Eric Engblade is “Folk-Rock With Teeth”, a joyful Grand Rapids, MI bequeath, pouring over the tug-o-war between wants and needs. His sound and songs are a soothing serenade, singing you to a place where apple pies cool on windowsills, and children play in cattails; accompanied by church bells ringing in the distance, where he warns to be weary of the “Enthusiastic, Evangelistic, Preacher Man”. He hollers, harmonizes, and whispers truths you wish to believe, transforming listeners to the Forests of Manistee, blanketed beneath the shadow cover of Jack Pines on a summer day, sippin’ coffee, pick’n peaches, while your worries slip away. 

An accomplished and acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, session musician, and music educator from Grand Rapids, MI, Eric Engblade performs as a solo artist or with his band across the Great Lakes region, having opened for prominent national acts as Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings, Paul Thorn, Pert Near Sandstone, and has performed at some cool places in the Midwest and beyond. Some career highlights include performing at Wheatland Music Festival (2024), Hoxeyville Music Festival (2010, 2017), Beaver Island Music Festival (2011), Hiawatha Music Festival (2011), Earthwork Harvest Gathering (20l6), Buttermilk Jamboree (2017, 2018), Cowpie Music Festival (2018), and at Frederick Meijer Garden Amphitheater (2012, 2018).

A natural storyteller, Eric Engblade offers his hand and insists you hold on while he takes you for a ride, wagons ablaze, seasons changing, with course curriculum: fact, fiction, and someone else’s lies. His hopeful soul soothes and soars under skies blue, but his pragmatic skepticism posits the question of whether we’ll be able to make it through? Subdued rage, reasonable doubt, and existential meanderings which do not seek permission, but command attention, intention, and the choice between falling in line, or falling in love. 

He has released five highly locally reviewed full-length albums since 2008 with his newest release "Compass" in 2024. 

Released in 2012 while fronting, booking, and managing The Northern Skies, ‘Thick As Thieves’ was hailed as a “homegrown, handmade work of art” (On The Town, Grand Rapids, MI). In 2016 he released a 12 song, self titled, solo LP within which Engblade’s “inspiring musicianship and songwriting” (John Sinkevics, localspins.com) are undeniable. In 2020 and 2022, respectively,  Engblade released singles of his songs “The Mystery Emporium” and “The Golden Link: The SS Badger". 

Enchanting, encouraging, guitar strummin’, banjo pickin’, kazoo commanding, Eric Engblade sings from depths few dare to descend, counter-offering despair with a hearty helping of hope and hands-on contribution to the care of the Grand Rapids community’s youth. Engblade is a full-time working musician, teaching students multiple instruments at Ada Conservatory of Music (Ada, MI), and Joyful Sounds Music Studio (Grand Rapids, MI).  He also frequently makes music with families at Meijer Gardens (Grand Rapids) and at Children’s museums, schools, and private parties. 

His music tells great tales of mystic marvels, advent, and adventure! He is the modern Michigan Ringmaster: Theatric in his antics; Silly in his nature; Swing in his tempo; A showman thoroughly rooted and suited in the art of illustrating a vision, taking listeners on a mission, from his heart to yours.

He is the father of two beautiful children -- Naomi and Zephyr. He is a husband to his beautiful wife -- Tammy. He loves his entire family to the bone.