NASHUA – Vermont musician Chris Powers recently played Fratello’s, and it was the kind of music you’d hope to hear while dining. Next month, he’ll return to the popular Main Street eatery in Nashua for another gig, as his momentum to perform at venues gains traction amidst the pandemic.

Originally from Lebanon, New Hampshire, Powers said during normal times, he was a full-time musician.

“Before the coronavirus, it was about three solid years that I was performing full-time,” he said. “I also DJ, but since the virus hit, I’ve been landscaping on the side. I’m slowly getting back to playing, so I can’t complain.”

Powers performs all over New Hampshire, sometimes in Maine on the seacoast, in Vermont and upstate New York.

“I’ll travel anywhere pretty much,” he said. “It would depend on the pay. And last winter, I spent three months in the St. Petersburg, Florida area gigging there as well. As soon as I started hitting the pavement, there were plenty of gigs everywhere.”

The 26-year-old singer/songwriter released his debut album last December, which is available on iTunes and other platforms. Powers began playing music when he was in middle school.

“Music has always been part of my life,” he said. “My family is very musical. My dad had a garage band of friends that would come around and play when I was really little. Drums was my first instrument, before I picked up the guitar. And in high school, I sang in choir.”

Powers’ expertise with his equipment is impressive as well. He has the ability to create a live “backing” track, so when he sings, it sounds like he’s got another singer up there with him.

“Everything I do is live,” he noted. “Even the drum part – that’s me banging on my guitar. It’s just prerecorded with a loop and I just play it and turn it into a song that sounds like more than one person.”

With careful thought, Powers chooses songs that people may recognize after a strain or two, but he always adds his signature sound to what he’s playing.

“I really try to make sure that everybody hears something that they recognize,” he said. “But I definitely do things with my own style. I played a gig on Friday and these people were sitting in front of me. They said they might not know the song right away but were pretty surprised when they got it. I’m not trying to emulate what you hear on the radio.”

Some of Powers’ songs include “Shotgun,” by George Ezra or more common tunes like the Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider,” slowed down quite a bit. He also performs a couple of original songs from his record.

“I definitely want to play the songs my way,” he said. “But I know there will be a song that someone recognizes and they’ll be tapping their foot to it or their head is going to whip around when they figure out what that song is.”

With gigs limited to outdoors, Powers is a little concerned about what that means come fall and winter.

“I’m more staring down the barrel of October and November, when it starts to get cold again,” he said. “You just cannot play outside when it’s cold.”

Powers is also a member of a three-piece band called “Off the List.” They play party rock but haven’t been playing many shows. On Sunday, Aug. 30, they’ll be playing in Bethlehem.

“I’m not afraid to drive a couple of hours,” he said. “It’s what I do. You’ve got to spread out.”

Now with bars allowing 100 percent capacity in southern New Hampshire, Powers is optimistic that having one other person inside a venue won’t make a huge difference.

“If you have solo people socially distancing, I’m hoping that happens,” he said.

Powers said he concentrates on playing live, but may do some more recording at some point.

“I wanted to have something professionally recorded and out before I turned 26,” he said of his album. “That’s why I did that. I had done years of covers, but really wanted to have some original music out and available. I don’t spend a ton of time recording – that’s a small section of what I think about doing. Right now, I’m heading towards a year cycle of that record being out so I’m starting to write some new stuff.”

In the Nashua and southern New Hampshire area, Powers has played venues such as T-Bones and Cactus Jack’s, Murphy’s Taproom locations, Penuche’s and the Firefly in Manchester.

“I spend about 75 percent of the time in southern New Hampshire, versus 25 percent elsewhere,” he said. “I don’t really know why other than that there are more options for places that are playing music down here. I’ve been playing Fratello’s in Nashua for three years.”

Powers said the climate for playing music pre-COVID-19 was pretty good.

“I was very busy,” he said. “Between the band and my solo stuff, gigging was taking up a lot of my time. I’d play five to seven nights a week.”

In what people might deem as a competitive market, Powers said there is room for every singer and musician.

“Singer/songwriters is a supported thing,” he said. “Your friends write songs or your mentors write songs, and musicians really help one another out. Getting gigs is kind of family-oriented among musicians. Once you cross that threshold of playing out, people will help you get gigs left and right.”

In September, Powers’ gigs include a return to Fratello’s Nashua and the Smuttynose Brewery in Hampton.

“I haven’t played anywhere close to the beach,” he said. “Once we get past this virus thing, whenever that is, I’d like to play the beach. It’s like playing in Florida- every bar is a beach bar down there.”