Eli Fribush Experiment w/ Mystic Syndicate
Eli is a multi-instrumentalist who grew up in Greensboro, NC and received a Bachelor in Music from Loyola University in New Orleans. He specializes in saxophone and music production. Eli began playing drums at age 6 along side his talented brother. After discovering hip-hop and neo-soul, Eli began to develop a unique identity on the saxophone. He is currently working on his first full length album and continues to work with many different artists, including Charlie Hunter and Joe Troop.w/ Mystic Syndicate’s debut performance!
Late Notice w/ Sweet Dream
Late Notice began on a whim during the summer of 2021 and has continued cultivating the crowds of North Carolina with their unique blend of rock, funk, hip hop, and blues. With influences ranging from the catchy melodies of The Black Keys and the smooth sound of Anderson .Paak, Late Notice is bringing a fresh sound to the Triangle. The group consists of 6 members: Aidan Flynn on vocals, Chandler Kosterman on lead guitar and vocals, Emerson Bruno on rhythm guitar and vocals, Madi Schoninger on drums, Yates Weaver and keys and vocals, and Jared Marino on bass. The high energy 6 pieces’ 3 debut singles, “Breathing Black”, “Hard to Follow”, and “Snowball” can be heard on all streaming platforms. They are currently in the works on recording and releasing more original sounds. Beyond the music, the band is composed of a group of best friends and their love for each other shows during their insanely fun live performances.Sweet Dream is a North Carolina based band. In the studio, band leader Julian Creech-Pritchett writes, records, and produces everything. In live performances, he brings in jazz musicians to give the music a fresh sound every time they play. Currently in the line up are Ramon Garcia on bass/bass synth, Xavier Ware on percussion, and Julian on lead guitar/vocals. You can follow Sweet Dream on all social media @sweetdreamband.
The Lubben Brothers w/ Logan Duke
Triplets and high-energy acoustic musicians from the farmlands of Iowa, The Lubben Brothers specialize in tight vocal harmonies and an eclectic blend of folk instruments involving banjo, mandolin, tin whistle, accordion, hammered dulcimer, and fiddle. Diving into classical music at a young age, their modern songwriting style merges their folk roots with complex pop ideas. The Brothers have soloed at venues ranging from South Florida’s Meyer Amphitheater and Broward Center for the Performing Arts, to The Gardens Hockey Arena of Northern Minnesota. Their music has aired on radio stations across the United States, while they have developed a committed, grassroots following in their current state of Florida; as one reviewer put it: “The Lubben Brothers are to Florida as the Lumineers are to Denver, Colorado” (Maritza Cosano, West Palm Beach Magazine). Music by the Lubben Brothers was chosen as an encore for NPR’s “Live from Here” with Chris Thile, and featured in Netflix’s premiere film of the 2021 Christmas season, “Love Hard.” Composers as well as musicians, the Lubben Brothers have written multiple musicals, and actively record, write, and release new music when not performing on the road.
DUCK w/ J. Timber
Duck started in 2016 as 5 great friends in Raleigh, NC enjoyed weekend jam sessions together. Inevitably those sessions transferred into writing music and playing house parties. As the word spread about this new local band playing funky, soulful, bluesy tunes, Duck began booking gigs at venues around North Carolina and sharing their passion for making crowds boogie to their upbeat funky sound. In 2021, with the addition of Donnie Tyree on vocals, Duck has found their groove both performing and writing originals with a solid assembly of talent: Donnie Tyree on vocals, Mike Swartz on guitar, Chuck Rhew on keys, Chris Holloway on bass and Fred Dees on drums and electric washboard. All band members participate in writing music and lyrics. Their most recent EP, MOVES, recorded in Raleigh, NC fall of 2022 can be found on all streaming services.
Deaf Andrews with Galloway
Dead Andrews with Galloway, Live at Flat Iron!July 8, 2023Doors 7:30pm$10 Conceived in the daydreams of adolescence, Deaf Andrews is more than a collection of passionate musicians. It is the product of five long-time friends making music that means something to them, and hopefully anyone else listening. Consisting of Nick Hayes (Vocals), Mike Sherrard (guitar), Ross Schumann (bass), Andrew Kingsley (guitar) and Braedon Nelson (drums), the group has blossomed from their roots, into a unique sonic flower of indie pop rock. From their 2019 single, “Justified” to their debut album “Saturday on Saturn”, Deaf Andrews has continued to push the limits of their creativity and emotional tuneness. Making it a priority to capture some of the magic energy that fuels their live shows, the sound is organic, direct, and channels the essence of true rock and roll while also exploring the experimental freedom of modern indie pop. “Saturday On Saturn” strives to capture the human element that makes music so special. Focusing on themes of escapism, mental sanity, and personal relationships, there is something very genuine about the songwriting on this release because it borrows from personal experience while also connecting with the audience in an infectious way. Deaf Andrews is based out of Charlotte, NC and is actively booking for 2023. “Saturday On Saturn” is available on all streaming platforms. w/ Galloway Galloway — comprised of Lawson Galloway (vocals), Robert Redfield (guitar), Travis Hayes (guitar/keys), Sam Huntley (Guitar), Nick Williams (bass/keys), and Daniel Crump (drums) — is an alternative pop band based out of Boone, NC, that combines aspects of pop, rock, indie, and alternative music, striving to deliver songs that are rife with memorable, well-crafted instrumentals, smooth and vibrant vocals, and lyrics about love, mental health, queerness, and existentialism.
AFIKA presents KATABASIS
As a sought-after professional in a long list of creative crafts—bass player, performer, recording artist, songwriter, and even educator—Afika is crafting a career as multifaceted and unique as he is. After being selected as a guest talent on season 1 of NBC’s SongLand, the published songwriter and international artist was featured alongside the Oscar-nominated film Judas and the Black Messiah with his power pop Kanye-meets-Kendrick-esque anthem “Chosen,” which he followed up with an EP of the same name under the EMPIRE label group. Today, Afika hones his songwriting and artistry craft by experimenting with the songwriting world’s most elite expressive echelon: country music and Americana.KATABASIS is Afika’s tour-de-force foray into a one-man-show style of award-winning songwriting and epic storytelling. With his signature wit and irreverence, Afika takes listeners on a journey through the biblical book of Genesis, using his original songs as a lens through which to explore the timeless themes of creation, temptation, and redemption. Expect a potent blend of humor and pathos, a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable, and a performance that is both poignant and cathartic. For fans of: Frank Ocean, Joy Oladokun, Leon Bridges, Coldplay, Kendrick LamarPress:Triad City Beat: https://triad-city-beat.com/afika-nxumalo/Oh! Henry Magazine: https://www.ohenrymag.com/all-roads-lead-home/Instagram: https://instagram.com/__afika__?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Josh Morningstar with Brother Wilson
A curious and fresh combination of grit and humor, Josh Morningstar is knocking down stereotypes everywhere he goes with his worn boots and unforgettable raspy voice. Growing up outside of Baltimore, Maryland, he carries those roots in a suitcase with him everywhere he goes. His small-town charm is evident in the way he greets people, and in the conversational way that he weaves the stories of his life into his music. Named 2018 Texas Radio Songwriter of the Year, he and his Kristofferson signed guitar have knocked out melodies in dark clubs and dingy hotels all across the country. He’s written songs alongside Kendell Marvel, Channing Wilson, Autumn McEntire, and many more. Morningstar was also the writer of several Cody Jinks songs, including his #1 hits “Must Be The Whiskey” and “Ain’t A Train.” His lyrics force listeners to sit up and pay attention, and his songs are always full of truth-bearing stories. The familial connection Morningstar forges with people continues long after his shows are over. Josh Morningstar has shared the stage with some of today’s most sought after folk and country artists, including Shooter Jennings, Cody Jinks, Tyler Childers, Todd Snider, Colter Wall, and Ward Davis. Morningstar continues to lead the charge on the front lines of a new wave of country music – one full of soulful honesty, the familiar and true twang of an old guitar, and provoking melodies.
Kind Hearted Strangers with Pocket Strange
Hailing from all corners of the country, Kind Hearted Strangers began in the foothills of Colorado – where an impromptu open mic performance by songwriter Marc Townes quickly evolved into something much bigger. With genre bending improvisations from lead guitarist Kevin Hinder and bassist/vocalist Ace Engfer, KHS has become a dynamic full band capable of bridging the gap between all out rock n’ roll and their harmony-driven acoustic roots. The addition of drummer Eggy Gorman has seen the band grow into a road-driven force, hungry for live music, delivering high-energy rock shows across the country. The debut record “East // West” (2021) explores both the sonic & stylistic origins of the band while giving listeners a taste of the group’s diverse influences. Out April 7th, 2023 – the band’s 2nd LP entitled “Now.here” features a collaboration with visual artist/painter Dylan Lynch. This immersive project found the band working in a shared Richmond, VA warehouse space for 5 days. With no prepared material, the artists intentionally put pressure on themselves to create and deliver a Live Concert & Art Exhibition at the end of the week. The resulting album contains brand new material that was recorded live with the same raw energy and passion KHS has been delivering across the country during their busiest year of touring to date.
Jeremie Albino w/ Benjamin Dakota Rogers
Jeremie Albino’s grainy ballads are inflected with a joyous tenor that has found him a distinct space in the world of Americana, folk, blues, and country. Reimagining the image of the lonesome wanderer, his music is rooted in the instant when everyone in a room experiences the same moment in a multitude of different ways—embodying solitude and connection all at once. Starting out playing late night gig slots, Jeremie’s rigour has landed him a blossoming touring career. Garnering attention from the community and press alike, he’s heralded as “a true resurgence of the most authentic blues brought to life through the eyes of a modern and young, but old-soul artist ” (American Songwriter) and “the next in line of emotive band leaders that project soul and directness atop a head turning sound” (Glide Magazine).His forthcoming album, Tears You Hide (2023), produced by Jeremie’s long time collaborator and manager Crispin Day, is a memento to family, resilience, and the road ahead. Three years in the making, the rickety footstomping, and lilting stories inherent to Albino’s sound remains, yet the narrative has shifted slightly. Tears You Hide troubles the romanticization of the past by cherishing the present, stringing a narrative where connection, resolve, and vulnerability are distilled in an unfiltered amount of gratitude.Benjamin Dakota Rogers wields one of those distinct, immediate, and truly wild voices. With a studied nod to old-time and bluegrass rhythms, his unvarnished sound effectively smashes the barrier between past and present.Delivering songs from a deep well of passion for storytelling, Rogers’ lyric sensibility is rare among young artists. His most recent single, John Came Home, is a haunting take on the murder ballad. “I’d had the riff for about six months,” he says. “I tend to write short stories and convert them into songs.” John Came Home is full of upbeat boldness and ghostly ire that culminates in a direct hit to the chest.Rogers finds a way to match his instrument to the guttural twang of the voice. “I inherited my great-grandfather’s violin when I was young,” he says. “So I grew up playing that.” After a few years on six-string, Rogers began tuning his tenor guitar like a fiddle. “Tenors are neat because they were only popular for a short time in the 1920s. I’ve played about two-hundred shows on mine. It’s beautiful, and unreliable,” he laughs. The unconventional nature of such a classic piece shines on Charlie Boy, where precise picking builds to a dramatic peak. With sturdy backing by a sparse rhythm section,Rogers offers a fresh and authentic contribution to the traditions of string-band sound.
Colby T. Helms
At the bottom of the Southwest Virginia foothills, in Franklin County, south of Roanoke, about a half-mile from the nearest neighbor, Colby T. Helms resides in an underground house built by his late father. He chops wood daily for the stove, hunts, and takes care of his mom. He also pens raw and real storytelling music that cuts to the bone. Colbysuffered the loss of his dad to cancer when he was only 12 years old. Beset by sadness and loneliness, he turned to music. He taught himself guitar, banjo, and mandolin by watching local performers and videos. He amassed a growing record collection, combing through the stacks at flea markets and browsing online. He began to perform countless gigs around the area with his band, The Virginia Creepers. He also shared a series of performance videos on YouTube. Colby’s honest songwriting, raw vocals and talented guitar licks began turning heads, and with a debut album on the not-too-distant horizon, it won’t be long before the music world takes notice of Colby T. Helms.
