One of Rolling Stone"&"rsquo;s 2017 "&"ldquo;Country Artists to Watch,"&"rdquo; Hayes gained national attention last year with 8Tracks Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Sixteen self-written and recorded songs, released through SMACKSongs and Rarespark Media Group, catapulted the singer/songwriter from working night shifts at Costco to the top of the music charts "&"mdash; and onto tours with Dan + Shay and Bobby Bones"&"rsquo; Funny and Alone Comedy Tour . That momentum has earned him a highly coveted opening spot on Thomas Rhett"&"rsquo;s Home Team Tour .

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Entertainment Weekly noted Hayes"&"rsquo; unique hybrid"&"rsquo;s "&"ldquo;genre blending"&"rdquo; and NPR"&"rsquo;s World Caf"&"eacute; raved Hayes is "&"ldquo;writing these really autobiographical songs and delivering them in this way that feels very intimate, very close range."&"rdquo; Rolling Stone concurred, "&"ldquo;"&"hellip;he writes songs that are damn near impossible to classify, and that"&"rsquo;s what makes them so interesting."&"rdquo;