John Moreland wsg: Nathan James Hall (Old Heavy Hands)

John Moreland doesn’t have the answers, and he’s not sure anyone does. But he’s still curious,basking in the comfort of a question, and along the way, those of us listening feel moved to askour own. “I don’t ever want to sound like I have answers, because I don’t,” he says. “These songsare all questions. Everything I write is just trying to figure stuff out.”Moreland is discussing his new album Birds in the Ceiling, a nine-song collection that offers themost comprehensive insight into the thoughts and sounds swimming around in his head to date.A compelling blend of acoustic folk and avant-garde pop playfulness, Birds in the Ceiling livesconfidently in a space of its own, enriched by tradition but never encumbered by it. Thesongwriting that has stunned fans and critics alike since 2015’s High on Tulsa Heat remainspotent, while the sonic evolution that unfolds on the record feels like a natural expansion of 2020’sacclaimed LP5.The New Yorker, Pitchfork, Fresh Air, Paste, GQ, and others have embraced Moreland’smeditative songs, while performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS ThisMorning, NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and more have introduced Moreland to millions. And yet, whilethe Tulsa-based Moreland is grateful for the respect and musical conversation he’s now havingwith people around the world, he is also more focused on the idea of just talking to one person––or even himself. “Through the years, I’ve felt like I’m increasingly talking to myself in my songs,more and more,” he says. “Maybe in the past, I wasn’t aware of it, but now, I am. I think doing thathas helped me be less hard on myself, which makes you more generous and compassionate ingeneral.”That helps explain why even if Moreland is reaching out to someone else, there is no judgment.“I’m in the same boat with whoever I’m talking to,” Moreland says. Moreland’s songs do feel intimate––like overheard conversations or solitary meditations. “I wantto talk one-on-one to someone in a song,” he says. “I don’t want to address a group, really,because I think that’s when it’s easy to start pontificating––and it gets less honest.”On Birds in the Ceiling, Moreland’s singing contributes to the feelings of hushed intimacy.Wielding a warm, sandpaper soul voice, Moreland got used to singing loudly as he began playingin bars, fighting to be heard over chattering crowds. “When I first started singing, I was very self-conscious about it,” he says. “I think I tried to affect my voice more. Singing loud could be asecurity blanket sometimes. On the new album, on a lot of the songs I was definitely making aconscious effort to sing quieter––almost whisper.”Produced by Matt Pence and Moreland, Birds in the Ceiling is dynamic: a folk record that refusesto stay in its lane. It’s the second album for Pence with Moreland, who sees the former––a Denton,Texas-based engineer, producer, and drummer––as an ideal musical partner. “We have a lot ofthe same influences, and I have been really influenced by his bands,” Moreland says. “It feelsreally effortless

Jamie McLean Band

Jamie McLean Band creates a musical gumbo that incorporates New Orleans soul, middle Americana roots, Delta blues and New York City swagger. Jamie McLean Band is a triple threat. The group’s energetic and captivating live show is undeniable. McLean’s fiery guitar has joined the ranks of Derek Trucks, Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John and more on stages from from Madison Square Garden to Japan’s Fuji Rock. His blue eyed southern soul vocals ooze real emotion. And his top line songwriting chops have crafted profound, honest and heartfelt songs that will keep you singing along, dancing along and feeling like the song was written about you.Jamie McLean Band is touring behind a fantastic new album “One Step Forward” on Harmonized Records. The album was recorded at the legendary Grand Street Studios in Brooklyn NY and features the band’s strongest and most mainstream songwriting to date. It also marks the return of original JMB member Jon Solo on keyboards! “Summer of Who Knows When” is an immediate summer anthem. “Calendar Girl” and “New York Penny Lane” are musical love letters. And the band kicks into full gear on “Too Little Too Late” and “I Believe In Love”!The live show is where Jamie McLean Band excels and the band has shared the stage with the likes of Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty, Los Lobos, Blues Traveler, Marc Broussard and many more. Jamie Mclean Band has appeared at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Targhee Fest, Okeechobee Fest, Ottawa Blues Fest, Quebec City Summer Fest, and Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam to name a few. McLean has also enjoyed the sponsorship of Gibson Guitars, Fuchs ”McLean and company ooze drops of southernroots rock, blues, R&B, funk and soul out ofevery note… the rock & roll swagger of theRolling Stones combined with thesongwritingprowess of Ryan Adams.”- Jambase “Jamie McLean Band is completely original and completely fabulous… The live version of this band is a three- dimensional experience not to be missed” – Hittin TheNoteAmplifiers, D’Addario Strings, BlueMicrophones, John Varvatos andEsquire Magazine.Don’t miss their amazing live setwhen they roll into a town near you!

Harvey Street w/ The Wreck

“Indie and alternative rock vibrations crafted with love and diligence” Harvey Street is derived from both alt/indie inspiration and the southern rhythms surrounding its members since birth. Formed in the summer of 2021, Harvey Street quickly became a staple of the North Carolina music scene. Described as “disciplined electricity,” songs such as “Irish Goodbye” and “Betty” became instant favorites in their hometown of Raleigh, NC. Through the release of their debut EP “Gone for a While,” Harvey Street cultivated a sound resonating with show-goers and music-lovers throughout the Southeast. In addition to playing sold-out shows alongside Futurebirds, The Stews, Arcy Drive, Susto, Daniel Donato and more, the band embarked on their first headline tour in January of 2024. With their new EP “Great Escape” and corresponding summer 2024 tour, Harvey Street is steadily expanding on the sound and fan base that they’ve developed over the past 3 years.

The Deluge with Hunter McBride

Bri Bagwell + Wheelwright

Texas Female Artist of the Decade, Bri Bagwell, is a force to be reckoned with from her rousingly fun live performances to trailblazing recordings garnering her twelve #1 singles on Texas Country Radio and counting. With multiple Female Vocalist of the Year awards, Bri is making waves with her music drawing national attention. People Magazine raves, “Bagwell increasingly finds her name being mentioned amongst country music truth-tellers such as and .” Her latest album, Corazón y Cabeza (Heart and Head), has already spawned three #1 singles, “Trenches,” “Free Man,” and “Hello Highway,” the latter inspiring her summer tour across 10 states and Mexico. Performing 150 shows a year, Bri has shared the stage with a long list of artists, including Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Robert Earl Keen, Kacey Musgraves, and Dwight Yoakam. Catch Bri Bagwell live on tour or listen to her latest podcast, ONLY VANS, at www.bribagwell.com. W/ Wheelwright

Will Overman + William Matheny

Will Overman’s music can be best described as a combination of Rock, Country, and Americana, but it’s not your typical Country-Americana sound. Sonically it is restless by nature, always searching for something new, and with Will’s heart-worn lyrics and dynamic vocal delivery, it makes for a memorable mixture that is hard to place but easy to love. William Matheny is a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist from West Virginia.

Royal Cab Co

Thomas Royal’s 25-year endeavor of creating experimental lo-fi pop noir, producing various EPs and albums like “The Age of the Average” in 2023, evolved into Royal Cab Co. This transformation happened in 2023 through regular music sessions with friends, leading to the establishment of a six-member band. Royal Cab Co’s music is eclectic, blending influences across genres and periods. Imagine The Heartbreakers performing Replacements tracks, Wilco abandoning Country for Yacht Rock, The Jayhawks covering The Cure, Bill Callahan and Bill Frisell, Glenn Campbell and Glenn Tipton. You get the gist. Royal Cab Co, Thomas Royal, Rhett McAllister, and Jason Blalock on guitar and vocals, Hank Royal on keys, Todd Sizer on bass, and Jutin Horth on drums, amalgamates nearly a century of musical experience. These folks have amassed thousands of performances across various bands, contributing to their rich, eclectic sound. Their collaboration results in a diverse musical tapestry, characterized by its uniqueness and influences that are left of the dial, finding normalcy in the unconventional and indie side of music. Their collective journey in music spans different genres and eras, resulting in a sound that is both seasoned and exploratory. An all-new Neo Dad Rock movement is here; defiantly maximalist and nostalgic – not a genre, but a catch-all term for anything you can get away with in the car that might offend but won’t annoy the wife and kids.

The Wilson Springs Hotel + Conrad Moore

Homegrown in the rich music scene of Virginia, Wilson Springs Hotel is a band brought together under a genreless flag; A folk band committed to rock and roll, and a rock band committed to classic country. After forming in 2021, Jacob Ritter (guitar/songwriter/lead vocals), Victor McManus (lead guitar), Brendan Boylan (fiddle), Sebastien Richard (drums) and Andrew Carper (bass), released two albums in quick succession and are once again releasing new music in 2024. Their first single “Pulling Weeds”, available now, explores the struggle with repetitive mental loops, like attempting to get nutrients out of the same spent garden. Their new songs are a split between a classic country, and a more rock influenced sound, finding the band still unwilling to conform to a single genre, and instead celebrating the many influences that brought them to where they are today. Conrad Moore is a North Georgia native singer-songwriter who captures the soul of the working southern man. His songs have roots in folk storytelling which nod to the ups and downs of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. All washed in hints of booze, half-truths, and motel rooms. His lyrics personify Mother Nature and her dance with Appalachia. The human condition and blue-collar woes are often his muses. Although his songs have no shortage of heartbreak and day to day strife. Conrad produces a relatable angst of a generation growing up within the confines of a flawed American dream. Not without hope, his music shares with us what’s left to save about the southland.

Genre: Concerts