Brandon Tenney with Porcelain Lovecraft
Joe Kaplow with The Turkey Buzzards
Up until now it was easy for California based songwriter Joe Kaplow to be pushed along. At eight he was getting screamed at by Uncle Jim for playing out of time. A few years later found him passing almost every single after school evening getting stoned and jamming with his band in Bondar’s basement. Years later he was studying music at college and having to sink or swim in the sea of talent crowding Boston streets and finally, for the past 5 years, plugging his amp into the outlet of American music heritage, driving around and playing shows in bars, clubs, and coffeeshops while figuring out along the way that CDs are lame and that booking pitches should be concise. It was almost like there wasn’t time to stop and think. Recently, it seems like all he does is think. When all the momentum, all the plans, all the validation, all the adventure, and all the money just stop; when the pushing stops, one may find themselves asking, “Why am I doing this?” An underdog without an over-dog is just a dog. Kaplow describes music as his “currency for life. We all have something, or a few things that we do, we work at, we commit to and that’s how we pay for our time here. It’s like life is a Ferris wheel at the county fair. You can’t just ride all night. Every 4 times around you have to stop at the bottom and pay for another half hour or whatever.”
The Finns
The Finns are back!
Open Mic
(Flat Fest) In The Beat Of The Night presents: 50 Years of Hip-Hop
Ranford Almond Band ALBUM RELEASE PARTY With HedCase (Casey Cranford + Chris Hedrick)
Bringing the soul from Greensboro, North Carolina, Ranford Almond is a young singer/songwriter and troubadour that has begun to make his mark across the Southeast. Raspy fresh vocals meet the Appalachian strings of Ranford’s acoustic guitar, reminiscent of John Prine, and Towns Van Zandt with his own unique stamp. Furthermore, his talent extends far beyond composition and strumming, as he is a warrior on the electric as well. Ranford plays as a solo artist and leads a full band. Ranford Almond’s debut EP entitled Back Burner, which is available on all streaming platforms and highlights his songwriting and arranging abilities. His forthcoming full length debut ‘Old Soul’ is due to arrive in 2023, and demonstrates the evolution of Almond’s ability as he grows as both a writer, arranger, and player. The album, recorded at Ovation Sound, will feature a litany of nationally recognized guests, as well as the tutelage of its producer, Bill Stevens. To find Back Burner and additional high quality digital content your preferred platform click here follow this link- https://linktr.ee/ranfordalmond In addition to Almond’s studio explorations, his live history is evident of his growth on stage. Spreading beyond its home of the Piedmont Triad, it has begun to meet new stages and audiences. Festival appearances include Mountain Music Festival, Shakori Hills, The New River Gorge Festival, The Big What?, Trail Days, The Casual Campout, and more. Other notable stand alone plays include headlining the grand opening of The Flat Iron, appearing under the lights on the big screen of Winston Salem’s Drive In, a feature and headlining appearance of the North Carolina’s “Writer’s In The Round” series and its live counterpart Singers & Songbirds. As of Winter 2023, Almond made his Colorado debut as a solo artist in Steamboat Springs, following his prior guest appearances with Big Something in the region. Ranford’s live collaborative projects link him to significant established talent as well. Red Panda is a six piece unit that sees him join forces with the likes of Nick MacDaniels with whom he also shares a duo, and Jesse Hensley, both of Big Something. He can be found fronting another all star style band with Casey Cranford (Big Something), Daniel Yount (Super Yamba Band), and Seth Barden, the latter two staples of the New York City scene. “Mature. These days, it is not a term commonly used to describe someone of Ranford Almond’s age. However, with his debut EP, Back Burner, young Ranford displays a maturity in his songwriting that belies his young 21 years of age. Throughout this short journey of folksy tunes, abundant with lyrical depth and emotional songwriting, it can be easy for the listener to mistake these songs as those of a much more rugged and traveled character, grizzled by years of burden and heartbreak.” -Ryan McBrayer, The Jamwich
The Wildwoods w/ falllift
The Wildwoods are an enchanting Folk/Americana trio based in Lincoln, Nebraska, whose flowing songwriting tandem has been praised by Paste Magazine as “focused and charmingly human”. The Wildwoods’ delicate melodies and descriptive lyrics come from nature, love, experiences from the road, and growing up in Nebraska. Comprised of husband and wife team Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), as well as long-time friend Andrew Vaggalis (bass), The Wildwoods draw inspiration from a wide range of influences including the styles of: Watchhouse, The Decemberists, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Peter, Paul, & Mary, Nickel Creek, Joni Mitchell, and Gregory Alan Isakov. The folk/Americana trio work to harmoniously and delicately blend their voices to create a sound so nostalgic that you may find yourself dreaming and longing for those sweet memories from your former days.
Kelsey Waldon with William Matheny
On her new album No Regular Dog, singer/songwriter/guitarist Kelsey Waldon shares a gritty and glorious portrait of living in devotion to your deepest dreams: the brutal self-doubt and unending sacrifice, hard-won wisdom and sudden moments of unimaginable transcendence. Revealing her supreme gift for spinning harsh truths into songs that soothe and brighten the soul, the Kentucky-bred artist ultimately makes an unassailable case for boldly following your heart—a sentiment perfectly encapsulated in No Regular Dog’s raw and radiant title track. No Regular Dog is country to the bone, a songwriter’s album in the tradition of Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, and Waldon’s fellow Kentuckians Loretta Lynn and John Prine—writers steeped in place and emotion, whose songs are so well woven, and feel so natural, that the hard work of writing them is camouflaged.
The Keith Allen Circus
Baked Shrimp
Baked Shrimp, the high-octane progressive fusion trio, has emerged as a young rising powerhouse in the festival circuit. Hailing from Long Island, NY, Jared Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Reill (Bass/Vocals), and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals) showcase their energetic and improvisational talents, transforming their three-piece sound into a symphonic experience. The band had a groundbreaking year in 2022, performing over 120 concerts across the United States and making their debut in Canada. As 2023 unfolds, their success is set to soar even higher. Kicking off the year with an electrifying show supporting the Disco Biscuits, Baked Shrimp embarked on a massive headlining Spring Tour. The trio is also slated to make their festival debuts at prestigious events like Peach Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Strange Creek Camp Out, and Northlands Live. In July, they will take the main stage at their hometown event, the Great South Bay Music Festival, where they will share the spotlight with Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. Baked Shrimp has garnered additional recognition by providing direct support for acclaimed artists such as Pink Talking Fish, Dopapod, Aqueous, Mihali (from Twiddle), and Kung Fu. Notably, the band hosts their own festival in Upstate New York called LonCon, created as a tribute to their most devoted supporter and ambassador, Lon “Conscious” Gellman. LonCon features live music, art, and two nights of camping, and plans are underway to bring the festival back in 2024. Amidst their demanding touring schedule, Baked Shrimp has consistently released new music. Their 2021 album, Conscious, received critical acclaim from media outlets like LiveForLiveMusic, Grateful Web, and The Sound Podcast with Ira Haberman. Following a quick release of the three-disc live album, The Prawno Tapes, Vol. 1, the band returned to the studio to complete their early-2022 release, Pork Etiquette. JamBase’s Release Day Picks featured Pork Etiquette alongside albums by renowned artists such as Vulfpeck, The Weeknd, Lotus, and Cory Wong. Currently, the trio is hard at work in the studio, laying the groundwork for their fourth studio album, set for release in the fall of 2023. With an upcoming nearly 50-date Summer Tour, Baked Shrimp is more prepared than ever to captivate the music world. No longer Long Island’s best-kept secret, they have become the hardest working band in the business, captivating audiences and leaving an indelible impression wherever they go. Baked Shrimp is a secret that simply cannot be kept.
