About Camille Rae & District 26:
Photos by Michael Davis Photography
Camille Rae and District 26 brings a refreshing new turn to country music. Their sound, stage presence, energy and likemindedness sets them apart from many other bands. Think of it as 90's country meets the next big thing; that "thing" that everyone is missing and looking for in country music today. Each individual personality of each band member meshes together perfectly to create a solid, professional performance on stage and wonderful friendships offstage. Camille Rae and District 26 wants to inspire people and each member of this band equally and beautifully contributes in order to make that happen. This band is a family and families stick together.
Katie Blomarz: Music Director/Bass
Katie Blomarz originally hails from the Chicagoland suburbs where she first found her love for bass. She then decided to pursue a music degree in education at the University of Illinois. There she was also fortunate enough to study jazz with some amazing professors including Larry Gray, Jim Pugh, and Tito Carrillo. After having met several musicians doing summer gigs, she was convinced by her friends to move down to the great city of Nashville in 2015. She has the fortune of playing both upright and electric bass around town in a variety of different ensembles ranging in genre from country to jazz to folk to pop and more! Katie is so honored to be the music director and bassist for Camille Rae and District 26 and looks forward to all of the wonderful things she will get to experience with this wonderful band. Go team!
Nate McDowell: Drums
Nate has a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts Management from Shenandoah Conservatory where he studied jazz, hip-hop and R&B music extensively. Nate has such a heart for Rock and Roll and country as well. After college he taught private drum lessons for three years before moving to Nashville to perform full time. He is passionate about good music, good coffee, good food, good drinks and good women. Nate believes in one heartbeat and he will never forsake the groove. When Nate was asked how he felt about being apart of the Camille Rae and District 26 family his response was priceless, "Camille Rae is the real deal. Her music is rock and roll, pure and simple and her band is serious."
Taylor Kropp: Guitar
Taylor Kropp is a guitarist, singer and songwriter born and raised on the central coast of California. His first memory of music is hearing people singing around the campfire while camping in Mojave desert at a young age. Taylor started playing guitar in his early teens and studied under tutelage of John Garcia, a widely respected blues/jazz guitarist in the California Bay area who toured many years with blues great John Lee Hooker. As a sophomore in high school Taylor discovered the music of Dwight Yoakam and fell in love with traditional country music. Dwight's music opened Taylor's eyes to a sound that could incorporate all the styles he enjoyed listening to: blues, rock, country, swing and even jazz. Taylor began touring in Fall of 2013 with country singer Joe Allen and immediately caught the bug for road work. "There is nothing like playing to audiences you've never met and having them appreciate the hard work it took to get there." Touring with Joe was important not only because it allowed Taylor to travel the country but it also gave him the experience and drive he needed to move to Nashville to pursue music on a level that he could not achieve in California. Taylor's other interests are: tasting delicious coffee, listening to vinyl late at night and buffalo. When we asked Taylor how he felt about being apart of the Camille Rae and District 26 family he said, "The band is just sexy..... And I'm excited because of Camille's obvious natural talent and the strength of her original material."