R.R. Williams, Bob Fleming, and Ryan Lockhart
Abigail Dowd’s Songwriter Series featuring: Abigail Dowd, Jonathan Byrd, and Alexa Rose
JONATHAN BYRD: Jonathan Byrd is a preacher’s kid, Gulf War veteran, and award-winning songwriter with a near-cult following. With twenty plus years of touring and over a dozen albums, Byrd’s deceptively simple, working-class songs have become campfire standards and crowd favorites for artists like Sam Bush and Tim O’Brien. A Jonathan Byrd show will take audiences on a journey from hell-raising sing-alongs to heart-wrenching ballads and back across the backroads of his native North Carolina. A lifelong collaborator and innovator, Jonathan Byrd’s latest project is Song Miners, a project to not only write and release new songs, but also to teach others how it’s done. Leading powerful online songwriting workshops and creating free songwriting education for social media, Byrd seems on a mission to fill the world with great songs- not least, his own. Not to be missed. ALEXA ROSE: Alexa Rose was born in the Alleghany Highlands of western Virginia, raised in the tiny railroad town of Clifton Forge. Though no one in her immediate family played or sang, she inherited a deep musical legacy. That sense of place and storytelling spirit became woven into Rose’s voice and songwriting. In 2019, she released her debut album Medicine For Living, the title track of which won Merlefest’s revered Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Her 2021 follow up Headwaters garnered national attention from American Songwriter and Rolling Stone, among others. Rose wrote most of the album in the early stages of the pandemic, which she astutely characterizes as having “that weird lucid feeling of not-time.” Perhaps following in the steps of her great grandfather, Rose’s songs feel like oil paint landscapes of her own life in the mountains, often wringing out the beauty in mundanity and exploring timeless topics. Her earnest, well crafted stylings are a multi-layered merger of old country music and traditional folk songs, colored by rock and roll and mountain soul. ABIGAIL DOWD: singer/songwriter/guitarist AND host of the songwriter series, Abigail is grew up under the longleaf pines of North Carolina and comes from a long line of musicians. Known for her storytelling and command of an audience, she has been called “a writer of the highest caliber” (All Scene Eye). Her soulful voice and unique classical guitar style have been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as “The guitar-driven introspective folk of the 1970s is a touchstone, but so are blues and roots rock ’n’ roll.”
The Justin Cody Fox Band
Justin Cody Fox is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Wilmington, NC. Justin gained regionalnotoriety for his guitar skills at the age of 15 and has been performing professionally since then. Over theyears Justin has written and recorded multiple albums and toured up and down the east coast and VirginIslands, sharing the stage with many great national acts including: Damon Johnson (Brother Cane, AliceCooper, Whiskey Falls, Thin Lizzy) Vince Neil (Motley Crue) Mother’s Finest, David Lee Roth (VanHalen), Blackfoot, Cowboy Mouth, Joe Bonamassa, Frank Bangs (Buddy Guy) American Minor, TheSteepwater Band, The Trews, Will Hoge, Hubert Sumlin, Sonny Landruth, Chris Duarte, Zoso, LynyrdSkynyrd, Three Doors Down, Rusted Root, Candlebox, Marshall Tucker Band, Shooter Jennings,Blackberry Smoke, Buddy Guy, Gregg Allman Tab Benoit, Donna the Buffalo, Audley Freed, FordThurston and many others.Justin signed with Spectra Music Group in 2017 to release his sophomore album “Go DownSwinging”. Justin’s latest singles are a well balanced showcase of smart songwriting and polishedmusicianship For his latest group of recordings Justin teamed up with Legendary Guitarist Audley Freedto record what would be known as the “Three Days in Nashville” EP. The project was Produced by Mr.Freed and enlisted the Allstar talents of Audley himself(guitars), Robert kearns(Bass/Vocals), JenGunderman(Keys) and Fred Eltringham(Drums)
Sam Fribush and Friends (NC Folk Festival After Party|Night Two
Keyboardist Sam Fribush is on the frontlines of the Hammond organ revival. Hisdebut release, Riverboat and the Root, was produced by Charlie Hunter andrecorded over quarantine in North Carolina. In 2024, Fribush released his secondcritically acclaimed record People Please. Fribush became a member of HissGolden Messenger in 2021. Currently based in Greensboro, NC, Fribush hasbrought his fonky, soulful vibe home to the town where he was born and raised.Over the past few years, Fribush has established himself as one of the country’s hottest youngbandleaders and People Please pushes the keyboardist’s music into new and unchartedterritory, revealing a deep affinity for crispy, wah-wah driven funk, Hip-hop beats and sultryHAMMOND ballads. Says Fribush, “My intention is to take this music into the future. I’m trying toexpand the rules about what organ trio music is.” Indeed, the album places Fribush’s music notonly among the giants of soul jazz–Ronnie Foster, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Larry Young–but also in thepantheon of funkateers like Sly Stone and the Meters. Throughout the album, Fribush is joinedby frequent collaborator Charlie Hunter–a guitarist who has been an instrumental part of musicculture since the late 90s –and North Carolina allstar Calvin Napper (the drummer in Maze feat.Frankie Beverly for the past 13 years), Xavier Lynn and Nick Falk. But even among hishigh-caliber guests, keyboardist and composer Sam Fribush remains the star of the show.
Kill The Buddha, Owen Fitzgerald, and Creekbed
George Huntley (of The Connells) with special guest Darren Jessee (Ben Folds Five/Hotel Lights)
George Huntley is bringing his songs back to the stage with his All-Star band consisting of Scott Carle (Dillon Fence), Andrew Branan (Cage Bird Fancier), Tom Mills (Johnny Folsom 4) and Alex Lawhon (The Roman Spring). Hailing from Raleigh, George Huntley is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist best known as a member of the Connells from 1985 to 2003 during their heyday. Huntley played both lead guitar and keyboards in the band, often switching between both during the same song. He also wrote and sang lead vocals on numerous Connells songs such as “Sal,” Home Today,” and “Doin’ You.” (CLICK SONG TITLE FOR VIDEO) In 1996, he released his first and only solo album entitled, “Brainjunk.” George is currently in the studio with producer Ryan Pickett(My Morning Jacket) working on his first release in over 28 years. When not playing or recording music Huntley owns and operates a residential real estate firm called Huntley Realty LLC. Quote from George about the band. “As a musician it a pure joy to work with some of the best players around. Performing with Scott, Andrew, Tom, and Alex brings any show to the next level,” said Huntley. For someone as soft-spoken as North Carolina-based songwriter Darren Jessee, it might come as a surprise to learn that he has a gold record (in storage somewhere), a platinum record (“I never called them to get it”), and was part of a recent Grammy win (“someone told me they would mail me a certificate if I wanted…”). For years, though, he’s managed that almost impossible feat of remaining both ubiquitous and out of the spotlight at once.
NC Folk Fest after party|Night One|Featuring: The Keith Allen Circus
The Keith Allen Circus is exactly what it sounds like. A high flying, death defying, trapeze act of sound led by multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer and ringmaster, Keith Allen! with Kevin Purcell (Drums/Keyboards) and James Harris (Bass) The original music blends styles of dark rock and jam (Pink Floyd & Widespread Panic), and catchy psychedelic electro-pop (Gorillaz & Tame Impala) with Keith’s own unique compositional and improvisational style, developed from 20 years on the road with his previous band,The Mantras.
99.9 The Z Showcase ft. American Death Cult, Get Back, and Crushing Quiet
99.9 “The Z” presents our second Showcase ever and our very first one in Greensboro with a stacked line-up we know you’re going to love! Oh, and bonus…? It’s an ALL-GSO ROCK SHOW! It’s the spooky-rock sensation from our very first interview, themselves! American Death Cult! The resident experts of the rock n’ roll groove! You may have heard of them recently? It’s Get Back! And, playing The Flat Iron for the very first time! The masters of melody! It’s Crushing Quiet! It’s going to be an awesome show! You’re gonna wanna get your tickets early for this one! 99.9 Staff will be on-site, as well! So you can hang with the crew if you happen to catch us in a free moment, bands will have merch for sale and be hanging out, as well, between sets – plus! There’s alcohol! (For the 21+ folk!) So get your tickets in advance, or at the door (if you’re lazy like us and you, too, like to live dangerously) and come out and jam with us! It just might be the best Thursday night plans you’ve had lately! August 1st! The Flat Iron! Be there! Your friends! The 99″
Singer Songwriter Series (hosted by Abigail Dowd) ft: Abigail Dowd, Tanner Bingaman, and Dustin Gaspard
Tanner Bingaman -Tanner Bingaman is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, poet, and producer from rural Pennsylvania. He spends his time foraging writhing folk art from the hills of Appalachia. Tanner’s songs are an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink gumbo, with explorations ranging from poignant punk melodies to rapturous and uncanny instrumental meditations, oftentimes finding himself perplexed by the task of coming down from yet another improvisational meandering. He prefers barefoot walking and once saved the family dog from a rattlesnake. Tanner has been happily featured on NPR stations throughout Pennsylvania, and he has shared stages with some of his favorite songwriters including Charlie Parr, Darrin Hacquard, and Sam Bailey. In 2021, Tanner was awarded Emerging Artist of the Year by the Susquehanna Folk Music Society, and in 2023, Tanner played his first international feature with his New Zealand family of musicians, raising funds for flood-relief efforts on the North Island. He is currently playing shows all over the Lower 48. Tanner is an active member of the duo Tanjo & Crow, as well as fronting his live performance and recording project Tanner Bingaman’s Pretty Big Garden. The debut record from Tanner Bingaman’s Pretty Big Garden, Everything & Nothing is slated for release this 2024. After 10 years of performing throughout the deep Southern Gulf Coast of the USA, Gaspard released his full length debut album “Hoping Heaven Got A Kitchen” in March 2022. His blend of Americana, Soul, Folk and Roots gained Grammy consideration for: Best American Roots Performance, Grammy American Roots Song and Best Americana Album. Written for his grandparents, the record is a “prayer to his home” and delivers an intimate insight into the Cajun native’s varying influences. Gaspard’s latest project “Avec Le Courrant” is a banjo driven bilingual story album detailing the journey of his Acadian ancestors and their exile. This all new original work will once again combine Americana with varying genres including traditional folk, blues and contemporary songwriter elements, while heavily utilizing the Cajun French language. It is his intent to tour up the coast of North America at the end of Summer 2024 and return the songs to their original place of origin Nova Scotia. singer/songwriter/guitarist AND host of the songwriter series, Abigail is grew up under the longleaf pines of North Carolina and comes from a long line of musicians. Known for her storytelling and command of an audience, she has been called “a writer of the highest caliber” (All Scene Eye). Her soulful voice and unique classical guitar style have been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as “The guitar-driven introspective folk of the 1970s is a touchstone, but so are blues and roots rock ’n’ roll.”
ICARUS
