Humble Beginnings:

Ever since her first concert at 8 years old, Emma Wetzel has been no stranger to music. Coming from humble beginnings in a working class family, she grew up on music genres ranging from Classic Rock, Country, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, R&B, and Jazz. Later on, this would have a big influence on her own personal guitar style.​ Her earliest memories of music are of her grandfather playing his harmonica, and her parents playing their favorite music over the radio when she was small.

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At the age of eight, she started playing the clarinet in her local school band. A few years later at the age of 13, she would start playing the piano after being introduced to it by one of her neighbors. This would ignite her musical deep dive into music, listening to artists such as Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin, Merle Haggard, Natalie Merchant, Steve Winwood, the Guess Who, Neil Young, Tesla, and many others. At 15, she was accepted into the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Piano. 

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On her 16th birthday, she was gifted a guitar as her birthday present, and this would change her musical journey forever. This would start her musical obsession with all things guitar, introducing her to guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Dickey Betts, Duane Allman, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Terry Kath, Brent Mason, Danny Gatton, Steve Lukather, Albert Lee, Johnny Winter, Jen Turner, and many others. 

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At 17, she started playing in a local garage band with her local neighborhood musicians, playing music by the likes of AC/DC, Mountain, BTO, Metallica, Bush, Judas Priest, and Rob Zombie.

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At 19, she would then go on to hone her guitar skills, pursuing a degree at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in Music. There at Kutztown she performed in multiple groups, including the Rock Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, and Jazz Combo. 

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At 22, she started gigging full-time as a professional guitarist. From 2022 to present she took on lead guitar duty in the Jesse Wade Band, a recognized country band who has opened for acts such as Patty Loveless, David Allen Coe, Randy Houser, Jay and the Americans, Sammy Kershaw, and Little Texas.

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Present 2026:

Going back to her rock n roll roots, this year Emma graciously took the opportunity to be lead guitarist in the Buzz (a renowned high-energy rock n roll band), and lead guitarist and backing vocals for the Groove (a recognized power trio focusing on music from the 60s to present). Along with these bands, you can also catch her with her duo the Dusty Laurels, who play everything from pop to country and classic rock.

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​​To stay up to date with where she's playing, check out her website here as well as her social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube! 

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