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The band is made up of Cory Rowe, Willy Scruggs and Rocky Covington. Scruggs is a 2008 Trousdale County High School graduate.

“Back in 2020, I was booked to play inside Keller’s Bar & Grill in Castalian Springs with my guitar player, Gabe Love,� said Rowe. “Willy was booked as well and was playing out on the patio. We got to talking and sat down and wrote a song together. It took off from there.�

Moving to Bethpage, Rowe was at the DMV and was told about a musician named Rocky Covington that lived down the road from him at his new address. After connecting with Covington, the guys hunkered down, wrote songs, played music and stepped out as The Scarecrows. Why that name? They just liked it!

Rowe has been playing the guitar, singing and writing music professionally since 2012. Scruggs hails from a family of bluegrass musicians. His grandpa, Noel ‘Monk’ Scruggs, was an original member of the Possum Hunters, an old-time string band. Covington is a drummer and started playing music in his teens and has played professionally since 2006. He is the twin brother of Bucky Covington, a country music singer, who placed eighth on the fifth season of “American Idol.� While The Scarecrows are his focus, Covington still plays with his brother some. The Covington family also owns and operates Covington’s Collision Center.

The trio has built a solid foundation for their band, based on the love of creating music and entertaining, but more than that, they share a camaraderie and friendship. The men share a love of riding Harleys and Mexican food alongside their music.

“We are together all the time. From working on social media, writing songs, practicing, to being on the road a lot,� said Rowe. “We’ve released new music and signed a management deal with Smokeshow Entertainment in February 2025. We’re working on our first album, taking it to the next level. We continue to release singles on the major platforms.�

“We are moving our music career forward hardcore,� said Rowe. “But above all, we are friends. If we fall, we fall together. But falling isn’t something we plan to do. We’ve all wanted a music career, there isn’t another option. Besides, Willy isn’t good at math so he had to learn to sing! Rocky has the nicest hair in the band, though, so he’s got that going for him!�

Good-natured joking follows the guys on the daily challenges of career, friendship and family life. From wearing the cool hats you see in their pictures, to the hats they juggle to write, perform, promote, the men are no strangers to the hard work and energy it takes to carve a name for yourself in the music industry.

The band has opened for acts such as Blackberry Smoke, Corey Smith, Keith Anderson, Bucky Covington and Ole 60. Following their performance in downtown Hartsville, the band is performing at the Cumberland Canteen in Lebanon on Aug. 16 and at the Moonshine Run in Johnston City, Illinois on Oct. 3.

No strangers to performing locally, the band is excited to return to Hartsville. They filmed and produced a music video for the song “Breaking Stuff� in Hartsville a few years ago.

“We are locals, and we love where we live,� said Scruggs. “We are grateful for the support that Hartsville and the surrounding counties have shown us. We are excited to see all the revitalization going on in downtown Hartsville.�

The Scarecrows’ music can be heard on all music platforms. For more information about the band and upcoming performances, visit their website, or their Facebook page.

Sponsored by the Hartsville Rotary Club and premier community sponsors, The Downtown Sound stage is provided to the public free of charge. Bring your friends and family, as well as your lawn chairs for an evening of music and community connection. The event takes place from 5-8 p.m. Local food trucks and vendors will also be available during the performance.