Grant Boesen

Grant Boesen is a songwriter, singer, guitarist, and the founding member of Pretend Friend. Boesen's commanding tenor voice has drawn comparisons to iconic vocalists like Shannon Hoon (Blind Melon), Geddy Lee (Rush), and Chris Cornell (Soundgarden). He performs more than 120 shows each year solo and with Pretend Friend.

Boesen is a classically trained vocalist and guitarist who has won awards for songwriting, flat-picking, and finger-style guitar playing.  Boesen performed and traveled with Charleston Southern University's Madrigal Choir, and he studied voice with Ricard Bordas and guitar with Christopher Teves and Robert White. Reflecting an eclectic variety of influences, including Dave Matthews, Paul Simon, Bruce Hornsby, Tony Rice, and Doc Watson,  Boesen's songwriting blends contemplative lyrics with thematic melodies.

Gear Rundown: 

"My main gigging guitar is a 2019 Collings D2HA. I found this guitar at the Old Towne Pickin' Parlor in Arvada, Colorado and just couldn't leave it alone. I also perform with a 1973 Mossman Great Plains as a secondary guitar.

I'm not huge on effects pedals, but I love my Grace Designs ALiX preamp. It has been faithful and hardy, and provides enough control for me to adjust EQ on the fly in any situation. I run a Tech 21 SansAmp Acoustic Fly Rig in series prior to the ALiX - this provides subtle compression for fingerpicking, reverb for space jams, and the occasional delay. I prefer a lightweight, minimal pedalboard and have started incorporating Shure's GLXD 16+ for wireless connection. I have used UE5A custom-formed IEMs for about four years, and have been happy with their durability and clarity."

Guitar: 2019 Collings D2HA

Strings: D'addario EJ17 Phosphor Bronze Medium

Preamp: Grace Designs ALiX

Effects: Tech 21 SansAmp Acoustic Fly Rig, Shure GLXD 16+

Pedalboard: Pedaltrain Metro 20

Vocal Mic: Shure Beta 87a

IEMs: Ultimate Ears UE5A