Ocean City, Maryland – Local country artist Luke Borchelt took the stage at the Country Calling Festival on October 3, 2025, delivering a set that highlighted his Maryland roots and blended genres. The Anne Arundel County native performed seven songs: Maryland Life, Accent, Ocean City, Car Heat, Fishnets, Same Old Square, and Every Rain. His appearance marked a home-state milestone amid the three-day event featuring over 25 acts on beach and boardwalk stages.
The festival, held at the Ocean City Inlet from October 3 to 5, drew crowds for headliners including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, and Brooks & Dunn. Borchelt shared the bill with artists such as Cale Tyson and others across the lineup, according to festival announcements. Attendees enjoyed toe-tapping country tunes alongside local food vendors, boardwalk shops, and amusement rides at Jolly Roger At The Pier, creating a vibrant coastal atmosphere for music fans.
Borchelt, 27, hails from Riva in Anne Arundel County, an area known for its waterways and proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. He grew up on the South River, experiences that shape his songwriting. In an interview at the festival, Borchelt reflected on his origins: “I grew up on the South River and spent a lot of time writing about I don’t know, trying to be something I wasn’t. And when I started writing songs about Maryland, and where I’m from, that’s why I felt the most myself. And that’s kind of how we ended up here.”
A self-taught guitarist who began playing at age 23, Borchelt initially gained attention with a 2016 rap track, Annapolis Anthem, before shifting to country. His music fuses classic country narratives with DMV hip-hop rhythms, influenced by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Frank Ocean, Atmosphere, and Tyler Childers. Borchelt explained his inspirations: “Ohh man, once we get enough, you know, money, I’m gonna have a full band and Lynyrd Skynyrd is my favorite band of all time. I love Southern Rock. I love a big rock country show, and then Tyler Childer’s really the one that inspired me to write about where I’m from; he’s sort of, you know, his songs are about Eastern Kentucky. And knowing that someone can write about something so specific and have a bunch of people enjoy it, it’s kind of what inspired me to write Maryland music.”
Signed to Droptine Recordings LLC and Grey Area Records, with publishing through Sony Music, Borchelt has released singles that echo his lived experiences. Ocean City, a 2025 release, captures coastal vibes familiar to Marylanders, while Every Rain from 2023 explores personal reflections. Same Old Square draws from his time at a religious school in Indiana: “We think so. Same Old Square is an actual geographical map-based song when I was at school in Indiana. And it’s about I went to religious school out there. And we had to drive around in the car because boys and girls weren’t allowed to hang out. So we used to drive around this square late at night and go to the McDonald’s. It was 20 miles away. So that’s what that song’s about.”
Borchelt’s creative process involves noting daily images and late-night sessions: “I usually write down little things in my day-to-day life, little images. I try to start with an image as opposed to trying to express a certain sentiment. I’m just like, what do I see around me? And then I drink a lot, and about 2 AM, in my basement. I pull out my guitar and I try to write the best song I can.”
Raised in a strict religious household, Borchelt first sang in church with his father, limited to country and gospel music. He rebelled but returned to the genre: “I grew up in a very strict religious household, and I was only allowed to listen to Country music. And Christian gospel music, so I started singing with my dad in church, and you know, obviously, I rebelled against that for a while. But as I’ve gotten older, I realized that country is my roots, and I wanted to get back to it.”
Breaking into the Annapolis scene, known more for acts like Good Charlotte than country, presented challenges. Borchelt networked at open mics and played for tips: “There’s a lot of crazy, you know, the Annapolis scene is kind of where I came up in, Good Charlotte came up in there. Not a lot of country music came out of the Annapolis scene, but I just came home, so I wanted to meet everybody. Go to a lot of bars. I started going to open mics. Started asking shop owners if I could play for tips, and the scene’s been so supportive of me, there’s a lot of great local artists in Annapolis, and I’m honored to be the local guy on the country color stage.”
He recently opened for Shaboozey on tour and collaborated on Deserve You with Good Charlotte. Looking ahead, Borchelt plans a second album in spring 2026 and a new single by year’s end: “Probably next spring and go and open for someone who will take me on the road via opening act, and we’ll have a new single before the end of the year.” He aims to expand with a full band: “I’m excited to expand. The more you know, the more we keep doing this thing, the more resources we’ll have to get a full band and get live things going. I’m excited to see how it turns out.”
On staying authentic in evolving country music: “That’s a great question. I think country is one of the best genres. Because you can be there’s no age limit on it. And it’s a, you know, it’s flexible, it’s just, it gotta be authentic stuff. So I just write more about what I live and know.”
Borchelt advises aspiring musicians from small towns: “I always just saw people who didn’t quit. I’ve been making music for 10 years. There are people who heard my songs in 2016. I just kept putting it out. I didn’t quit, and at some point, the universe will give in. If you just keep going.”
The performance held personal significance, with family and friends in attendance: “There are so many people that don’t get to be on the stage. There are so many people who have seen me play at shops and little bars. People who watched me grow up before. I did music when I was 4 years old. So to see those people watching the set around a bunch of new people. That down on my music and they’re like, watching them sing the words I don’t know, it’s priceless, man. My parents put a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and effort into helping me get to where I’m at. I wouldn’t be here without my family.”
Country Calling builds on Ocean City’s music tradition, following events like Oceans Calling Festival the prior weekend.
Borchelt’s rise reflects Maryland’s diverse music landscape, where country intersects with regional influences. His Maryland-specific lyrics resonate with locals familiar with the Bay area’s geography and culture, contributing to the state’s growing presence in national country scenes.
