Hudson Moore is something of a young gun on the country circuit. At just 22, he’d seem more at place at college than opening for the likes of Alan Jackson. In truth, he’d be right in the thick of finals if not dropping out to pursue music full-time.

“I had these songs that I had written over the past five or so years and recorded it there in Austin, and we just got a really good reaction,” Moore said of his debut album, 2010’s Fireworks. “Before you know it, we were booked to play every night of the week. My desire to play music was greater than school. We were having to turn down good opportunities, so I decided to put my education on hold.”

Although the Texan thought he’d ditched the world of ramen noodles for bar gigs, he soon found himself thrust into a different kind of freshman year, attempting to find footing alongside contemporary country and Red Dirt favorites like Kevin Fowler and Reckless Kelly.

“It’s kind of like a fraternity. They are all brothers. I’m kind of the newcomer … the pledge,” Moore said.

“Pat Green has taken me under his wing, introducing me to his fan base. For someone like that I’ve always looked up to, it’s really special.”

Moore is in the midst of recording a follow-up EP and single for release early this summer. He said the material will be more focused on a pop-country sound than Fireworks, which recalls anything from Keith Urban to B.B. King to Dave Matthews in the span of a song or two.

“There were so many different sounds.

People didn’t really know how to describe me. That first album was a chance for me to play around in the studio, to grow as an artist and put down any idea I had,” Moore said. “Now, I’m concentrating my efforts and finding myself as an artist. The more you play, the more you find out who you are and what you want to say.”