder Mountain String Band, Fruition, and Arkansauce, and their high-energy sets have been sought after by festivals such as Walnut Valley Festival, Blue Ox Music Festival, Hillberry Music Festival, Kaw River Roots Festival, McAwesome Fest, Lake Erie Folk Festival, Elevation Celebration, Terp Float Festival, Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, and more.

Jedd Beaudoin, Host and Producer of Strange Currency on KMUW public radio has called Pretend Friend is a band that “respects tradition and its musical heritage while consistently breaking new ground. The combination of expert writing and outstanding musicianship places the band in rarified company—one of those bands that wows fellow musicians with its acumen and leaves everyone tapping their toes and singing along to songs that seem to have always been.”

Pretend Friend provides high-energy original Americana and bluegrass concerts up to 120 minutes in length. The concerts include mostly original music but may also include a variety of cover songs. Trio concerts feature acoustic guitar, upright bass, and drum set. Quartet performances will feature a variable fourth member. The drum set can be scaled to suit any space. Pretend Friend offers solo, trio, and quartet performances. Trio and quartet performances are high-energy experiences with improvised jamming and vocal harmonies and usually requires four to six months or more advance booking. Solo performances are descriptive singer/songwriter experiences and usually require two or more months advance booking. April-October is peak season, so please reach out as far in advance as possible to book within that timeframe.

Solo Performance/Concert = $500 for up to a 90-minute performance, plus an additional $100 per additional 30 minutes.
Trio Performance/Concert = $1400 for up to a 90-minute performance.
Quartet Performance/Concert = $1800 for up to a 120-minute performance.
Workshops = $200 for 45-60 minutes
Jam Sessions: $200 for 45-60 minutes
Travel: Mileage calculated at $0.60/mile, round trip from Wichita, KS to the performance destination and back. If a hotel stay is required, host venue will cover cost of lodging plus $30 per diem per band/crew member. Pretend Friend can provide a sound system (2 x 600-watt 12″ mains, 1 x 400-watt 12″ subwoofer) included with the performance fee. Pretend Friend cannot guarantee that its system is suitable for concerts in large rooms (theaters, etc) or outdoor spaces.

Pretend Friend can provide educational workshops for singing, acoustic guitar, songwriting, and independent artist touring and self-management. The musical workshops can be tailored for adults or children, but the independent artist workshop is specifically for adults. All workshops are 45-60 minutes long.

Pretend Friend can host a jam session, in which community members are invited to bring their own acoustic instruments and play bluegrass, folk, or other acoustic songs together with Grant Boesen and other present band members of Pretend Friend. This is for beginner to advanced players, and is adjusted to suite the group. Participants will need to bring their own instruments, tuners, plus any necessary accessories. Chairs and space must be provided by the host venue. The jam session is 45-60 minutes long.