Chessa Rich With Kill The Buddha
Chessa Rich swallowed sound at an early age, solidifying music as her internal compass. After a post-college job in Spain, she returned to North Carolina to hone the keyboard, flute and vocals that would form the bedrock of her equally jagged and ethereal style. Tracing her lines of influence from her parents’ community jazz band to the moment she encountered Radiohead in her youth, Rich has emerged as a versatile songwriter and collaborator, recording and performing with Hiss Golden Messenger and Tift Merritt, as well as putting out a 2018 EP produced by Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso.
Pony Bradshaw
North Georgia Rounder is strongly related to Pony Bradshaw’s last album (Calico Jim) but also stretches its legs into different territory. Place/region/localism/history has been a focus of Bradshaw’s over the past few years and he has continued that focus with North Georgia Rounder. But as the album title (Rounder) suggests, it’s also about life on the road: in taverns, in vans, sleeping on floors, meeting good folks, etc. Bradshaw notes how he longs for a well-ordered life and acknowledges the struggle to reconcile that instinct with spending half of it on the road. “But stories need to be told,” he said, “and somehow I’ve finagled my way into a position to tell a few.”
Dear Darling with TBA
Among the leaves, this trio creates music together. Seasoned musicians Casey Lipka (bass and voice), Hannah Jane Kile (guitar and voice), and Natalie Hagwood (cello and voice) are getting into new sonic territory. Folk infused with Jazz influences, expect harmonies tight enough that these three could be sisters. From tender to brassy, Dear Darling’s compositions touch on themes such as self empowerment, unconditional love, and following your dreams.
Condado + Monsoon + Housewife
Condado is a DIY rock band from central North Carolina. The band’s members include Alberto “Birdie” Velazquez (guitar/vocals), Joshua Reid (guitar/vocals), Javan Trinidad (bass/vocals), and Anunt Singh (drums). Naming the band “Condado” (the Spanish word for county) is a reminder of the rural/suburban locations in which the members grew up – places usually lacking a supportive music scene and/or diversity. It’s a reminder that pursuing their individual and collective dreams of making music is possible regardless of where they’re from or who they are. The band pulls influence from many artists, specifically the northeast emo and punk scenes of recent years, providing its take on the sound through a distinct rhythmic focus/playfulness, punchy and driving percussion, thick guitar riffs, roaring bass lines, and melodies made to sing your heart out to. This is the part where I have to tell you about the band and pretend an outside source wrote something really flattering in the passage below. Unfortunately no one ever said anything nice about us, so here I go. “Monsoon is a really good two piece indie rock band from Athens, Ga.” -Sienna Chandler Don’t worry, it’s not the kind of indie where the reverb pedal stays on as I stare blankly at the fret board of my unscathed turquoise jaguar. If we’ve got anything, it’s that Joey and I spent 5 years creating Ghost Party and wanted to make our live show as attractive as we think our album is.
URBAN SOIL
Hailing from North Carolina, Urban Soil weaves Americana, rock and soul into their explosive live shows and polished recordings. Their studio albums reflect the uncompromising energy that Urban Soil consistently delivers live, and are a stimulating representation of the band’s skillful-yet–visceral sound. Urban Soil has the unique ability of capturing the energy of their live shows and translating it to their studio recordings, resulting in an electrifying experience with every listen.Influenced by early roots elements, Urban Soil uniquely fuses those sounds with a fresh take, delivering a blend of raw, nostalgic sounds with a modern and glistening slant. Sarah Reinke fronts the band on vocals, guitar and percussion including an occasional electrified washboard. Guitarist and vocalist, Eric Chesson, delivers forceful and driving components with every lick, and offers steadfast vocals. Greg Meckley’s skillful violin, vocals and percussion playing blends tight layers and bright sounds that solidify the band smoothly against driving guitars. Holding down the rhythm section, Jonathan Wilson and Leo Kishore provide a concrete foundation on drums and bass respectively.
Sam Fribush Organ Trio
Keyboardist Sam Fribush is on the frontlines of the Hammond organ revival. His debut release, the SF Organ Trio, was produced by Charlie Hunter and recorded over quarantine in North Carolina. Recently, Fribush became a member of Hiss Golden Messenger. Currently based in Greensboro, NC, Fribush has brought his fonky, soulful vibe home to the town where he was born and raised.
Jack The Radio With Crenshaw Pentecostal
Raleigh, North Carolina roots-rockers Jack the Radio blend rock and blues sensibility with Americana, folk, and country to create a tapestry of swampy southern-tinged sounds on their latest album release, Creatures. All of the songs on the album were written by singer George Hage with a common thread that weaves its way through telling us to stand strong as we ride out the highs and lows of what life throws at us. Over the years, Jack The Radio has shared the stage with The Avett Brothers, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, George Thorogood, Cold War Kids, Rayland Baxter, and American Aquarium to name a few. Their music has been featured in countless commercial, film, and TV projects including Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, Graceland, Beverly Hills 90210 as well as in sports programming for NASCAR, NFL, PGA among others.
The Thing w/ Harvey Street Co
The Thing consists of Jack Bradley, Michael Carter, and Zane Acord. Their debut record, “Here’s The Thing” is coming out April 14th 2023. Long Live The Thing.
TUMBAO w/ AFRICA UNPLUGGED & DJ BRYDECISIVE
Tumbao! is a high-energy Latin Fusion band formed by 7 seasoned musicians from various genres and backgrounds — and we mean all different types — that creates a sound reflecting the many flavors of Latin America. ¡Tumbao! offers a taste of Salsa, Bossa, Funk, Cumbia, Latin-Rock, R&B, Jazz, and Brass. Formed in 2019, the band has taken to new heights and popularity rapidly throughout venues in the South Eastern circuit and beyond. Most recently featured on PBS, the NCMA, with performances in festival circuits such as Shakori Hills and multiple publications, the electric sound of ¡Tumbao! keeps crossing more and more barriers captivating listeners of every age and every background.
Eliot Bronson w/ Elonzo Wesley
Over the course of five albums, indie folksinger Eliot Bronson has created his own brand of acclaimed Americana. He’s an award winner. A road warrior. An internationally-renowned musician with a voice that swoons and sweeps, making fans out of everyone from his hometown newspaper, The Baltimore Sun — who championed Bronson from the very start, hailing him as “a folk singing wunderkind” back when he was still playing local coffeeshops — to Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, whose work on 2014’s Eliot Bronson and 2017’s James placed Bronson on the same client roster as Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and other heartfelt songwriters. Look forward to a new release in 2023.w/ opener Elonzo Wesley: Elonzo Wesley began in January 2015, shortly after the breakup of Charlotte NC’s Elonzo. After moving from Atlanta in the mid 2000’s, singer-songwriter Jeremy Davis (Elonzo Wesley) formed the indie rock band, naming it after his father. The band self-released three full length records and two EP’s, touring the Carolina’s and Southeast. By December of 2014, after slowly disbanding for some time, another chapter in this story began. With 3 full length albums, hundreds of shows, and a few years under his belt, Jeremy Davis will continue to carry his father’s name as a moniker and guide. Elonzo Wesley, at it’s best is; the musical truth of the moment, combined with the beauty and sadness of what has passed. Currently, EW is performing as a solo artist and also with a string band.
