An Evening with Chatham Rabbits (night two)
There is something warm and instantly familiar about the beloved roots duo, Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Chatham Rabbits’ Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. Leaning into each other’s strengths, their songs present a congenial, collaborative spirit that has captured the pure adoration of fans along the way and earned them praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter, and No Depression. Their artistry hinges on a fervent desire to connect with others through the music that first brought the pair together. Steeped in the regional traditions of their North Carolina home, Chatham Rabbits’ musical pursuits represent a new age of roots music. Chatham Rabbits recorded and released their beloved debut album, All I Want From You in 2019. This set the standard for their sophomore release The Yoke is Easy, The Burden is Full—the centerpiece song “Oxen” was named “Top Folk Song of 2020” by Paste Magazine. Nurtured by central North Carolina’s fertile, influential music scene, Chatham Rabbits’ sound continues to evolve in their expansive third album, If You See Me Riding By (2022), which was simultaneously released with a television series, On the Road with Chatham Rabbits, on PBS-NC. The McCombies ingenuity during the Covid-19 crisis led to the creation of their mobile concert experience, The Stay at Home Tour, which took the duo to 194 neighborhoods in 2020-21. The pair is currently recording their fourth album of poignant original songs and continuing to foster their tight-knit fan community across the US.
SJ MCDONALD + MADISON HUGHES
SJ MCDONALD BIO: SJ McDonald is an Appalachian cowgirl that fuses the nostalgia of 90s country and the grit of a modern songwriter. While being raised on a 5-generation cattle & turkey farm in the hills of Virginia, SJ found her work ethic, and love for country music. She moved to Nashville at 18, where she cut her teeth playing covers in the bars on Broadway, and recently signed a publishing deal with Major Bob Music, home to artists such as Garth Brooks, Zach Top, and now SJ McDonald. SJ is currently the CMT Next Up Now Artist, where her newest song and music video “Break a Cowboy” has been airing on the CMT Music channel across the country. Today’s new music cries for standout voices unique enough to stamp their fingerprints on the era. To anyone following Florida native Madison Hughes’ (The Voice—Team Blake) fast rising career, it’s her signature sultry, smoky tone that drew you in. Millions of fans have connected with her voice that “grabs ya by the soul” and “feels like home.” Inspired by 70s folk-rock and soul, Madison’s unique storytelling voice is that of an old soul. Her original music captured Billboard Magazine’s attention: “The immensely talented Hughes is on a star-making trajectory.” Rolling out singles all summer long, Madison’s debut album will release end of this year!
Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters + The Turkey Buzzards
Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters are a three piece Progressive Roots band from Southern Indiana. They’ve released three prior albums; “Midwest Heart/ Southern Blues”, “All Damn Day”, “Comapnion”. The new album, “Heavy Denim”, is a genre-bending collection of songs, full of characters who were developed while staring over the dash of a beat up van, cruising through towns all over the Midwest. Nick Dittmeier & Sawdusters will be on the road in 2023 and beyond. For fans of The Band, Dire Straits, and JJ Cale. Much like the duo themselves, the songs range near and far. From the sticky humidity of North Carolina to the dusty cellars of the West, The Turkey Buzzards tell simplistic stories that unravel through gritty vocals and thoughtful harmonies. The carefully crafted guitar riffs set against a solid bone bass stretch out across an American landscape with enough depth to sink well beneath the skin.
Sam Burchfield and The Scoundrels
Sam Burchfield was raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina, where he learned to play and learned to write. His youth was steeped in the mossy creeks and deep ravines of those ancient woods, and they imbued him with the gift of song. Now in his thirties, Burchfield raises a small family in the North Georgia mountains and continues to find inspiration in the rivers and ridges of Southern Appalachia. His latest album ‘Me & My Religion’ was produced with his touring band, The Scoundrels. It is the first collaboration for the group after years of paying dues to the highway. Colin Agnew (drums), Trygve Myers (bass), and Ryan Plumley (guitar) accompanied Burchfield to Muscle Shoals, Alabama along with Nashville producer, Rachael Moore, to record the album of 7 days. “It’s certainly the most upbeat record I’ve ever released,” reflects Burchfield. “We crafted many of the songs together on countless stages, and most were then tracked live in the studio, which just felt right.” This 10 track album is almost equal parts Americana, psychedelia, indie folk, and Southern rock. All these flavors combine to support the album’s main theme. As seasoned listeners will expect, Burchfield’s lyrics are far from on the nose, as the declarative title would suggest. ‘Me & My Religion’ is an exploration of mankind’s toil for meaning in a world of vapid consumerism and commercialism – one in which we have become deaf to our own harmony with nature. Despite the weight of these ideas, the album feels like a lighthearted sojourn through the backwoods of our imagination.
Zack Brock (full band) w/ Cole Brown
Zack Brock is a Singer/Songwriter from North Carolina. With a mix of country, rock and bluegrass and his songs will take you to a place you wish you could be. With strong lyrics surrounded by a great melody you will want to hear the songs again and again
An Evening with Chatham Rabbits
There is something warm and instantly familiar about the beloved roots duo, Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Chatham Rabbits’ Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. Leaning into each other’s strengths, their songs present a congenial, collaborative spirit that has captured the pure adoration of fans along the way and earned them praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter, and No Depression. Their artistry hinges on a fervent desire to connect with others through the music that first brought the pair together. Steeped in the regional traditions of their North Carolina home, Chatham Rabbits’ musical pursuits represent a new age of roots music. Chatham Rabbits recorded and released their beloved debut album, All I Want From You in 2019. This set the standard for their sophomore release The Yoke is Easy, The Burden is Full—the centerpiece song “Oxen” was named “Top Folk Song of 2020” by Paste Magazine. Nurtured by central North Carolina’s fertile, influential music scene, Chatham Rabbits’ sound continues to evolve in their expansive third album, If You See Me Riding By (2022), which was simultaneously released with a television series, On the Road with Chatham Rabbits, on PBS-NC. The McCombies ingenuity during the Covid-19 crisis led to the creation of their mobile concert experience, The Stay at Home Tour, which took the duo to 194 neighborhoods in 2020-21. The pair is currently recording their fourth album of poignant original songs and continuing to foster their tight-knit fan community across the US.
Charles Walker
Originally from North Carolina and now based in Nashville, Charles embodies the modern singer/songwriter. Often compared to Ryan Adams, Jason Isbell and James Taylor, he has quickly established himself in the Americana scene. Growing up in Charlotte, surrounded by bluegrass and folk, he absorbed the South’s storytelling traditions. His music, inspired by his upbringing, tells tales of love, loss and the pursuit of freedom. In Nashville, he began blending classic country with indie rock’s gritty edge.
Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers
At the bottom of the Southwest Virginia foothills half-a-mile from the nearest neighbor, 21-year-old Colby T. Helms resides in an “underground house” built by his late father on land his family has owned for generations. Colby first dreamed of making music his life at age 12, when a group of Blue Ridge Mountain old-time and bluegrass players performed songs like The Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ “Standing On The Rock” and the gospel classic “A Beautiful Life” at his father’s funeral in Boones Mill, VA. To make this dream a reality, he taught himself guitar, banjo, and mandolin by watching local performers and YouTube videos. A veteran performer in the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Mountains region by age 18, Colby wrote the songs that would become his upcoming semi-autobiographical concept album, ‘Tales of Misfortune’, as a senior in high school.
Drew Foust &The Wheelhouse with Love, DEAN
A natural soul singer and blues musician, Drew Foust’s music sounds like it’s made between the bleary hours of a rock bar’s last call and a southern preacher’s early morning prayer. Hand made, self-made and arranged in dramatic structure, the music is lyrical and rhythm driven, always pushing a feeling forward. The Wheelhouse is an amalgamation of some of the best musicians in the piedmont region of North Carolina. Together, Drew and the band lend themselves to heartfelt songwriting with high test grooves, purveying their signature southern soul n’ roll sound. Current members are Jimmy Washington on rhythm guitar, Jared Church on bass, Chuck Pinckney on drums and Cole Covington on keys. The band is known for expanding beyond its core members, having collaborated in studio and on stage with DaShawn & Wendy Hickman, Sam & Eli Fribush, Maia Kamil and Jive Mother Mary. With notable performances at Shakori Hills Festival, Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, and FloydFest 24 in addition to opening for The Wallflowers in Winston-Salem, NC. Drew’s second full-length album, “Good Thing,” released on Charlie Hunter’s SideHustle label in September of 2022, offers 8 tracks inspired by Memphis soul music from the 60s and 70s.Musicians, singer-songwriters, and husband and wife, Rachael and Luke Price, are bringing back the feel-good vibes of classic Americana. Love, DEAN brings a handcrafted musical mosaic of vintage soul, gospel, and folk. Rachael’s stunning vocals and pointed lyrics, along with Luke’s raw harmonies and soul-influenced guitar culminate in undeniable chemistry. With two voices and an old electric hollow-body guitar, they create music that is honest, timeless, yet uniquely new. Love, DEAN’s latest self titled album is themed around love and community, and coming of age milestones. It’s vibrant, personal, and it’s for everyone.
Abby Hamilton with Molly McGinn
Born and raised in Nicholasville, KY, artist-to-watch Abby Hamilton is in the midst of a breakout year following the release of her acclaimed debut album, #1 Zookeeper (of the San Diego Zoo). Released this past fall via Blue Gown Records — a new imprint run by WhizzBangBAM’s Ian Thornton (Tyler Childers) in partnership with Virgin Music — the album was produced by Justin Craig and Duane Lundy and further establishes Hamilton as one of music’s most intriguing new voices. Of the record, American Songwriter praises, “infectious… introducing the acclaimed songsmith’s captivating blend of folk and indie rock,” while Holler declares, “one of the most refreshingly out of step voices in country music has made one of the year’s most genuinely brilliant and beautiful records” and Wide Open Country proclaims, “channels a universal relatability that will aid anyone’s journey of self-discovery and healing.” In just the past few years, Hamilton has garnered a reputation as an engaging live performer and musician and recently made her television debut performing on CBS Mornings’ “Saturday Sessions” series. She has also opened for artists such as Tyler Childers, Deer Tick, Shakey Graves, Wynonna Judd, Blackberry Smoke, Kelsey Waldon and The Mountain Goats and performed at several major festivals including Bonnaroo, AmericanaFest, Railbird, Luck Reunion and more.
