Sunset Stage Series: Reece Gustafson Brings Country Music Home to Orlando

Twenty-five years old. A biology degree. Almost a dentist. That was the path Reece Gustafson was on before the pull of a guitar and the call of country music changed everything. We found his story while building out the Sunset Stage Series roster, and we are genuinely embarrassed it took us this long to feature him here. Because Reece Gustafson is from Orlando, Florida, making country music that belongs on every stage in Central Florida, and he has already shared festival lineups with artists like Eric Church and Noah Kahan. Today, we are putting him front and center. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is a country music festival taking place in Apopka, Florida, in the Greater Orlando area, on April 17, 2027, and this is exactly the kind of local story we built this platform to tell.

From the Biology Lab to the Bonfire Stage

Reece Gustafson graduated from a Florida university with a biology degree in 2023 with his sights set on dental school. And then something shifted. The country music in him, that mix of Southern storytelling and high-energy performance that had been building since long before graduation, would not stay quiet. He made the call that every artist who bets on themselves has to make: set down the science and pick up the guitar.

What happened next is the kind of story country music is built on. He played every room that would have him. He opened for Joe Nichols, Jon Langston, and Austin Snell. He performed at iconic venues like the Grizzly Rose in Denver and Tequila Cowboy stages across the Southeast. He built a catalog of nine songs on streaming platforms, collectively pulling in more than 100,000 streams, not with a label push, not with a publicist, but with his music doing the work. That is how country artists earn their stages, and Reece Gustafson is earning his.

A Sound Rooted in the South, Aimed at Everyone

When we dig into Reece Gustafson’s catalog, the through-line is clear: he writes country music that is rooted in real life. His tracks move between bonfire anthems and heartfelt ballads with the ease of an artist who knows exactly who he is and who he is writing for. Songs like “Back to You,” “Second Chances,” and “Tears and Taillights” show lyrical depth that punches well above his years. “Roots,” his most recent release, leans into the kind of place-specific storytelling that country music does better than any other genre.

We hear in his music what we love most about country at its best: the specificity of detail, the emotional honesty, and the sense that the artist is singing FROM somewhere rather than just singing. For a 25-year-old from Central Florida, Reece Gustafson has already developed a clarity of artistic vision that most songwriters spend a decade chasing.

Songs to Stream Right Now

If you are new to Reece Gustafson’s catalog, here is where we would start. These are the tracks we keep coming back to:

• “Roots” – his most recent release, a statement of artistic identity
• “Tears and Taillights” – emotionally direct and lyrically sharp
• “Back to You” – the track that shows his range as a writer
• “Second Chances” – heartfelt, honest, exactly what country music should be
• “Scared to Lose” – a bonfire anthem with genuine feeling behind it

Why the Sunset Stage Was Built for Artists Like Reece Gustafson

Here is what we think about every time we add a new name to the Sunset Stage Series: we are building a platform not just for the country music stars of today, but for the Central Florida artists who are going to define the genre’s next chapter. Reece Gustafson is from here. He grew up in the same communities that will fill the grounds at Sunset Country Fest 2027. When he performs, he is not singing to strangers. He is singing to his people.

That connection is something that cannot be manufactured. It is what makes a Reece Gustafson performance feel different from the first note. We are watching closely as he builds toward the next stage of his career, and we want our readers to know his name before the rest of the country catches up. Because they will catch up. And we are saying it here first: watch this name for 2027 and beyond.

Frequently Asked: Is Reece Gustafson from Orlando, Florida?

Yes. Reece Gustafson is a country singer-songwriter from Orlando, Florida. He graduated from a Florida university in 2023 with a biology degree before committing to a full-time music career. He has opened for artists including Joe Nichols, Jon Langston, and Austin Snell, and has shared festival lineups with major acts like Eric Church and Noah Kahan. His catalog is available on all major streaming platforms.

Sunset Country Fest is the largest country music festival in Central Florida, and the voice of country music in Central Florida. We built the Sunset Stage Series to do exactly this: shine a light on the artists from our own backyard who are doing something worth hearing. Reece Gustafson is one of them. Follow his official website and streaming profiles to stay up to date. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is coming to Apopka, Florida, on April 17, 2027. Mark your calendar and keep following us for lineup announcements, ticket info, and every Sunset Stage Series feature we have ahead.

Sources & References

• Source: Reece Gustafson Official Website
• Source: Nashville Scene – Country Music Artists to Watch 2026
• Source: Holler – 20 Best New Country and Americana Artists for 2026
• Source: Reece Gustafson on Spotify

Disclaimer: Important Notice

The information published in this article is based on publicly available data from official sources, press releases, and music industry publications available at the time of writing. Tour dates, ticket prices, venue details, setlists, album release schedules, award nominations, lineup announcements, and all other details referenced in this article are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

Sunset Country Fest makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information contained herein. All changes, cancellations, rescheduling, postponements, or modifications to any events, releases, tour dates, award results, or announcements referenced in this article are the sole responsibility of the artists, record labels, talent agencies, concert promoters, venues, and any other third parties involved.

Sunset Country Fest shall not be held liable for any decisions, travel arrangements, ticket purchases, or other actions taken by readers based on the information published here. We strongly encourage all readers to verify current details, including dates, venues, ticket availability, and event status, directly through official artist channels, venue box offices, and authorized ticketing platforms before making any plans or purchases.

Last updated: July 27, 2026 · Sunset Country Fest Editorial Team · Contact Us