Up-and-coming country singer will perform in Colfax Sunday

Country singer Jake McVey will perform in Colfax Sunday night. McVey, who grew up in the southeast Iowa town of Olds, will be releasing his second album “Anything Is Possible” in August and touring. (Jessica Lowe/Special to Daily News)

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Jake McVey was just 9 years old when he began playing the guitar. Since the first time he picked up a guitar, the 28-year-old from the tiny southeast Iowa town of Olds has been chasing his dreams.

“I knew at a very young age what I wanted to do,” said McVey during a telephone interview from Nashville, Tenn. “Now, I’m getting to see some of my dreams come true.”

The dreams McVey speaks of include becoming a recording artist — he released his first album “Unknown Highway” to critical acclaim; touring the country singing for a living — he’s currently playing 300 gigs a year; and working with some of the biggest names in the country music industry — he has opened for Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Sugarland, Jason Aldean, .38 Special, Mark Chesnutt and Little Big Town.

McVey will make a pit stop on his way to the big time Sunday for a performance in Colfax. McVey will perform at 7 p.m. on Anspach Stage in Women’s Club Park.

“I feel like we are getting real, real close,” McVey said. “I am ready for this thing to take off. As crazy as things get sometimes I just hold on and keep going for it.”

After performing in Colfax, McVey has several shows during the Iowa State Fair and will tour the country with stops in Las Vegas and the red carpet at the CMA Awards.

“Sometimes it’s amazing all the stuff that’s happened. This has been quite the building year for me,” he said. “There’s a lot of new stuff that’s going on and it’s fun but there is nothing like being on stage.”

Although 2009 has been a good year for the young musician, McVey began playing professionally six years ago in an effort to supplement his income. He said when he realized his paid gigs and his yearly salary were about the same it was his ah-ha moment and he decided to try to become a full-time singer.

“Three years ago I was still working my day job in Iowa and then I realized that my paid shows were bringing was almost equal to my salary so from a business standpoint I knew if I was going to go for it, it was then,” he said. “So I decided to dive in head first and see if it was going to work.”

It’s worked out so far. McVey has been in Nashville working with his record label and a public relations firm to prepare for the release of his sophomore album “Anything Is Possible.”

“I’m getting to do a lot of things but I don’t forget about my fans who make it possible to do what I do. I’ve been very fortunate to have the people support me the way they have,” he said.

With fame knocking on his doorstep, the Iowa man said his first love remains performing of an audience.

“I just enjoy being on stage, playing guitar and singing,” he said. “I like to get to meet so many wonderful people at the shows and learn about their stories. That’s so intriguing to me. It’s what I do for a living but it’s what I love. It’s where my heart lies.”

For more information about McVey visit www.jakemcvey.com.