Singer-songwriter Trae Sheehan is new to performing here in Franklin County, but that’s about to change. After living in Nashville for a few years, Sheehan moved to the Berkshires this past September. A devoted road warrior, he has played hundreds of shows, released four albums and been profiled in American Songwriter, Glide Magazine and other publications.

“Nashville was great, and I learned a lot there, but I feel more comfortable here,” he said of his decision to move to Windsor. “This is where I feel connected with a like-minded community.”

Sheehan is now ready to jump into the western Mass music scene and will launch a six-week residency called “The Great Northern Showcase” at Element Brewing Co., 16 Bridge St. in Millers Falls, this Saturday at 7 p.m. The residency, featuring Sheehan and special guests, will run from Jan. 6 to Feb. 10. They are all on Saturday, except the second one in the series, which will take place on Friday, Jan. 12. There is no cover charge.

The residency came about when Sheehan and his booking agency, Great Northern Booking, were looking for some close-to-home gigs to play during the winter months when he was off the road. They found what they were looking for when they met Daniel Kramer, co-owner of Element Brewing Co.

“He was so kind he invited me to play at the holiday party at Element, and I fell in love with the place,” Sheehan said in a recent phone conversation. “Daniel and his team are the sweetest people. The beer is great, and it’s such a nice atmosphere that it feels very much like home to me. ”

After the show, the two got to talking and came up with the idea for the residency, feeling it could be beneficial for Sheehan and a way for Element Brewing Co. to offer more music to its patrons.

“I’m just starting to dive into the music scene here, and it’s been awesome already. Everybody’s been so welcoming and kind,” Sheehan said. “I need to explore the state and see where all the music hubs are and get to know everyone.”

These shows are the perfect place to begin.

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The focus of the residency will be original material, and Sheehan will have special guests at each show, as well as a theme for each night. The themes reflect his sense of humor. They are Jan. 6 — Introduction; Jan. 12 — Getting to Know You; Jan. 20 — Periodic Applause; Jan. 27 — Draft Picks; Feb 3. — It’s Almost Over; and Feb 10 — Just the Picks.

Sheehan spoke with enthusiasm about the shows.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. So far, I have two guests, Gules (Jan. 12) and Abrielle Scharff (Feb. 3). They are old friends from Brooklyn. Gules is on all my records and Abrielle has sung on a few as well,” he said. “I am talking to a few local folks that I know from the Berkshire scene who I want to come out. These special guests will do their own set, and then we’ll do some songs together.

“The shows are going to be a blast and I want everyone who is going to come out to have a good time,” he added.

Sheehan, the son of classically trained musicians, grew up on an alpaca farm in West Virginia.

“My mom played saxophone and my dad played bass trombone. He was very successful with it for a while, but he ended up switching careers when I was still a kid,” Sheehan said. “They met on Valentine’s Day. They both were hired to play horns at a gig and that’s how they met.”

Considering his background, Sheehan was always exposed to music.

“It was more than just being exposed to music; it was being exposed to active listening and dissecting songs and hearing all the details from classical up to folk and rock ’n’ roll,” he said. “It’s always been a very prevalent part of my life.”

Sheehan started writing songs as soon as he learned to play guitar and was releasing music when he was still in high school. In December, he recorded his fifth full-length release and he hopes to release the first single off the upcoming album at the end of the month. His music is folk, but you can also hear pop and rock elements. If you like artists like Noah Kahan, I’m sure you will like Trae Sheehan.

Sheehan averaged about 100 shows a year pre-pandemic, and while everything has slowed down in recent years, he hopes that 2024 audiences will turn out for live music in the numbers they did before COVID-19. He plans to play 120 dates this year, and has already booked his first tour to the U.K. Despite all the shows he’s played over the years and having lived in a music hub like Nashville, this is his first-ever residency, and he couldn’t be more excited.

“Music is a very emotional experience for me, especially live music, and I know it is for a lot of people; it hits you, and you feel it. And I want to reintroduce that to folks because I think that in these past few years, we’ve lost a little bit of touch with the tangible feelings that come with that and go with events like this,” he said of this upcoming series.

“I want to remind folks that it’s still there, and it’s not just about going to support live music and local acts. It’s about going to have a good time and being present together.”

For more information, visit traesheehan.com.

Last week, Tree House Brewing Co. in South Deerfield announced plans to increase their capacity to 5,000 people pending approval of an emergency action plan.

This is big news and would mean bigger name acts, but will it also mean bigger crowds and traffic problems? Let’s hope they work all the logistical details out, and we can enjoy some great shows next summer.

The upcoming year is going to be a big one for music fans. We have DSP Shows taking over the Green River Festival, the renovating and re-opening of the legendary Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, and, while plans are vague on this one, the possible reopening of the Calvin Theater in Northampton. There’s also plans for Mocha Maya’s in Shelburne Falls to once again present live music in their coffeehouse. So we won’t be lacking for concert choices in what is looking like an increasingly competitive live music scene.

Tree House Brewing Co. is kicking the year off by hosting two shows with the jam band Eggy, on Friday, Jan. 5, and Saturday, Jan. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. Eggy is a group of old high school pals who combine infectious grooves and thoughtful lyrics with some serious jams. The quartet from Connecticut who will play in the brewery’s taproom are rising stars in the jam world and played at Tree House in July.

In a recent statement from the band, members said this about their experience with the brewery: “We’ve been playing at Tree House locations for many years. As we’ve grown and evolved, Tree House has done the same and so it’s always special to reconnect with the Tree House family.

Admission is $10 at the door beginning at 4 p.m. No advance tickets sales.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at soundslocal@yahoo.com.