Gavin DeGraw in Hartford

About Gavin DeGraw

Gavin DeGraw is a singer-songwriter who broke through in the mid-2000s with an unapologetic blend of soul, rock, and pop sensibilities. He's best known for "I Don't Want to Be," which became the theme song for One Tree Hill and basically defined a generation's soundtrack to high school drama. His music centers on emotional directness—he's not interested in obscuring what he's feeling. Songs like "Chariot" and "Follow Through" showcase his ability to build from intimate verses into anthemic choruses that hit harder than you'd expect from someone working in such a straightforward idiom. DeGraw's lived a genuinely interesting life: he busked in New York for years before getting signed, dealt with a serious bicycle accident that sidelined him for a while, and just kept writing. He's maintained a steady touring schedule and recording career without ever becoming the kind of overexposed pop star that burns out. His appeal is durable because there's no pretense to it—just a guy with a strong voice and actual things to say about love, loss, and trying to figure out who you are.

DeGraw puts real energy into live shows without relying on production gimmicks. Crowds sing along hard on the hits, but he actually holds attention during deeper cuts because his voice and guitar work are substantial. People genuinely connect with what he's doing onstage.

Known for I Don't Want to Be, Chariot, Follow Through, Belief, In Love with a Girl

Gavin DeGraw + Hartford

Gavin DeGraw played Infinity Music Hall on August 27, 2017, and the 21-song set was one of the more generous of his career. Kite Like Girl and Stealing were deep cuts that gave the night real texture, and the run from Something Worth Saving through a Maybe I'm Amazed cover into Annalee showed range. Making Love With the Radio On and Run Every Time pulled from the albums most fans skip past, and the cover choices — A Change Is Gonna Come and Hallelujah I Love Her So — showed genuine taste. The encore closed with I Don't Want to Be. Hartford got a full evening.

Gavin DeGraw in Hartford News

• O.A.R. Plans Celebratory 2026 Three Decades Tour JamBase · Oct 30, 2025
• O.A.R. announces Three Decades Tour The Music Universe · Oct 30, 2025
• O.A.R. Plots ‘Three Decades’ Tour for 2026, ft. Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb, KT Tunstall + Phantom Planet Rock Cellar Magazine · Oct 30, 2025
• O.A.R. Sets Extensive 30th-Anniversary Tour Ft. Gavin Degraw, Lisa Loeb, More Live For Live Music · Oct 30, 2025
• O.A.R. Announces Three Decades Tour with Special Guests Gavin DeGraw, Phantom Planet, Lisa Loeb and KT Tunstall antiMusic · Oct 30, 2025

Live Music in Hartford

Hartford's music scene has always leaned toward hip-hop and soul, which actually tracks with what DeGraw does—he's never been a pure pop guy, always favored melody over formula. The city's venue ecosystem has shifted over the years, but there's still an appetite for artists who write their own material and play with some actual musicianship. DeGraw fits that bill.

Hartford road trip to see Gavin DeGraw?

Stay in the West End neighborhood—it's got actual character and puts you near some decent restaurants. Head to Saluto for Italian that doesn't oversell itself, or The Sycamore for New American food done properly. Before the show, walk through Bushnell Park and check out the Elizabeth Park conservatory if the weather cooperates. After, grab a drink at Vaughan's Public House if you want to decompress somewhere that feels lived-in rather than designed. The Wadsworth Atheneum is worth an hour if you have time to kill during the day.