Thompson Square on the GoFest tour at Verizon Amphitheater August 10
Photo By: Anthony Baker
“It isn’t really a balance. It just works…We are having a blast, we are living a dream, and living the dream together,” Keifer Thompson told OC Concert Guide in response to balancing a marriage and band with his wife, Shawna.
Not your typical married couple-Keifer and Shawna Thompson are currently country music’s biggest duo, Thompson Square. Together they have produced award winning music and correlated videos that have led them to be recognized as the only married couple to ever win the Country Music Award’s “Vocal Duo of The Year.’
Thompson Square will be performing alongside Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line August 10 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater for Go Country’s 105 Go Fest.
“Our music comes from what is inside of us,” Keifer said. “We are different because we have two major voices and two major singers…I’m certain that there aren’t any other [bands that are] married couples.”
The Alabama southern belle and Oklahoma cowboy moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1996 when they met one another at Nashville’s Nightlight singing competition. Neither of them won the competition that night. However, they did manage to win each other over.
Three years later, Shawna and Keifer married in May 1995. Soon after, the two decided to put their solo music careers to an end and come together as one.
“Eight years ago we had a conversation around the table and decided the separate thing wasn’t going for us. That’s when we decided to go for the duo thing,” Shawna said.
By 2010 Thompson Square was signed with country label Stoney Creek Records. That same year they released their single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” which would lead to be one of their three, songs to reach number one on music charts.
Through Stoney Creek Records, Thompson Square released their self-titled debut album in February 2011 and sophomore album “Just Feels Good” earlier this March.
For three solid years Thompson Square had been on the road touring with country artists including Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, and Luke Bryan. Unfortunately, during May and early June the duo had been forced to cancel numerous shows after Keifer was diagnosed with a “serious vocal condition”.
“Obviously I was really, really scared and worried,” Keifer said. “The thought of never being able to sing again is always a possibility. When your dream is threatened it is petrifying.”
Shawna continued, “It was really awesome the outpouring of love we got from our fans. It was pretty hard to believe that people cared as much as they did and we just really hated to disappoint them.”
Although a break was nothing they ever wanted, the two managed to enjoy their time off and are thankful the “two weeks of vocal rest completely healed the problem.”
Back on the road with Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries Tour, the country sweethearts are looking forward to the cool California weather and laid back vibes when performing at Go Fest.
Telling their love story through their music, Thompson puts their heart-felt emotions for one another into each performance. Audiences can expect a fun, sentimental and memorable time with the duo as they lay out all emotions.
“There is a special moment every night when we play that song,” Shawna said when discussing their most recent number one single, If I Didn’t Have You. “There is a moment where I look at Keifer and it is something special. We can see it in each other’s eyes.”
Not limited to their music, Thompson Square recently teamed up with Christian author Travis Thrasher to share a special love story through print. Named and based after their song “Are You Gonna Kiss me or Not”, the duo’s book was published through Howard Books this past June.
“It [the book] has gotten good reviews so far and it was kind of fun to do something different,” Keifer said.
Thompson Square notified OC Concert Guide that the two are continuously writing and different song writers have been joining them while on the road. Think as you will but it sounds like a new record is in the works.
Thompson Square concluded, “All we can say [to our fans] is thank you, and thank you will never be enough!”