Hops & Tannin

A husband and wife duo that have played together for 20+ years in bars, restaurants, festivals, coffeehouses, living rooms and churches.

Bryan has always loved singing, whether it be along with the radio in his room with a brush in hand or with his Beatles albums using a tennis racket as a left-handed bass, or in The Tidewater Dinner Theatre as Kurt VonTrap in the Sound of Music. Over the years, he has had the awesome privilege of sharing that joy with others in restaurants, bars, coffeehouses and festivals. 

Later in life, Bryan traded in his tennis racket for a guitar and it has since become a constant companion, never leaving his side. Upon learning his first 3 chords, he caught the songwriting bug and has been delving into the process of songwriting ever since. His songs have covered a range of topics and emotions from the loss of family and pet, to love songs for wife, songs for/about his family, songs of faith, inward introspection and the outcry of the soul.

Bryan enjoys the satisfaction of connecting with his audience as they light up and sing along with familiar tunes and his original music.

Valerie's musical journey started at a young age, singing for the first time in public for her grandparents' church at the age of 5. Singing became her first love and piano playing quickly followed as she started taken lessons at the age of 8. She also took a fond liking to the violin in the fourth grade and her middle school and high school years were filled with concert & show choirs and a newly found passion for musical theater. It was then a natural progression for her to go to college as a music major and today she teaches private voice and piano to all ages, but caters to the younger generation.

She has always enjoyed writing, as well, and has used songwriting, story telling and poetry to express her heart and thoughts. In 2018, she published her first book, Sofa Chats, a conversational and poetic sound-off on life – an extension of her blog: sofachats.blogspot.com.

Valerie finds great joy in bringing her music into the public arena. She feels it is a gift that must be shared and loves how it brings joy and hope to those who listen. Ultimately, that is her greatest desire – to see her audience walk away with more than what they came in with...more hope, more joy, more love, more smiles.