Nebraska native's music career growing

It only seems fitting that Dylan Bloom's music career is blossoming.

A native of North Bend, Bloom's grandfather, Greg "Jeep" Bloom, was inducted into the Nebraska Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and played with

"He spent the '60s and '70s and some of the 80s playing ... and packing dance halls," he said. "People would come out in the hundreds and thousands and pack these dance halls. That would've been a neat time to be alive."

Dylan's dad also played in a band.

In fact, he was prepping to leave on a gig when Bloom's mom announced she was in labor.

"Dad told her he'd see her after the show."

He never made it to that show, but through the years, he instilled an appreciation for music in his family.

"None of us are super trained. We never went to school for it. It's something fun we've always had in common together."

Dylan started his first band with his dad and grandpa for a fundraiser for the North Bend Library. His dad played guitar, grandpa, bass. Dylan hired a drummer and, after that, he was hooked.

Soon after, he started writing songs and by 2012, Bloom completed and recorded "Strong in a Small Town."

Nebraska radio stations, including those in northeast Nebraska, began giving Bloom air time.

During this time, Bloom balanced farming with music and, eventually, decided to make music his full-time gig.

"It's been learning and growing ever since."

Bloom is a sixth-generation pioneer farmer.

"I live on our family farm. It's been going for 155 years. It's pretty special. I incorporate a lot of songs around that," he said. "If you're a farmer or at least from the Midwest, I think you can relate with at least one of these songs."

Six years ago, he formed a sponsorship with Truck Center Companies.

A Truck Center Companies semi-tractor/ trailer hauls Bloom's equipment and transforms into a stage.

"They've been tremendous in getting me where I need to go," he said.

Bloom has been in Nashville recently and recorded seven new songs. On June 12, he released "The Right One," which he describes as "a song about dating the wrong one."

"It's a fun breakup song," he said.

Six more songs are expected to be released this year.

This summer, he has been touring and "playing a bunch of small towns."

"I mean everything between the Missouri River and the mountains, we've been there."

Bloom headlined the Orchard Free Days street dance, July 23, and in June, he opened for Tyler Rich and Riley Green at Clearwater's Big Rodeo.

This winter, he will travel to Texas and perform there.

As his career grows, Bloom wants to stay authentic and have fun playing music.

"That's our goal. Keep growing and building.

Have a good positive message, that's so important, especially when you have a voice.

Try and inspire others to follow their dreams and stay on that path to God and family and friends and all that good stuff we all learn here growing up in the Midwest. Those are just good values that get lost in this toxic world."