"I have fun when I play, jump around and get the crowd involved. It's real personable, I would say," Crabtree said.
Although Motown is his favorite genre to perform, Crabtree said he knows his audiences are looking for someone who can perform a nice mix of genres.
"If you play all Motown, you won't get too many people out. People like all kinds of different music. I was raised on Bluegrass, but that got old real quick," Crabtree said with a laugh.
The 31-year-old Powell County native was raised in a family of musicians. His father, Chester Crabtree, plays Bluegrass throughout the region and his three older brothers are musicians, as well.
"We all play music. That's pretty much all we did growing up. I was the only one that actually took it and made a living out of it," Crabtree said. "I've been playing music since I was in the fifth grade."
Crabtree began writing music in middle school and has been performing professionally since he was 17.
Eventually, he'd like to see his career expand beyond the central Kentucky venues he performs at now.
"I'd like to get a record deal, hit the road and make a good living, sell some songs," Crabtree said.
Currently, he can be seen every Friday and Saturday at Nashville Station and Sundays at Lexington's Grapevine.
Crabtree said playing at so many different venues has not only improved his skills as a singer and a guitar picker, but also provided him with plenty of material for his songs.
"Somebody'll usually walk up in a bar and come off with a one-liner, like â??I told you so,' and that usually sparks an idea in my head. I have a song called â??Blind Love' because some man walked up and said, â??Man, love is blind,'" Crabtree said.
But his most requested song is not an Avery Crabtree original. Fans love to hear Crabtree cover a Keith Urban song, "Jeans On."
"People call it â??Blue Jeans.' People absolutely love it," Crabtree said.
And Crabtree really, really likes to play songs for the ladies. He is quick to admit that getting girls was a major draw when he was younger and one of the reasons he became so hooked on music.
"From the start, it was an easy way to get girls. Then it got to where I was enjoying it. I think all of them (musicians) will say that," Crabtree said.
Still, it doesn't matter who he's performing for, Crabtree just knows he loves what he does.
"If you play a song and people enjoy it so much they want to get out on the floor and dance, it makes you feel like you're doing something good, like you're doing something right."
Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com.
