About AAD
Learn more about the cast and creators of Amped After Dark
Slideshow
Travis Bowlin
Creator, Writer and Execcutive Producer of the show is none other than Music City's own Travis Bowlin.
A lifelong musician, storyteller, and creative force, Travis Bowlin has spent his career turning ideas into experiences that connect with people. Best known for his work as a Nashville-based recording artist, songwriter, and producer, Travis brings an independent spirit and an instinctive understanding of music, performance, and entertainment to everything he creates.
His journey began with a deep-rooted love of music, evolving from early performances and songwriting into a career spanning recording, touring, production, and entrepreneurship. Since moving to Nashville in 2012, Travis has built a multifaceted creative career, releasing acclaimed blues and roots music, producing original recordings, crafting handmade instruments, and developing projects that bring artists and audiences together. His 2024 album, Hooks & Grooves, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart, reflecting years of dedication to his craft.
With Amped After Dark, Travis brings that same independent-minded creativity into a new arena. As the show's creator, writer, and executive producer, he helps shape its vision, voice, characters, and stories—bringing together music, comedy, unconventional ideas, and a distinctly offbeat perspective on the world. Drawing on his experience both onstage and behind the scenes, he approaches the project as an opportunity to push beyond traditional creative boundaries and build something with its own identity.
For Travis, creativity has never been confined to a single medium. Whether writing a song, producing a recording, developing a new concept, or building an unique instrument or world for an audience to explore, the motivation remains the same: make something original, make it meaningful, and never be afraid to turn the volume up.
Amped After Dark is the next chapter in that ongoing journey—a place where imagination runs wild, creative minds collide, and the unexpected is always part of the show.
Brendan Bennett
Brendan Bennett is a musician, audio engineer, and creative collaborator whose work spans live performance, studio production, touring, and audiovisual storytelling. Working professionally since 2010, he has worked on projects involving Quincy Jones, Justin Bieber, Redbone, Charlie Puth, Rickey Minor, and Persian vocalist Hassan Sattar, among many others. His performance credits include the Los Angeles Lakers Band in 2009 and the Motown Records house band in 2016 and concert venues such as The Hollywood Bowl and Capitol Records Studio A.
He studied jazz and classical upright bass at California State University, Fullerton, followed by contemporary music production and performance at Musicians Institute in Hollywood. His career has taken him internationally with Indigenous artist PJ Vegas and I AM KING: The Michael Jackson Xperience, combining electric bass, Moog synthesizer bass, musical direction, and backing-track programming. In 2019, his collaboration with PJ Vegas on Tears won Best New Song at the Native American Music Awards. He also participated in the creation of Los Angeles' Indigenous Peoples Day celebration 2 years in a row, featuring the Black Eyed Peas and Indigenous artists from around the world.
Beyond the stage and studio, Brendan has supported charitable organizations, including the Andy Vargas Foundation teaching children audio and music production and Diwali celebration light show soundtracks for BAPS, alongside extensive ministry work as a musician, audio technician, and behind-the-scenes production contributor. He previously served as head of the audiovisual department at Nashville music venue Alley Taps until its permanent closure in 2026. The two became friends during Travis' performance residency there and began their creative partnership.
As co-producer and audio engineer for Amped After Dark, Brendan helps shape the show's sound and creative direction, creating and editing many of its segments and helping rig cameras and lighting for the shoots. When Travis Bowlin first shared the idea for the show, Brendan encouraged him to take the leap and bring it to life. Today, he continues helping turn that original vision into reality while playing bass for the house band, Ollie Dogg and the Hortons.
For Brendan, music and production are about more than what happens onstage—they're about collaboration, service, and bringing creative ideas to life.
Nate Ellsworth
Originally from Western New York, Nate Ellsworth is a singer-songwriter and guitarist whose sound draws from alternative rock, blues, and the melodic edge of ’90s rock. Inspired by artists ranging from John Mayer to The Black Keys, Nate has developed his own musical voice through original songwriting, guitar-driven arrangements, and independent releases, including Stay With Me Now and the Moving Westward EP. He is a graduate of Live Sound Production at Husson University and works in AV/IT with OMNIA Partners in Nashville.
Nate brings that musical perspective to Amped After Dark as both an editor and on-screen contributor. Featured in the show's pilot episode through an original performance and interview, he offers audiences a glimpse into his work as an artist while helping shape the show's creative identity behind the scenes.
As guitarist and music director for the house band, Ollie Dogg and the Hortons, Nate contributes to the show's sonic personality with catchy melodies and progressions that can be heard in every cut scene. He also helps create and produce segments exploring guitar gear and musical equipment, including the Enchanted Reverb Skull, combining hands-on demonstrations with the spirit of experimentation that defines Amped After Dark.
Whether writing and performing his own music, refining footage in the edit, or exploring new sounds with the band, Nate brings a collaborative approach to the show that bridges the gap between creation, performance and final production. His role connects the worlds of independent musicianship, gear culture, and production, helping turn creative ideas into entertaining experiences for viewers.
Darryl Johnson
Lifelong music professional originally from Knoxville, Darryl is no stranger to playin grooves in the band on stage and in studio. He met Travis while playing in the house band at Papa Turney's Famous Blues Jam in Nashville. This led to him recording drums on Travis's Secundus Album.
He has an extensive resume as a performing drummer..including with Americana Blues project Bedhed & Blondy with Fran Jackson and Jay Studdard, as well as Brian Cornish, Regi Wooten, Adam Charney, and Alex Murphy, as well as noteable jazz ensembles Re-Evolution and The Combo.
His blues/roots style gives Amped After Dark its slow cookin' swag heard on all the show's music breaks. His original segment Off The Record with Darryl educates AAD viewers about key identifying features that collectors and listeners alike can look for while digging through the crates. His knowledge about classic records spans beyond the library and into the studio. He can tell you everything about a record from its recording all the way to its distribution. On set, he keeps the house band Ollie Dogg & The Hortons laughing and on time in the groove. On the 1!
Ollie Horton
Ollie Dogg hails as the band leader of Amped After Dark's studio ensemble Ollie Dogg and the Hortons. Beyond shredding original melodies on the harmonica, Ollie brings a larger-than-life personality to Amped After Dark, contributing original melodies, comedic relief, occasional MC duties, and musical segments throughout the show. He is currently developing a new original instrumental harmonica record produced by Travis Bowlin, while serving as one of the faces and driving musical personalities behind Amped After Dark.
Ollie Dogg (born Oliver Horton) is the harmonica player for the Nashville-based rock band Blackfoot Gypsies. He joined the group in 2012, completing the quartet lineup alongside guitarist/vocalist Matthew Paige, drummer Zach Murphy, and bassist Dylan Whitlow. The band, originally a duo formed in 2010, expanded to include Dogg and Whitlow to create a fuller sound that blends rock, blues, and country. Dogg’s "full-bodied" and "wailing" harmonica playing became a signature element of their raucous live performances and studio albums, including To the Top (2017) and Handle It (2015). He was introduced to the band by his cousin and quickly bonded with the members over their shared love of the Nashville blues scene and raw musical energy.