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.
Scottish Fish
Scottish Fish present a fresh take on traditional and contemporary Scottish and Cape Breton music. Their lively and unique arrangements are woven together from session music handed down from generations of the tradition’s finest players, many of whom they have had the opportunity to share the stage with. These 5 young women have a very long and unique history, starting the band on their own accord at the ages of 8-11, and still together over 10 years later. Now in their late teens and early 20s, their intense chemistry is clear in their performances and music. You won’t be able to keep your toes from tapping and hands from clapping, especially when experiencing their arrangements live.
An Evening w/ Craig Baldwin
An Evening w/ Craig BaldwinLive at Flat IronWednesday, May 31, 2023$10
Illiterate Light w/ Airpark
Illiterate Light thrives on subverting expectations. Though just a duo, the Harrisonburg, Virginia-based singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman along with Nashville, Tennessee-based drummer Jake Cochran make surprisingly pummeling and thoughtful alternative rock. Since the band’s 2015 inception, they’ve intently focused on their unorthodox live show with Cochran standing behind his kit and Gorman playing synth bass with his foot as he sings and strums his guitar. Fiercely egalitarian and independent, the two not only split up songwriting duties and arrangement ideas, they even built bike-powered stages: bringing the fans into the live experience and envisioning a greener future for shows. But with their latest album Sunburned, out January 27 via Thirty Tigers, Gorman and Cochran have turned their attention inward to their songwriting and studio craft. It’s their most fully-realized and ambitious LP yet, one that’s full of immediate songs that update and revolutionize the band’s approach to making music. There are rich keyboard and programmed percussion textures now populating their songs, as well as soaringly anthemic choruses, and hefty doses of fuzz. “On our first record, we were very live-focused and wanted to make sure whatever we were writing was translated in person,” says Gorman. “Without that crutch, we could be more adventurous and take more risks. We definitely weren’t timid in the studio.”
TANTo
An Evening of Jungle, Breaks, Drums & Bass
Jazz Is Led
Jazz Is Led. The name says it all. The groundbreaking music of Led Zeppelin, reimagined with an entirely new approach; Jazz, Funk, Rock, Instrumental.Founded by Charlotte Drummer/Jazz composer, Curtis Wingfield, Jazz Is Led is mesmerizing audiences with its broad crossover appeal. With a wide range of styles, textures, and dynamics (just as Led Zeppelin had) these new takes on old favorites range from high energy, deep funk, Latin, and swing grooves to the most delicate ballads and dirty slow blues. Led Zeppelin‘s improvisational approach at their live shows is well documented, and, Jazz Is Led honors this in great supply with each show being a unique experience for the band and audience.
Kara Grainger
Some people just have music running through their veins. Kara’s music journey has taken her all around the globe. From her inner city beginnings in the town of Balmain, Sydney Australia, she’s since performed and toured in Japan, Indonesia, India, Switzerland, Europe and the USHer soulful vocals and unique style of slide guitar has led her to open the show for renowned artists such as Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, Taj Mahal, MarcCohen and Eric Johnson to name a few.Kara really shines at her live shows where she always gives everything to her performance. With powerful soulful vocals and soaring electric guitar, she always leaves the audience uplifted and inspired.”Living With your Ghost”, released in 2018 through Station House Records reached number # 3 on the American Billboard blues charts.Her latest recording is set to be released September 2023 and is set to be her most honest andpassionate to date. The songs themselves range from swampy slide guitar grooves incorporating universal themes to heartfelt personal ballads, and as always showcasing Kara’s unique fresh approachto blues, Americana, and roots music .After finishing high school in 1994, Kara took to the road together with her brother Mitch in the band “Papa Lips”, the band toured consistently, released 3 albums, the last of which was produced by the legendary Harry Vanda, producer of ACDC and guitarist of The Easybeats.In 2008 Kara relocated to the US where she began working on a solo career. It’s there she co produced her first solo recording “Grand and Green River” . The album remained for 33 weeks on the Americana music charts.The song “Secret Soul” received 1st place at the Independent Acoustic music awards.Since that time kara has recorded and released three further solo albums. LA Blues Blues” in 2010 and “Shiver and Sigh” in 2013 and “Living with Your Ghost” in 2018 ,In 2012 she toured Japan with “The Swampers and Donnie Fritts”, the infamous house Rhythm section from Muscle Shoals…She has performed at festivals all throughout the world from “Lucerne Blues” to “Beautiful swamp and roots” in Calais France, “Maverick Festival” in the UK and many more. One of Kara’s most memorable moments was performing at the International Blues Festival in Jakarta, where she collaborated with an all female band of Indonesian musiciansIn 2022 Kara perfomed to several sold out shows in the UK and was also was invited to perform at the Chateu Annecy in FranceShe’s very excited to return to the UK and Europe once again this year, this time with her bran new album .The new album is set for release in July 2023But the highlight was Aussie soul slinger Kara Grainger, her groove-rooted sound, mean slide guitar and sultry vocals melting hearts and minds, a true delight to see”. – Zaki Zufri, Timbre Rock & Roots Fest (Singapore)
Palmyra w/ Dissimilar South
Established in the Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra explores the fusion of traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies and foot percussion. In 2022, Palmyra made their Newport Folk Festival debut, were named the FloydFest 2022 On The Rise Winner, and performed over 200 tour dates on acclaimed stages up and down the East Coast. The trio captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives, Teddy (he/him), Manoa (he/him), and Sasha (they/them). Palmyra’s songs are intimate and contemplative, with arrangements that allow them to create the illusion of a full, larger-than-three ensemble. The trio’s sound is a nod to Appalachia and Midwestern Americana, apparent through their stirring craftsmanship and dedication to a folk-driven, innovative experience throughout each live performance.w/ Dissimilar SouthBased in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Dissimilar South has been categorized as indie rock, new folk, Americana, and even polished pop-country. Whatever they are, their refreshing sound is characterized by rich instrumentation, honest lyrics and luscious harmonies. Dissimilar South’s core is the musical relationship of Carter Hodge and Maddie Fisher, now a six year affair. Having released their debut EP “Treehouse” in 2019, the band is poised for a delightful full album release in 2021, produced by the Grammy nominated Jason Richmond. Fisher and Hodge bring their songs to life with robust support from some of the best instrumentalists in NC, including Joseph Terrell (Mipso), Alex Bingham (Hiss Golden Messenger), Joe Westerlund (Sylvan Esso, Watchhouse) and Joe McPhail (T.Gold).
