Room 347 is a band that has its roots grounded in playing music for more than just entertainment. Their gritty blues-influenced sound hits home to a crowd that is pleased to see real people perform real music. They have been playing shows throughout all of Kansas in front of thousands of people, and have gained a small following that keeps on growing. Fans are drawn to the band’s rhythmically driven instrumentals that are interlaced with thought provoking lyrics. The name of the band itself is a testament to the subtle element of throwback present in the band’s music. “Room 347” is a reference to an old episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” That acknowledgement of mid-20th century culture is present in Room 347’s music as well. The one responsible for the name and call-backs to old pop culture is frontman Hunter Gregory.

Room 347 puts effort into portraying the band members as not just musicians, but as relatable people. This bring us to the story of the frontman himself. Hunter is a caretaker of all things Americana. The sticker that reads “FOLK” on his guitar isn’t a fashion statement, it’s a symbol of his roots. Only being 19 years old, he feels a bit out of place in today’s society because of his passion for the old world, which is all too often underappreciated by today’s young adults. Part of Hunter’s mission as an artist is to show awareness of the greatness of old artists that came before him. Though he is the frontman, he has a few qualities that make his performances entail more than just getting on stage and singing. He has had a long lasting battle with chronic depression and crippling anxiety. Perhaps the most remarkable thing is that he has a condition that causes him to stutter and have other problems with speech. Despite having a speech problem and an assault of depression and anxiety, Hunter gets on stage and performs without a problem. To Hunter, music is an escape from problems that he faces everyday. This is evident physically with his ability to sing without stuttering; and it is evident mentally as his anxiety disappears when he gets on stage in front of thousands of waiting eyes. Performing and writing music is Hunter’s escape, and to the listeners, enjoying the music he performs is their escape from their problems.