Karl Bertrand

     Karl Bertrand is an American songwriter, guitarist, and producer now living in the Roaring Fork valley outside of Aspen, CO. A transplant from upstate New York, he grew up in Saratoga Springs; a town with a rich history of folk music coupled with a rowdy night-life. Aged 33, Karl's been performing in the bars, venues, hotels, and festival stages all around the country for a decade. With an aim to please audiences, most performances include scores of cover songs alongside his own carefully crafted originals. His songwriting spans a vast array of genres from bluegrass to jazz to rock to punk and everything in between. As far as subject matter goes, Karl's songs range in a similar manner; sometimes reflecting notes of humor and joy while other times diving into societal struggles or else expressing some facet of love. His musical sensibilities frequently wander into forms of improvisation, carried forward from a rooted experience performing bluegrass, rock, jazz, and jam music. 

     In his twenties, Karl was most active musically as a founding member, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for Saratoga Springs, NY jam rock band, Let’s Be Leonard. The group was active from 2014 to 2022. During that time, he performed on stages all across the country as the band toured from coast to coast in their eclectic pink and blue school bus. They released music that was featured in Relix Magazine and their success culminated in festival appearances at Adirondack Independence Music Festival in New York, Mile of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin, and High Sierra Music Festival in California. 

     As the band dissolved Karl routed his almost constant songwriting practice toward the studio. He's recorded and released ten records since 2019. His last two efforts, 'Soaring on Snow' and 'Meadows of Memories', were recorded in his home studio in Carbondale, CO. The 2023 effort 'Soaring on Snow' is a collection of ski and snowboard songs he'd written over his career as a snow sports instructor, while 2024's 'Meadows of Memories' captures an internalized affinity for bluegrass music. 

Always the songwriter, Karl often has fresh material to share as he regularly performs both in Colorado and on trips back to New York.  He continues to teach skiing at Snowmass in Aspen, CO and performs often within the Roaring Fork valley. For more information, and to see an upcoming performance schedule, please visit www.karl-bertrand.com .