An Evening with Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey
Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey grew up together in Winston-Salem, NC, started playing music together in middle school—and have really never stopped. Through countless bands along the way—including Rittenhouse Square, Little Diesel, Sneakers, the dB’s, Continental Drifters, the Golden Palominos, the Salt Collective, and the Paranoid Style—and recording sessions and sideman stints with the likes of R.E.M., Bob Mould, Hootie & the Blowfish, the two lauded songwriters have maintained a deep musical connection. Their acclaimed albums of “duo” material—Mavericks (1991) and hERE & nOW (2009)—reveal their fondness for the likes of the Everly Bros. and the Lovin’ Spoonful. And these disks are fan favorites, as is Our Back Pages, a lively 2020 collection of acoustic reinventions of dB’s songs. Both artists are in the process of recording new electric solo albums this year, as well. So expect to hear material from across the full spectrum of their classic songwriting, past present and future. Don’t miss this rare chance to see Peter & Chris together on stage again.Chris Stamey: Website | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookPeter Holsapple: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Low Cut Connie
With 8 albums released to date, select highlights from the band’s impressive career include endorsements from Elton John, a performance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and a spot on Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Albums of the Decade list.Low Cut Connie released the critically claimed LP ART DEALERS in Fall 2023, with a full- length companion film coming in 2024.”ART DEALERS may be the band’s masterpiece to date.” – Nashville Scene “Low Cut Connie can renew your faith in rock.” – Boston Herald”Experiencing Weiner in his element, whether on the new record ART DEALERS, its accompanying film, or live, is a gift of melody, messages, and community.” – No Depression Magazine”Like Bruce Springsteen after he discovered literature, Weiner started bending classic rock to meet his ever more complex emotionalism. The result is that this new 17 track collection Private Lives is Adam Weiner’s version of Born to Run, filled with songs about losers and lovers and beautiful dreamers.” – Ken Tucker, NPR’s Fresh Air“Pandemic Person of the Year” – The New Yorker”ART DEALERS hits the heart, head, & groin with equal force.” – AllMusicWebsite | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
McLusky
Having formed in the late nineteen-nineties and releasing music, if that is what it was, from 2000-2004, Mclusky disbanded soon afterwards in a slow motion farce of not enough drama to get press off the back of it. Now they are back – well, most of them – fuelled initially by spite but now enjoying it too much not to do it, playing to crowds in the UK and Australia which are much bigger – and more hygienically inclined – than in their so-called heyday. So far nobody has complained, except for one guy in Leeds (and he was clearly on ketamine). They are writing new music, some of which may be released, if they decide it is good enough, whilst currently touting around the 20 year old album ‘Mclusky Do Dallas’ like a valuable chicken. This tour – which in part is to celebrate the anniversary of the release, will constitute their first North American dates in eighteen years.Spotify
Brian Sella
Brian Sella is the co-founder, guitarist, lyricist, and lead vocalist of the indie rock band The Front Bottoms.Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Earthless and Minami Deutsch
There’s an ancient Japanese legend in which a horde of demons, ghosts and other terrifying ghouls descend upon the sleeping villages once a year. Known as Hyakki Yagyō, or the “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons,” one version of the tale states that anyone who witnesses this otherworldly procession will die instantly—or be carried off by the creatures of the night. As a result, the villagers hide in their homes, lest they become victims of these supernatural Invaders. Such is the inspiration for the latest album from Earthless. “My son is really into mythical creatures and old folk stories about monsters and ghosts,” bassist Mike Eginton explains. “We came across the ‘Night Parade of One Hundred Demons’ in a book of traditional Japanese ghost stories. I like the idea of people hiding and being able to hear the madness but not see it. It’s the fear of the unknown.” Whereas 2018’s Black Heaven featured shorter songs and vocals from guitarist Isaiah Mitchell on much of the album—an unprecedented move for the San Diego power trio—their latest is a return to the epic instrumentals Earthless made their unmistakable name on. Night Parade Of One Hundred Demons is comprised of two monster songs—the 41-minute, two-part title track and the 20-minute “Death To The Red Sun.” “Originally, we were trying to figure out how to condense the title track so it would fit onto one side of an LP,” drummer Mario Rubalcaba explains. “But the more we kept playing, the more we kept finding different places to go with it. We eventually just decided to let it breathe and go long.” The scenario that allowed for this kind of exploration was a stark contrast to that of Black Heaven. At that point, Mitchell was living in the Bay Area, which made it difficult for the band to get together and work on the type of long instrumental pieces they’re known for. But in March 2020, the guitarist moved back to San Diego. More specifically, he moved back the night the pandemic lockdown kicked in. Bad timing, perhaps—or maybe perfect timing. “With Isaiah here, we were able to get together once or twice a week to work on these jams,” Rubalcaba says. “We got back to our original songwriting process of just playing and building off each other little by little. And we actually had the time to do that, which was creatively Inspiring.” Plus, they were all on the same page about not wanting to do another record with vocals. “In away, I think this album was a reaction to our last record,” Eginton says. “Black Heaven was outside our comfort zone. I think it was a good record, but it was challenging to write songs in a more traditional verse-chorus-verse format. This one was more enjoyable. I’m sure we’ll do more vocal tracks in the future, but for the time being I see that album as a one-off.” Website | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookMinami Deutsch/南ドイツ was formed by Kyotaro Miula (guitar, vocals, synthesizer) in Tokyo in 2014. The band members being self-professed “repetition freaks” who heavily listen to minimal techno.Instagram | Facebook
Lø Spirit
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Hayes & The Heathens, featuring Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens
“Hayes & The Heathens” does not mean Hayes Carll with “opening act” The Band of Heathens or the other way around. It means ONE hellaciously talent-stacked band from downbeat to encore, fronted by three acclaimed singer-songwriters (Carll and The Heathens’ Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist), armed to the teeth with guitars, swagger, and some of the most irresistible American rock ’n’ roll, folk, country, and soulful blues anthems of the last two decades.Far from coming out of nowhere, Hayes & The Heathens is a union born out of years from mutual respect. Their respective award-winning careers have run parallel and criss-crossed many times, most recently back in October of 2023, when Carll and The Heathens shared a freewheeling family jam in Luckenbach, Texas.“We had such a blast collaborating and playing together out in Luckenbach, that we wanted to take this on the road and share it with more people,” says Quist.Whether through combining their celebrated catalogs, writing and recording new music, or reinterpreting their favorite musical works by others…There’s a whole lotta roots-rocking funky coolness coming your way. The kind gets exponentially cooler when two of the scrappiest and most respected acts to ever tumble out of Texas — Hayes Carll and The Band of Heathens — join forces.“We’ve played a lot of music together over the last 10 years,” says Carll, “and our creative relationship continues to evolve into its own thing. Hayes & The Heathens is that thing.”“This sort of medicine show, revival, rock and roll circus is a unique presentation of our music,” adds Jurdi. “I think anyone who loves the spontaneity and chemistry of a live performance is going to be in for a magical evening. I know we’re going to have a good time!”And whether that magical good-time lasts for one quick fling or continues to evolve into who knows what more down the road, this much is a given: The collective stomp and holler of Hayes & The Heathens is gonna be righteous.Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
lighthearted
Twin sisters Eliza and Gracie have been playing music together since they can remember, but the band officially formed in 2019. “lighthearted” is an alternative folk indie rock band based in Athens, Georgia. Ethan Fogus of Immersive Atlanta said it best: “[they write] the type of hushed, kaleidoscopic songs that appeal to anyone that takes to gorgeous harmonies and plumbing the depths of human nature. Together, the band makes perfect music for any long, introspective drive.” They released their debut album in April 2023, releasing four singles in the process that span timbres from introspective and chill to fresh and buoyant. Upon releasing their debut album “from here on out,” the title track off the record was added to Spotify editorial playlists “Fresh Finds,” “Fresh Finds Indie,” and “Fresh Finds Folk.” As a fully independent artist, lighthearted has been on tour and love playing to crowds across the country.Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Soundcloud | TikTok
Symphony X
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Mighty Poplar
At its heart, bluegrass music is about what happens when you commit to the moment. The joy of improvisation keeps the music fresh, and the fun of crafting ideas on the fly keeps the musicians on their toes. This true spirit of bluegrass infuses the self-titled record from Mighty Poplar, a new all-star roots project featuring Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse, Noam Pikelny and Chris Eldridge of Punch Brothers, bassist Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon) and fiddler Alex Hargreaves (Billy Strings) coming March 31, 2023 on Free Dirt Records. Regarded as some of the finest players of their generation, the playing is never showy and always in service of the song. Though Pikelny, Eldridge, Garrison all knew each other from their early work with Punch Brothers, impromptu backstage jams with Marlin at festivals across the country were the key that unlocked the project. A lifelong song collector, Marlin selected and sang lead on most of the songs here, bringing classics as well as deep cuts from greats like Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard, John Hartford, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Norman Blake. Throughout, the songs and tunes are as immediate and emotionally impactful as the playing is tasteful. Gathered knee-to-knee in a rural studio outside Nashville, the collaborative 10-track album emerged organically over a few days. “It felt so special and effortless; it didn’t take work,” says Eldridge, “other than the work and effort we’ve put in the rest of our lives.” With their debut album, Mighty Poplar has captured the fierce and playful energy of an all-night jam between old friends who just happen to be grandmasters of the music.Speaking to the band, it’s clear that each player joined out of pure excitement to play music with each other. “I’m convinced Alex Hargreaves only knows how to play the perfect notes at the perfect times,” muses Eldridge. Pikelny speaks highly about Marlin’s innate musicality: “We listen to a lot of Watchhouse at our house. Supporting a singer and songwriter of Andrew’s caliber is about the most rewarding thing I get to do, so I leapt at the opportunity to collaborate when Greg first pitched the idea for this project.” Marlin talks up the other players’ instrumental virtuosity. “When I think about it from a player’s perspective, I didn’t feel like I belonged in this group; I haven’t spent my life trying to improve my chops. I’ve been more of a song gatherer,” a humble Marlin admits. That last point is key here, as it focused the approach to the new album on an appreciation for the roots of bluegrass and for the songs especially. Inspired by the 1980s albums of The Bluegrass Album Band, which united some of that era’s best bluegrass players, Mighty Poplar sought to emulate the fun and spontaneity of those inspirational recordings. “My love for the sound and feel of those Bluegrass Album Band records–the energy, the undeniable chemistry, the subtle virtuosity–led me to imagine what that might look like in our collective gumbo of today’s bluegrass,” says Garrison. “We grew up on those records,” Eldridge continues. “We loved the idea of musicians banding together for a special project where you explore your common influences.” But don’t mistake Mighty Poplar for a tribute record; the band aimed to find their own arrangements and deliver fresh takes on the songs. In Eldridge’s words: “It’s an homage to where we came from, without it being a recreation of an earlier era.”Website | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok
