Abigail Dowd’s Singer/Songwriter Series Featuring Drew Foust, Stephen Murray, and Tyler Nail
DREW FOUST – 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. His latest release, “Good Thing,” is inspired by old school-southern soul music. STEPHEN MURRAY – Stephen Murray is a Canadian born Singer Songwriter. He formed the Greensboro based 7 piece rocknroll band Holy Ghost Tent Revival in 2007. He now resides in Southwest Virginia, performing and recording solo. His songs reflect his journey of love, loss, betrayal and recovery from addiction. American singer Tyler Nail is a compelling performer who combines the sounds of Country, Americana, and Folk music with ease. The North Carolina artist has established himself as a major player in the music business with his poetic lyrics and stellar vocals. Informed by the rich history of American roots music, Nail adds a genuine and unadulterated feel to his tunes. His ability to relate stories carries the audience to a place where longing, love, and sorrow are all intertwined. Nail possesses a unique capacity to establish a strong emotional connection with his audience.
William Hinson Live! At The Flat Iron w/ Grey Oakes
Residing at the confluence of indie-pop and singer-songwriter genres, William Hinson, an artist from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, crafts soundscapes that have earned him comparisons to The Beatles, The 1975, and Ed Sheeran. His performances have the verve and charisma of Paul McCartney intertwined with the wit and charm of Steve Martin, creating a uniquely captivating stage presence. His new album “Turn Your Frown Inside Out” is now available.
Jon Shain and FJ Ventre w/ Dean Driver
Durham, NC’s Jon Shain is the 2019 International Blues Challenge winner in the solo duo category. Shain had the good fortune to learn directly from a number of NC’s older blues players, and became a member of Big Boy Henry’s backing band. He got his start playing his own music with NC roots rockers Flyin’ Mice. Jon was a finalist (along with FJ) in the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and the 2008 and 2018 winner of the Triangle Blues Society’s Blues Challenge and 2006 winner of NC’s Indy award for Best Folk Act. He has shared stages with the likes of Keb’ Mo’, John Hiatt, and Jackson Browne. Shain’s newest album, Never Found A Way to Tame the Blues, recorded along with long-time collaborator FJ Ventre was released 2021. FJ Ventre and Jon began playing music together in 1982 when they met in high school. FJ went on to University of Massachusetts-Lowell, earning a B.A. in Music Performance and Sound Recording. He remained in the Boston area, performing in the city’s vibrant music scene. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, Ventre has performed with his own group The Swang Brothers, as well as most of the Triangle’s roots acts. In addition to performing as a sought-after sideman, he spends his time behind the mixing board, engineering at his own Good Luck Studio. With Jon, they have become sought-after producers in the folk/Americana genre, producing several charting Folk and Blues albums in the last few years.
Mo Lowda & The Humble w/ Jive Talk
Mo Lowda & the Humble are a self-produced indie rock band hailing from Philadelphia. The band just finished up their fourth LP, to be self-titled and released March 3, 2023 with five singles leading up. Since releasing their debut album in 2013, they’ve vastly expanded the sonic exploration of their recorded material whilst developing a dialed-in, yet energetic live show through persistent touring. In turn, they’ve built a ravenous and loyal following across the country, selling out clubs and theaters throughout the US each year. Mo Lowda’s upcoming self-titled album is their most versatile and ambitious work yet. It visits some previously uncharted sonic territory for the band, while still providing the thoughtful, creative songwriting their fans have grown to love. **** Hailed as “retro nerd-core supreme mother f*ckers”, Nashville based Jive Talk began making a name for themselves through their high energy live performances. They are known for their anthemic, synth-rock sound and have been featured on Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Apple New Alternative, Sirius XMU and more. Emerging on the live circuit in 2021, they quickly found themselves sharing the stage supporting acts like The Districts, Stephen Sanchez, The Brummies, and more. “Nashville is synonymous with country music, but a new wave of pop is having its moment…avant-guard synth-rock band Jive Talk represent a once-overlooked segment of Music City.” -Rolling Stone
Jamie McLean Band with The Justin Cody Fox 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.
DANCE FROM ABOVE ft. JOHN FM
DANCE FROM ABOVE ft. JOHN FMw/ Niervash, 50ft, Alvin Shavers, RahlSaturday, February 11, 20249pm$12 adv / $15 day of At the close of another long, hot summer of racial reckoning in America, John FM surfaced with a sober collection of songs entitled American Spirit that trace the last five years of his personal and musical journey. John FM describes the album’s minimalist photoshopped album art of an outline of a black music note superimposed over a white backdrop as an act of infiltration. The century spanning history of racial segregation and tension is palpable in American Spirits, represented in the form of loose and lucid parables that decode the surreality of everyday American violence. Having lived in and around the city of Detroit for most of his life, John FM’s songs bridge a structural gap in the city’s musical history that extends from the gospel and early rhythm and blues of Joe Von Battle’s establishment of the “Detroit Sound” in the 1950s, which was disrupted by the enhanced overdubs of Barry Gordy’s Motown Soul in the 1960s to the DIY progressive electronic experiments that would become Detroit techno from 1973-1985. DeForrest Brown, 2021
The Kelli Baker Band w/ Melissa McKinney
Kelli Baker brings a sound unlike any other. With a powerhouse voice dripping with a haunting sensuality that slips easily into growling old school blues-tones, Kelli speaks her heart like a beat poet in a late night dive. The kind you only know if you’re in the know. Her music is an amalgamation of authentic blues/rock and heart-on-her-sleeve singer/songwriter pop with folk/gospel roots. Known in some circles as “The Phoenix”, Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York in 2012. Now performing with The Kelli Baker Band, she appears regularly at iconic music houses such as NYC’s The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, and more. The Kelli Baker Band kicked off their East Coast tour in July of 2022. Kelli has swiftly moved through the ranks of New York’s bristling music scene to become a known name. . She has been featured on Guitar Girl Mag, Brooklyn Vegan, Broadway World, NYC.Com, Better Lemons, and Faces of Long Island, as well as many other international and national outlets. Kelli delivers a commanding performance and has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Chris Cornell, Susan Tedeschi, and Aretha Franklin. Her dynamic blues tones and gospel nods have been called a kind of ethereal blues. Her major influences are The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.**Melissa is the lead singer of Mama & The Ruckus, a resident artist with LEAF Global Arts, the co-founder of Women to the Front Music Festival, a board member of AVLFest, the director of The One Voice Project, and a small business owner. Recently she advanced to the finals of the International Blues competition in Memphis and was rewarded the opportunity to sing at the historic Orpheum Theatre.
The Kelli Baker Band w/ TBA
Kelli Baker brings a sound unlike any other. With a powerhouse voice dripping with a haunting sensuality that slips easily into growling old school blues-tones, Kelli speaks her heart like a beat poet in a late night dive. The kind you only know if you’re in the know. Her music is an amalgamation of authentic blues/rock and heart-on-her-sleeve singer/songwriter pop with folk/gospel roots. Known in some circles as “The Phoenix”, Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York in 2012. Now performing with The Kelli Baker Band, she appears regularly at iconic music houses such as NYC’s The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, and more. The Kelli Baker Band kicked off their East Coast tour in July of 2022. Kelli has swiftly moved through the ranks of New York’s bristling music scene to become a known name. . She has been featured on Guitar Girl Mag, Brooklyn Vegan, Broadway World, NYC.Com, Better Lemons, and Faces of Long Island, as well as many other international and national outlets. Kelli delivers a commanding performance and has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Chris Cornell, Susan Tedeschi, and Aretha Franklin. Her dynamic blues tones and gospel nods have been called a kind of ethereal blues. Her major influences are The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.**
Too Phat Brass Band
Too Phat Brass Band is a high-powered second line brass band based in Greensboro, North Carolina that brings the vibrant energy and spirit of New Orleans’ second line parades and music to audiences around North Carolina and beyond. Too Phat Brass Band is a diverse group of talented musicians who share a passion for honoring and celebrating the rich cultural traditions of New Orleans. With a repertoire that spans everything from traditional brass band music to jazz, funk, and hip-hop, Too Phat Brass Band is known for their ability to get audiences up and moving. With lineups ranging from five to twelve-piece ensembles, whether performing at festivals, weddings, or corporate events, the band’s high-energy shows are always a crowd-pleaser. For booking and info, email toophatbrass@gmail.com
Reese McHenry + Wild Roots Rising
Reese McHenry came up swinging in Northern Minnesota and she didn’t sit still for very long. A true troubadour, her powerful voice has driven her from the fresh greens of Eau Claire to the dusty motels of Albuquerque and everywhere in between. Since settling in North Carolina, this prolific songwriter and jagged performer has lent her fire and talent to a number of recording projects and now turns her attention to her own damn show. Her songs defy genre and, though one could still categorize them as straight-shooting “rock,” the real thread connecting these songs is a wry brand of humor mixed with an ability to catch a hook at just the right moment. McHenry’s true signature, of course, is her emotive blues voice that can change at any moment from soft sweetness to a torrential downpour. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Wild Roots Rising is an indie folk band based in the Southeast United States. It is led by songwriters, vocalists, and instrumentalists Julia Houghton and Olivia Moore. Their music is described as a classical-folk fusion; unique arrangements and complex harmonies, combined with acoustic instruments and meaningful lyrics.
