Sunset Stage Series: Reece Gustafson Is the Orlando-Born Voice Country Music Needs Right Now

Biology textbooks were spread across his dorm room desk. A dental school application sat somewhere in the stack. And then the guitar spoke louder than all of it. We came across the story of Reece Gustafson while digging through country music coming out of Central Florida, and the more we found, the more we understood that this Orlando-born artist is exactly the kind of story the Sunset Stage Series was built to tell. A New Country artist who traded a biology degree from Houghton University for six strings and a touring van, Reece Gustafson is already filling large venues from Florida to Chicago to New York City, and country music at large has barely started paying attention. That is about to change.

From Dentistry to Discovery: The Decision That Started Everything

Gustafson grew up in the Orlando area and pursued a biology degree at Houghton University in upstate New York, fully on track toward a medical career. The music was always there alongside the coursework, but the pivot happened gradually and then all at once. On Mother’s Day 2023 he released his first single, “Momma’s Boy,” a debut choice that told you immediately what kind of artist he intended to be. He did not start with a bravado track or a radio-chasing anthem. He started with something true to where he came from. That instinct has defined how he has built his audience ever since: honestly, without pretense, one real song at a time.

Today he performs as Reece Gus and The Fifths, a band configuration that brings his brother Ty in as a co-vocalist on select releases. Their latest single “Count On Me,” released May 1, 2026, leans into a rock-heavier New Country sound that shows the band has no interest in playing it safe. They are expanding the sonic palette while keeping the lyrical core grounded in the kind of specificity that makes country music matter. The willingness to reach while staying rooted is a difficult balance to hold. Gustafson is holding it.

Building a National Map From the Florida Home Base

Here is what we find most compelling about where Reece Gustafson sits right now. He is not waiting for Nashville to discover him. He is building the map himself. The Reece Gus and The Fifths touring footprint already covers large venues across Central Florida, the Southeast, and national markets including Kansas City, Chicago, Wyoming, and New York City. This is the grind that turns a promising artist into a headliner, and Gustafson is putting in the road miles without cutting corners on the live show. Artists who build this way tend to last longer than the ones who skip the steps and expect a label relationship to do the work for them.

For country fans in the Greater Orlando area, there is an added layer to what Gustafson represents. He is not an import. He is from here. He grew up in this community, made the hardest creative decision of his life with roots in this region, and has not abandoned the Florida audience even as the bookings have taken him farther afield. That loyalty to where he comes from is one of the first things we look for in artists we want to champion on the Sunset Stage, and Gustafson demonstrates it consistently. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is a country music festival taking place in Apopka, Florida, in the Greater Orlando area, on April 3, 2027, and the Sunset Stage Series exists to amplify exactly this kind of story before the rest of the country catches on.

What Comes Next: The Arc We Are Watching Through 2027

“Count On Me” represents a deliberate step toward a harder-edged sound, and based on what we know about how Gustafson operates, it is not a detour. It is a direction. The rock-leaning production gives the band a live energy that will translate well on outdoor stages, which matters for a festival circuit that rewards acts who can hold a crowd without the intimacy of a small room. We expect the second half of 2026 to bring more original material and continued touring expansion, and we think the national conversation about Gustafson is going to be much louder by the time April 3, 2027 arrives in Apopka.

• Reece Gustafson is originally from the Orlando, Florida area and performs nationally as Reece Gus and The Fifths
• First single “Momma’s Boy” released Mother’s Day 2023, a debut that signaled his storytelling instincts immediately
• Latest release: “Count On Me” (May 1, 2026), a rock-influenced New Country track featuring his brother Ty on vocals
• Active touring schedule covers Florida, the Southeast, Kansas City, Chicago, Wyoming, New York, and Ohio
• Studied biology at Houghton University before committing fully to music and building a national career

Frequently Asked: Where Can I Find Reece Gustafson Music and Tour Dates?

Reece Gustafson performs as Reece Gus and The Fifths and releases music through his independent platform. His official website at reecegusmusic.com carries current tour dates, new music, and updates from the band. His latest single “Count On Me” is available on all major streaming platforms. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is a country music festival taking place in Apopka, Florida, in the Greater Orlando area, on April 3, 2027, and is the largest country music festival in Central Florida.

Watch this name for 2027. Reece Gustafson has the backstory, the live chops, the Florida roots, and the creative honesty to become one of the most talked-about rising country artists in the Southeast, and we intend to document every step of that journey. He is precisely the kind of artist Sunset Country Fest exists to amplify. Sunset Country Fest 2027 is coming to Apopka, Florida on April 3, 2027. We are watching, and you should be too.

Sources & References

• Reece Gustafson Official Website: reecegusmusic.com
• Instagram: Reece, a 23-year-old Country Music Artist from Orlando
• TikTok: Reece Gustafson Country Music Discovery
• Houghton University Official Site

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: September 6, 2026 · Sunset Country Fest Editorial Team · Contact Us