The Steel Wheels - https://www.thesteelwheels.com/
Simultaneously familiar and fresh, the Steel Wheels bring a singular energy to every note they play and sparkling craft to each song. This potent combination, paired with a robust tour calendar, have made the veteran band hands-down favorites of fans and peers alike. From their base in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, The Steel Wheels have played the most prestigious festivals, listening rooms, and clubs in the world, cementing a reputation as one of the top independent bands on the scene today.
With their 2020 release, Everyone A Song, Vol. 1, The Steel Wheels demonstrate the humanizing power of honest storytelling, setting the personal experiences of their supporters to song.
What started as a ruined touring season turned into a time of great creativity, as the band devised a new model of writing and recording. With the 5 members isolated from each other and their listeners, they quickly shifted from veteran touring outfit to home recording gurus. Songwriter and lead singer Trent Wagler conceived of a project entitled Distance Together, an avenue for fans of the band to commission works and send musical greetings to their loved ones. The initiative sparked a surprisingly impactful and intimate songwriting process, with Wagler setting the personal stories of fans to song and verse.
The Texas Gentlemen - http://www.newfrontiertouring.com/artist/the-texas-gentlemen/
Pop on Floor It!!!, the new and second full-length effort from the Texas Gentlemen, and prepare your eardrums to be hit with everything from woozy, brass-fueled Dixieland-style jazz (“Veal Cutlass”), to slinky, chicken-scratch country funk (“Bare Maximum”) to lushly orchestrated pop-soul balladry (“Ain’t Nothin’ New”)—and that’s all in just the first 10 minutes of play time.
While the Gentlemen’s sound is clearly steeped in the classic roots, rock and pop music of the ‘60s and ‘70s, there’s a dreamy (the lilting “Sing Me to Sleep”), spacey (“Skyway Streetcar”) and occasionally progressive (“Dark at the End of the Tunnel”) element to what they do that seems to detach the music from belonging to any particular place and time. Add in elements of funk, soul, country, r&b, southern rock, gospel and essentially any other style that catches their musically omnivorous ears; an expansive and detailed approach to arrangement that sees the songs adorned with all manner of horns, strings and heavenly background vocals (“Hard Road”) and you have a collection of tunes that is more than just a mere album. Rather, Floor It!!! is a rich and righteous ride.
Accoustic Syndicate - https://www.acousticsyndicate.com/
Acoustic Syndicate is a musical institution. Since 1994, their unique blend of bluegrass instruments, rock sensibilities, and conscious songwriting has inspired a generation of musicians. Through 7 albums, thousands of performances, and tens-of-thousands of miles, Acoustic Syndicate has long been heralded as one of the important influences on the modern roots-music revival.
Always a family affair, the band is fronted by Steve McMurry on guitar and vocals, and his cousin Bryon McMurry on banjo, guitar, and vocals. Their signature three-part blood harmony is rounded out by Bryon’s brother Fitz on drums and vocals. Multi-instrumentalist Jay Sanders holds down the bass with deep pocket and style.
“Their modern take on traditional bluegrass and rock values culminates in a glimmering, driving sound rich with acoustic textures and glowing vocals,” said Paul Kerr, of JamBase.
If there was ever a band that could capture the universal truths of life from the roots up, it’s Acoustic Syndicate.
Sol Driven Train - https://www.soldriventrain.com/
“If you need to visualize the soul, think of it as a kind of train. Yes, a long, lonesome freight train rumbling from generation to generation on an eternally rainy morning: its boxcars are loaded with sighs and laughter, its hobos are angels, its engineer is the queen of spades – and the queen is wild. Whoo-whoo! Hear that epiphanic whistle blow. The train’s destination is the godhead, but it stops at the Big Bang, at the orgasm, and at the hole in the fence that the red fox sneaks through down behind the barn. It’s simultaneously a local and an express, but it doesn’t transport weaponry, and it certainly ain’t no milk run."
- Tom Robbins, Villa Incognito
Dirty Grass Soul - https://dgsoul.com/home
Proudly hailing from the musically rich foothills of Cleveland County (Shelby, NC), Dirty Grass Soul has been entertaining audiences across the Carolinas and beyond since their formation in 2011. With a sound that draws much influence from traditional music of the North Carolina foothills, Dirty Grass Soul manages to bring a new, refreshed, and re-energized sound to their music that falls somewhere between country, bluegrass and southern rock & roll reminiscent of acts like The Charlie Daniels Band and The Marshall Tucker Band. Rather than simply relying on heavy guitar leads, Dirty Grass Soul offers instrumentation that also mixes in a heavy dose of fiddle, pedal steel guitar, and banjo. DGS is lead by founding members Kevin Dedmon (Fiddle, Vocals, Guitar) and Lance Watson (Bass, Mandolin). They are joined by Tommy Smith (Lead Guitar), Dedmon's brother Kris Dedmon (Banjo), Glenn Miller (Pedal Steel Guitar), and Jared Miller (Vocals & Percussion). After touring the Carolina's behind their self-produced albums, “New Day of Work” and "The Long Way,” as well as shows with the likes of many of the nation's premier bands under their belt, Dirty Grass Soul has earned a reputation as one of The Carolina's emerging Southern Rock/Alt. Country bands.Whether it is the hint of bluegrass, outlaw country, or rock & roll you hear in each song, their sound is uniquely Dirty Grass Soul. From Dedmon's catchy originals, to their own twist on covers ranging from a variety of artists and styles, Dirty Grass Soul is sure to offer a little something for everyone.
THE JEFF LITTLE TRIO - http://www.jefflittle.net/
Award winning piano driven trio from the Blue Ridge Mountains
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Jeff Little / Piano – Vocals – Harmonica
Jeff Little is an award-winning musician from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With few exceptions the piano does not play a prominent part in Americana or Appalachian music and is rarely the lead instrument. But Jeff Little is an exception and a remarkable one. Jeff has not only been recognized as a critically acclaimed musician but also a true music innovator.
Jeff as well as his trio stay busy traveling the country performing concerts with an energy and dedication to their music that is evident at every show. Performances include The Smithsonian Institution, The National Folk Festival, American Piano Masters, The Barns of Wolf Trap and many theatres, performing arts centers, and festivals. Jeff has been featured on National Public Radio and PBS many times and has also taken his music around the world for the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs performing in Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Oman, France and Tanzania. In 2014 Jeff was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. In addition, Jeff is Artist in Residence for the Popular Music Program at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC.
Steve Lewis / Acoustic Guitar – Five String Banjo - Vocals
Steve Lewis is an award - winning guitar and banjo player from Todd NC and is one of the most respected acoustic musicians in the country. Steve is well known for his flat picking on guitar and his mastery of the five - string banjo. Steve has won many championships for his guitar and banjo playing. Some of the prestigious events include the Walnut Valley Nationals, Merlefest, the Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Renofest and the Wayne Henderson Guitar Competition. Steve is also a two-time national champion on the banjo. He remains an in-demand guitar and banjo teacher and is dedicated to sharing his love of music with the next generation.
Luke Little / Mandolin
Luke Little is a young and talented mandolin player whose musicianship and style expand well beyond his years. Luke's performances include the National Folk Festival, PBS Song of the Mountains, The Richmond Folk Festival and The Moss Center for the Performing Arts at Virginia Tech.
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“Jeff Little is a remarkable musician, steeped in the tradition of his native Blue Ridge, yet also a virtuosic and eclectic innovator."
- National Public Radio
Jeff Little tore the place apart with his wondrously quick and articulate piano style. He is always intelligent and richly melodic."
-The Boston Globe
Tim Carter Band - https://timcarterband.com/
The Tim Carter Band consists of 4 highly acclaimed Nashville musicians. They have all, in their own right, become very well known in the Nashville community playing on hundreds of recordings.
Tim Carter is an award winning singer / songwriter / banjo player, playing his own unique style of bluegrass and blues on the banjo. He has had his music used in film soundtracks, & was a founding member with his brother Danny as the Carter Brothers Band. Tim has played, toured and recorded with Vassar Clements, Alison Brown, Tim O’Brien, Terri Clark and Hayseed Dixie as well as playing the Grand Ol Opry several times. Tim s a multiple GRAMMY Winning / Nominated Recording Engineer who has worked with Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck & Tim O'Brien just to name a few. Tim continues to tour around the world with Hayseed and the Tim Carter Band.
Mike McAdam plays electric guitar and is a songwriter. Mike has been in bands, toured and recorded with Steve Earle and the Dukes, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bruce Springsteen. Sarah Evans, Radney Foster, Delbert McClinton & Chris Knight.He has played every major TV show there is and is known as one of the best guitarist in Nashville.
Drake Leonard plays bass. He has been in bands with Ricky Van Shelton, David Ball, Chris Knight and has toured with Kenny Rogers. He's a great singer and just one of the best in Nashville, period.
Dann Sherrill plays drums / percussion. Dann has been in Nashville for over 30 years. He toured and recorded with Steve Winwood, Engelbert Humperdinck, Mel Tillis, Mose Alison & Mike Ferris to name a few. He has produced instructional videos on Latin Percussion and is known as one of the Drum Masters of Nashville.
South Hill Banks - https://southhillbanks.com
South Hill Banks – Lance Thomas (vocals, guitar), Eric Horrocks (mandolin, vocals), Noah Stidham (Banjo, Vocals), and Justin Doyle (upright bass) – have carved a niche for themselves with their jam infused bluegrass sound. Formed in August 2015 in Richmond, Virginia, South Hill Banks pulls from a wide range of influences such as classic rock, jam, blues, to traditional bluegrass to keep audiences entertained with a blend of sounds old and new.
Be sure to check out their brand new album "No Time For A Breakdown" out now!
Wicker & Jones
Wicker and Jones have been playing their blend of Piedmont blues, vintage jazz, ragtime, and Gospel in the Piedmont and beyond for over 20 years. During that time they have played at festivals, clubs, restaurants, coffee houses, and private venues throughout the Carolinas and Virginia.
Danny Wicker, the King of the Piedmont Guitar, has developed a powerful finger and slide technique that harkens back to the golden age of Southeastern acoustic blues of the 20's and 30's. He counts among his heroes Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie McTell, and Blind Blake but his style is truly his own creation, sometimes pounding out a dance tune, sometimes caressing a ballad.
Mel Jones brings a rhythmic, melodic harmonica, percussion, and a storyteller's soul to the duo as well as original blues compositions that make the traditional blues of the Carolinas live again to the beat of our millennium. A seasoned entertainer, Mel has won many regional harp competitions and has toured with numerous R&B, blues, and Americana bands throughout the Southeast.
Together they have released two CD's and have twice won the Charlotte Blues Society's competition to advance to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Mason Jar Confessions
Genre: Folk, rock, country, original music
Band Members: Dawn Nichols, Danny Platt - special Confessions guests with MJC - include Elijah Davenport and Blake Bostain and others.
Hometown: Western Watauga aka West Side (Zionville/Vilas, NC)
Record Label: Bent Street Records
About: Mason Jar Confessions - Dawn & Danny make up the core Acoustic Duet that features many special guests on various instruments. You never know who will show up to play! Featuring a mix of rock, folk, country and original
