Suwannee Roots Revival Announces Trampled By Turtles, Hot Tuna Electric, Donna the Buffalo – Oct 5-8

INITIAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED: 7th SUWANNEE ROOTS REVIVAL
OCTOBER 5-8, 2023
THE SPIRIT OF THE SUWANNEE MUSIC PARK – LIVE OAK, FLORIDA

Trampled By Turtles – Hot Tuna Electric
Donna the Buffalo – The Peter Rowan Band
Jim Lauderdale Band – Electric Larry Land
Big Richard – Jon Stickley Trio – Sunny War
The Last Revel – Stillhouse Junkies
Verlon Thompson – Jeff Mosier Ensemble – John Mailander’s Forecast
and more!

Tickets → suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets

LIVE OAK, FL — Reviving and carrying on the longtime tradition of hosting some of the most prominent names in American roots music and beyond, the 7th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 5 – Sunday, October 8 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. 

The Suwannee Roots Revival initial lineup for 2023 includes Trampled By Turtles, Hot Tuna Electric (catch them while you can—they just announced it is all acoustic after their fall tour), Donna the Buffalo, The Peter Rowan Band, Jim Lauderdale Band, Electric Larry Land (before you start thinking about 90s albums—this is Larry Keel’s new all electric quartet!), Big Richard, Jon Stickley Trio, Sunny War, The Last Revel, Stillhouse Junkies, Verlon Thompson, Jeff Mosier Ensemble, John Mailander’s Forecast, The Grass Is Dead, The Ain’t Sisters, Blair Crimmins & The Hookers, Ralph Roddenbery & The Jones, Nikki Talley, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, The NEW Quintet, Sloppy Joe, Quartermoon, Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus, and more to be announced!

Jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages, this family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout the weekend, often with some one-of-a -kind collaborations among the artists performing—you never know who will give a surprise sit-in on stage (or in the campgrounds for that matter). 

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground and the festival celebrates community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting. This is the place to make new memories with friends old and new while gathering in a picturesque setting breathing in the songs that fill the air… as they say at SOSMP: “Music Lives Here.”

An incredible time was had by all in March at our sister festival—Suwannee Spring Reunion—with glowing reviews in Rolling Stone, Holler Country, Bluegrass Today, MusicFestNews, The Jamwich, and more! 

Rolling Stone says, “[SOSMP] would seem the most unlikely of bluegrass epicenters, but legends and new stars alike flock there every spring for an in-the-know festival… Each March, the Spring Reunion brings together some of the biggest names in bluegrass, Americana, and folk music, this unofficial kickoff to the outdoor festival season. To bookend the year, a similar event, Suwannee Roots Revival, occurs in October… There’s a deep sense of family and fellowship that’s permeated Suwannee as far back as anyone can remember… ” 

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held on the Music Farmer’s Stage with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Early Bird Tier 2 Tickets are $155 (includes fees and taxes); Student / Military Early Bird are $144 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets quickly before June 1 when the price changes to Early Bird Tier 2 at $175. An additional event car pass is required to bring a car into the campground. Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park’s web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2023 Initial Lineup

Trampled By Turtles

Hot Tuna Electric

Donna the Buffalo

The Peter Rowan Band

Jim Lauderdale Band

Electric Larry Land

Big Richard

Jon Stickley Trio

Sunny War

The Last Revel

Stillhouse Junkies

Verlon Thompson

Jeff Mosier Ensemble

John Mailander’s Forecast

The Grass Is Dead

The Ain’t Sisters

Blair Crimmins & The Hookers

Ralph Roddenbery & The Jones

Nikki Talley

Grandpa’s Cough Medicine

The NEW Quintet

Sloppy Joe

Quartermoon

Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus

& more to be announced!

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneerootsrevival.com.
Also visit us on a www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, and Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots).

High-Octane String Band, Arkansauce, Independently Releases ‘OK to Wonder’ (4/21)

Arkansauce Independently Releases 5th Album, OK to Wonder, April 21

The Melodies of the Rolling Hills and Raging Rivers of the Ozark Mountains are Unleashed in the Music of This Fiery Finger-Pickin’ String Band

Okay to Wonder Available Now→ https://solo.to/oktowonder 

“This is high-octane stuff, meticulously rendered & with lots of spirit… The ensemble vocals add authenticity to the bluegrass fire. Everything is well-played & optimistic… Their compositions have clarity & distinction… they have a whirling, lively groove. The lyrics aren’t cliched & the words are held down by the gravity of the tight melodies… The late Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead) who played with Old and In the Way with David Grisman, Vassar Clements & Pete Rowan would feel at home with these boys.” —Americana Highways, Jon Apice

“The music sounds both classic and contemporary at the same time, allowing for a sound that’s immediately engaging and easily assured. That unabashed affability comes across in the effortless expression of ‘How Time Flies’, the sprightly sound of ‘Up On the Shelf,’ the comforting caress of ‘I’ll Be Yours,’ and the consistently amiable attitude conveyed through a host of instrumentals interspersed throughout this decidedly solid set of songs. Arkansauce makes a point to put their nimble picking and plucking front and center, helping to assure a good-natured feeling that pervades the album overall.” —Bluegrass Today, Lee Zimmerman

“Keeping with Arkansuace’s mission statement to create, inspire, & redefine what it means to be a 21st Century bluegrass act. Each musical breakdown feels like a verse in and of itself, as the instruments find themselves in a shining moment over intriguing rhythms and thumping bass grooves.” —Music Mecca, Adison Nadler

FAYETTEVILLE, AR — Progressive string quartet, Arkansauce, is thrilled to independently release their 5th album, OK to Wonder, TODAY April 21. With 11 original tracks—ranging from upbeat and stimulating to contemplative and encouraging—the collection is filled with songs of revelry, wonder, insight, and whimsy. Arkansauce is Tom Andersen on bass, guitarist Zac Archuleta, Ethan Bush on mandolin, and Adams Collins on banjo. 

The Roanoke Times calls them “Hot bluegrass ramblers” and AmericanaUK says, “That’s a bluegrass line-up right there – but this isn’t your grandpappy’s bluegrass.” Their music features improvisational string leads matched with complex melodies, intriguing rhythms, and deep thumping bass grooves. Each member sings lead and harmony parts as well as contributes to the lyrics, which offer authentic, intelligent songwriting with hard-hitting hooks.

Their distinct blend of newgrass calls forth the sounds of the Ozark Mountains’ rolling hills and wild rivers. Inspired not only from their home state of Arkansas, but also throughout their travels, Ethan says, “We are a band that spends most of our time in the back of a van hurtling toward long nights, good times, and a destiny unknown. Our inspiration is gathered by events unfolding in our own adventures in real time.” 

Uptempo bluegrass number “My Home in Arkansas,” the album’s 2nd single, was premiered by  The Bluegrass Situation, called a “snappy bluegrass cut” by the Americana Music Association in their weekly newsletter, is on Spotify’s “Fast Grass” Playlist, and is listed in The Alternate Root Magazine’s Top Ten Songs of the Week. Andersen says, “The song came to me after a Bill Monroe bender. It’s a straight-forward bluegrass song about the road and the yearnings for home—with a few twists and turns on the arrangement, as any road worth traveling would have.” 

Album opener, and 1st single, “Up on the Shelf,” was premiered by Glide Magazine who says, “Strong lyricism, warm harmonies, and impressive solos abound throughout this track.” Ethan describes it as, “a rowdy song about a wild night out that gradually became a much more in depth picture of the ups and downs of a relationship; I aimed to maintain the spirit of the original concept, while trying to depict the stress that partnerships may bring through an honest and unique lens.” After the song’s release, “Up on the Shelf” was almost immediately placed into Spotify’s “Indie Bluegrass” Playlist and has received airplay on SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction.

“First Night of the Tour” sings the result of the band learning the “rules of the road” through trial and error on their first few tours. The stimulating “Coldiron” was inspired by a close friend of the band who uprooted himself at an early age to move to a remote, old family property where he didn’t know a soul and ambitiously forged a bountiful and fulfilling life.

A song of reflection and reminiscing, the title lyrics can be heard in the Hartford-esque “How Time Flies.” My oh my how time flies… Is this the way I wanted things to be… I simply cannot decide… Who in the hell is behind those eyes… I guess it’s okay to wonder until the day I die… Hold on to what you got for now and let time take care of the rest.” The song is meant to help us find some peace in the space between trying to chase down our dreams and deciding to alter our path.

“I’ll Be Yours” gives encouragement to the underdogs of the world while the empathetic and anthemic “Early Bird” shines and welcomes you to join in. Zac says, “Written during the heat of the pandemic after my father-in-law, a truck driver whose CB handle was ‘Early Bird,’ passed away from covid. Everything seemed so dark that I wanted to write a song about light and hope with a lot of harmonies and uplifting melodies. My dad actually passed away a few months after, and it ended up being a song for myself in a way.”

“Big City Chicken” is the first of four instrumentals on the album, and it celebrates getting back on the road after the first year of the pandemic. Ethan says, “It was written while watching my chickens peck around my backyard during those first few weeks of quarantine. Performing on the road later felt as if I was finally weaponizing the creativity birthed in that time and space.” Americana Highways’ Jon Apice calls the song “searing & saturated with backwoods vibrancy. The inter-picking shimmer of the notes is invigorating. Flatt & Scruggs would be proud.”

Adams composed the other three instrumentals and says, “At some point, I became obsessively interested in how a four-piece bluegrass group might emulate various styles of drum grooves and rhythms. ‘Bim Batta’ is influenced by 80s electro and hip hop, while ‘The Funky Gorilla’ is influenced by Stanton Moore’s New Orleans funk approach.” The delightful “Air Bender” leads the listener into a magical country western jaunt with its undulating banjo as the album’s final track. 

OK to Wonder was recorded in Fayetteville at Crisp Recording Studio with engineer Darren Crisp, James Tuttle [Leftover Salmon, The String Cheese Incident, Hot Rize, Michael Franti, Cary Morin] on the mix, and Brad Sarno [Son Volt, Jay Farrar] for the mastering. Previous albums include All Day Long (2015), Hambone (2016), If I Were You (2017), and Maybe Someday (2019).

WATCH Arkansauce interview about OK to Wonder on the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette What’s Up video podcast with music writer Monica Hooper. They performed three songs: “Up on the Shelf,” “My Home in Arkansas,” and “Coldiron.” NWA’s Monica Hooper says the songs, “bear the hallmarks of quintessential Arkansauce tunes: They’re fun to sing along with and give each member of the band time to flex his considerable picking skills.”

LISTEN to The Mandolins and Beer Podcast interview with Ethan Bush about songwriting, practicing, the studio, touring and more.

Arkansauce has a hearty tour schedule lined up for the year including hometime release shows in Oklahoma and Arkansas for (including the Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain Festival). They have Spring shows in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, Louisiana, and around the Front Range of Colorado. Further Festivals include Sustain Art & Music Festival (IN), FreshGrass Bentonville (AR),, Weekend at The Cave (IL), Rhythms on the Rio (CO), Lovegrass Music Fest (KS), FreshGrass North Adams (MA), and Annapolis Baygrass Festival (MD), with more shows yet to be announced!
For more information, a full list of tour dates, and news from the road please visitwww.arkansauce music.com, www.facebook.com/Arkansauce.Music, & www.instagram.com/arkansaucemusic.

Firefighting Banjo Picker, Randy Steele, Releases Bluegrass Single “There’s a Part of Me” w/ High Cold Wind

Firefighter by Profession / Songwriter & Banjo Picker by Nature, Randy Steele Independently Releases Bluegrass Single with High Cold Wind

“There’s a Part of Me” – Available Now

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/randysteele/theres-a-part-of-me-2

Premiered by Americana UK

“It’s a song that sounds as traditional as heck, but take a careful listen to the lyrics and you’ll find very modern sensibilities and concerns being thought about.”

Chattanooga , TN — Randy Steele is an award winning banjo pickin’ singer/songwriter from Chattanooga, Tennessee and he is excited to independently release a new single, “There’s a Part of Me,” March 24 with his bluegrass band, High Cold Wind. A good old heartache song about growth, “There’s a Part of Me” ’ is about learning to let go of someone that doesn’t serve your best interest anymore.

“The nostalgia is washed with the benefit of hindsight, with the maturity of well wishes, and it’s a prime example of the unique offerings that Steele presents to modern bluegrass,” says Nicholas Edward Williams of American Songcatcher. He continues, “Take the second verse: ‘I remember that Christmas, when you got a neck tattoo, and your momma cried and spent the holidays holed up in her room, she said that you can’t be buried with your family anymore.’ You couldn’t name enough bluegrass songs on one hand that cover that much ground emotionally. Then add the depth of the looming chorus, that Steele’s heart ‘heals a little every day, that I spend away from you.’ It’s the kind of break up song that we all wish were true to our own lives.”

Randy says, “Some of the stories from the song are symbolic, some are reflections from growing up Pentecostal. I really love Faye’s vocal work on this one, she’s a blessing.”

Joining Steele in the High Cold Wind is Fiddlin’ Faye Petree, regional fiddle legend of the North Carolina and Georgia music scene; flat pick wizard and member of Americana favorites Strung Like a Horse, Tyler Martelli on acoustic guitar; multiple state, multiple instrumental contest champion and well known teacher John Boulware on mandolin; and Justin Hupp holding it down on the upright bass.  

Randy affirms, “For a while now I’ve been wanting to do more bluegrass. I love bluegrass. It is a great example of simplicity and complexity combined. Every time I hear the simple 1 & 3 low thump of an upright bass contrasted by the 2 & 4 hard chop of a mandolin, I am immediately reminded of a thousand great evenings playing with friends.”

Growing up in Bradley County Tennessee near both the North Georgia and North Carolina borders, Randy was surrounded by music from an early age. His family was heavily involved in the Church of God, with his Papaw being a lifelong Pentecostal preacher and pastor of the largest Church in the organization at one time. 

Randy recollects, “Bluegrass was always my Papaw’s favorite and he idolized the players. He was a gospel player and he always looked up to the flatpickers and the finger pickers… I think the biggest influence of all though was my Mom. She is a fantastic singer with a very rich voice. She’s practiced it like an art form her entire life—in her youth she traveled from church to church singing as part of the Henson Family. She taught me how to practice correctly and that has been one of the greatest gifts. It has proven useful time and time again within music and just in life in general.”

In his teens in the mid-90s, Steele discovered the budding Jamband scene, who  tagged along with his Uncle, Paul Henson, who toured and recorded with the Aquarium Rescue Unit. His early musical inspirations ranged from Townes Van Zandt, Garcia/Hunter, John Prine, and Robert Earl Keen. Lyric driven music stories were his early favorites and remain his primary songwriting medium. Randy went on to tour some with a band and studied Jazz Guitar at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for a bit. Then Randy stopped playing music for a while and became a firefighter with the Chattanooga Fire Department and got married and settled down. He says, “I still wrote songs constantly but I figured my music days were mostly behind me. In the firehouse, I needed something to help me decompress and then I found the banjo…” 

To pass the time at the fire station, Randy began practicing Scruggs style banjo and, a few years later in 2008, began performing with Slim Pickins Bluegrass Band, along with Boulware and Hupp. They went on to spend a month living in Belgium and played shows all over Europe, eventually though between jobs and family obligations, the band settled into playing a few select shows in the Chattanooga area each year. 

In 2016 Steele released a solo album, Songs from the Suck, which was recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscle Shoals Alabama and finished at The Soundry Studios in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. He began to do some light touring solo and with a trio. Two years later he released an EP, Moccasin Bender, both of these were kind of on the bluegrass side of Americana. 

In 2018 Steele won an Independent Music Award for Bluegrass ‘Song of the Year’ for “Mobile Soon” (and was nominated for Bluegrass Album of the Year), and was selected as a finalist in the Newsong Music LEAF Songwriting Competition. 

Steele then spent 2019 hard on the road clocking in 90 shows in 17 states in 47 cities before being forced off the road by the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic. In 2019 Captain Randy Steele was also named Fire Department Officer of the Year and was awarded a Medal of Valor, as he was recognized for his outstanding efforts at emergencies in 2018.

“As it all went back to gigs and regular life after the pandemic, I really wanted to get back into some traditional bluegrass. I had been touring as a trio and decided to try to start a bluegrass band based on that touring outfit, and thus High Cold Wind was born.”

High Cold Wind was formed in 2022 as a support band for Steele’s singer/songwriter touring and they continued to move through multiple markets—with Atlanta, Asheville, Charleston SC, Nashville, and a few other cities seeing multiple repeat performances by either Randy Steele solo or RS & the High Cold Wind.  After a few shows, they found themselves invited to multiple festivals throughout the Southeast US with acts like Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band, Town Mountain, Larry Keel, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, The Kody Norris Show, Nick Lutsko, and the Lonesome River Band. 

The band entered the studio in winter 2022/2023 and recorded the High Cold Wind EP with multiple single releases due out in 2023 beginning with “There’s a Part of Me.” Self-produced, Randy’s new music was recorded and engineered at The Soundry Studios in Soddy-Daisy, TN by Brett Nolan and mastered by Adam Brown.

2023 is looking great with multiple spring and summer mini tours scheduled throughout the southeast and multiple festival bookings for full band shows.

Find out more at www.randysteelemusic.com & www.highcoldwind.com, facebook.com/randysteelemusic, instagram.com/randysteelemusic, twitter.com/steelesteele, youtube.com/@randysteelemusic, and hear more from his catalog on Spotify.

Arkansauce Releases a Fast Pickin’ “My Home In Arkansas”—2nd Single on Upcoming Album

Arkansauce Independently Releases 5th Album, OK to Wonder, April 21

Arkansauce. Photo by Phil Clarkin

The Melodies of the Rolling Hills and Raging Rivers of the Ozark Mountains are Unleashed in the Music of This Fiery Finger-Pickin’ String Band

2nd Single “My Home In Arkansas” Available Now

Premiered by The Bluegrass Situation

Get it here: https://solo.to/myhomeinarkansas

WATCH Arkansauce perform live on Little Rock’s THV11
The band interviewed about OK to Wonder– and performed “My Home in Arkansas”

FAYETTEVILLE, AR — Arkansauce independently releases OK to Wonder,  their 5th album, on April 21. Hear the melodies of the Ozark Mountains’ rolling hills and raging rivers in this progressive string quartet’s distinct blend of newgrass. OK to Wonder is filled with songs of revelry, wonder, insight, and whimsy—inspired not only from their home state of Arkansas, but also throughout their travels. 

Arkansauce is Tom Andersen on bass, guitarist Zac Archuleta, Ethan Bush on mandolin, and Adams Collins on banjo. Their music features improvisational string leads matched with complex melodies, intriguing rhythms, and deep thumping bass grooves. Each member sings lead and harmony parts as well as contributes to the lyrics, which offer authentic, intelligent songwriting with hard-hitting hooks.

“We are a band that spends most of our time in the back of a van hurtling toward long nights, good times, and a destiny unknown,” says Ethan. “Our inspiration is gathered by events unfolding in our own adventures in real time.” 

OK to Wonder ‘s 11 tracks—ranging from upbeat and stimulating to contemplative and encouraging— were recorded in Fayetteville at Crisp Recording Studio with engineer Darren Crisp, James Tuttle [Leftover Salmon, The String Cheese Incident, Hot Rize, Michael Franti, Cary Morin] on the mix, and Brad Sarno [Son Volt, Jay Farrar] for the mastering.

The uptempo bluegrass number “My Home in Arkansas” is the album’s 2nd single and was premiered by The Bluegrass Situation. Andersen says, “The song came to me after a Bill Monroe bender. It’s a straight-forward bluegrass song about the road and the yearnings for home—with a few twists and turns on the arrangement, as any road worth traveling would have.” 

Glide Magazine premiered the album’s 1st single (and album opener), “Up on the Shelf” and says, “Strong lyricism, warm harmonies, and impressive solos abound throughout this track.” Ethan describes it as, “a rowdy song about a wild night out and gradually became a much more in depth picture of the ups and downs of a relationship; I aimed to maintain the spirit of the original concept, while trying to depict the stress that partnerships may bring through an honest and unique lens.” After the song’s release on 3/3, “Up on the Shelf” was almost immediately placed into Spotify’s “Indie Bluegrass” Playlist. 

“First Night of the Tour” sings the result of the band learning the “rules of the road” through trial and error on their first few tours. The stimulating “Coldiron” was inspired by a close friend of the band who uprooted himself at an early age to move to a remote, old family property where he didn’t know a soul and ambitiously forged a bountiful and fulfilling life.

A song of reflection and reminiscing, the title lyrics can be heard in the Hartford-esque “How Time Flies.” My oh my how time flies… Is this the way I wanted things to be… I simply cannot decide… Who in the hell is behind those eyes… I guess it’s okay to wonder until the day I die… Hold on to what you got for now and let time take care of the rest.” The song is meant to help us find some peace in the space between trying to chase down our dreams and deciding to alter our path.

“I’ll Be Yours” gives encouragement to the underdogs of the world while the empathetic and anthemic “Early Bird” shines and welcomes you to join in. Zac says, “Written during the heat of the pandemic after my father-in-law, a truck driver whose CB handle was ‘Early Bird,’ passed away from covid. Everything seemed so dark that I wanted to write a song about light and hope with a lot of harmonies and uplifting melodies. My dad actually passed away a few months after, and it ended up being a song for myself in a way.”

“Big City Chicken” is the first of four instrumentals on the album, and it celebrates getting back on the road after the first year of the pandemic. Ethan says, “It was written while watching my chickens peck around my backyard during those first few weeks of quarantine. Performing on the road later felt as if I was finally weaponizing the creativity birthed in that time and space.”

Adams composed the other three instrumentals and says, “At some point, I became obsessively interested in how a four-piece bluegrass group might emulate various styles of drum grooves and rhythms. ‘Bim Batta’ is influenced by 80s electro and hip hop, while ‘The Funky Gorilla’ is influenced by Stanton Moore’s New Orleans funk approach.” The delightful “Air Bender” leads the listener into a magical country western jaunt with its undulating banjo as the album’s final track. 

Previous albums include All Day Long (2015), Hambone (2016), If I Were You (2017), and Maybe Someday (2019). The band has extensive roots in their home state of Arkansas (winning the 2021 Arkansas Best Bluegrass Artist of the Year in the Arkansas Country Music Awards) as well as out in the wider bluegrass, Americana, and festival music scenes.

Music Mecca’s Spencer Nachman calls them a “fiery, finger-picking string band… What is apparent at any Arkansauce show is their positivity and desire to uplift the audience’s spirit, no matter the circumstance.” 

Having played shows from California to Connecticut over the last several years in addition to two tours in Europe, the band is no stranger to the road and they have a hearty tour schedule lined up for 2023. 

For more information, a full list of tour dates, and news from the road please visit www.arkansauce music.com, www.facebook.com/Arkansauce.Music, www.instagram.com/arkansaucemusic, and www.youtube.com/@arkansaucemusic314.

OK to Wonder Track Listing

1. Up on the Shelf 4:25 (Bush)
2. Big City Chicken 6:31 (Bush)
3. First Night of the Tour 3:29  (Bush)
4. Coldiron 5:42 (Bush)
5. Bim Batta 4:44 (Collins)
6. I’ll Be Yours 4:32 (Bush)
7. Early Bird 4:58 (Archuleta)
8. The Funky Gorilla 5:09 (Collins)
9. How Time Flies 4:48 (Bush)
10. My Home in Arkansas 4:11 (Andersen)
11. Air Bender 4:58 (Collins)

Fiery, Finger-picking String Band, Arkansauce, Releases 1st Single from Upcoming Album—OK to Wonder

Arkansauce Independently Releases 5th Album, OK to Wonder, April 21

First Single “Up on The Shelf” Out Today

Premiered by Glide Magazine:

“Strong lyricism, warm harmonies, and impressive solos abound throughout this track”

Get it here → https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/arkansauce/up-on-the-shelf 

Arkansauce
Photo by Phil Clarkin

FAYETTEVILLE, AR — Arkansauce is excited to independently release their 5th album, OK to Wonder, on April 21. The melodies of the Ozark Mountains’ rolling hills and raging rivers can be heard in this progressive string quartet’s distinct blend of newgrass. Arkansauce is Tom Andersen on bass, guitarist Zac Archuleta, Ethan Bush on mandolin, and Adams Collins on banjo. Their music features improvisational string leads matched with complex melodies, intriguing rhythms, and deep thumping bass grooves. Each member sings lead and harmony parts as well as contributes to the lyrics, which offer authentic, intelligent songwriting with hard-hitting hooks. 

OK to Wonder is filled with songs of revelry, wonder, insight, and whimsy—inspired not only from their home state of Arkansas, but also throughout their travels. “We are a band that spends most of our time in the back of a van hurtling toward long nights, good times, and a destiny unknown,” says Ethan. “Our inspiration is gathered by events unfolding in our own adventures in real time. These days, the desire to create, inspire, and redefine within our scene seems to be the main driving force behind our music. From a young age we were huge fans of live music and were introduced to a lot of great music by our families.”

Music Mecca’s Spencer Nachman calls them a “fiery, finger-picking string band… What is apparent at any Arkansauce show is their positivity and desire to uplift the audience’s spirit, no matter the circumstance.”  Americana UK’s Tim Newby writes, “Their take on bluegrass, which is forward-thinking yet still adhering to a traditional model, is powered by their creative and technically challenging arrangements.”

OK to Wonder ‘s 11 tracks were recorded in Fayetteville at Crisp Recording Studio with engineer Darren Crisp, James Tuttle [Leftover Salmon, The String Cheese Incident, Hot Rize, Michael Franti, Cary Morin] on the mix, and Brad Sarno [Son Volt, Jay Farrar] for the mastering.

“Up on the Shelf” 
Out Now

Beginning with the upbeat “Up on the Shelf,” which Ethan describes as, “a rowdy song about a wild night out and gradually became a much more in depth picture of the ups and downs of a relationship; I aimed to maintain the spirit of the original concept, while trying to depict the stress that partnerships may bring through an honest and unique lens.”

“Big City Chicken” harnesses the creative insights gathered during the first few weeks of pandemic quarantine, setting a pulsing, contemplative feel until it reaches a breaking point mid-song and everything turns around into a delightful trip as they celebrate getting back on tour. “First Night of the Tour” recalls the “rules of the road,” a fun reminder that “Everybody knows that you don’t unload the very first night of the tour.”

Other songs include an ambitious and stimulating “Coldiron,” the Hartford-esque “How Time Flies,” and the hard drivin’ “My Home in Arkansas.” “I’ll Be Yours” gives encouragement to the underdogs of the world, while the empathetic and anthemic “Early Bird” shines and welcomes you to join in. 

“Bim Batta,” with its 80s electro/hip-hop flair, is the first of three instrumentals on the album composed by Adams who says, “At some point, I became obsessively interested in how a four-piece bluegrass group might emulate various styles of drum grooves and rhythms.” “The Funky Gorilla” leans into Stanton Moore’s New Orleans funk approach and a delightful “Air Bender” completes the album with its undulating banjo transporting the listener on a magical country western jaunt.

Previous albums include All Day Long (2015), Hambone (2016), If I Were You (2017), and Maybe Someday (2019). The band has extensive roots in their home state of Arkansas (winning the 2021 Arkansas Best Bluegrass Artist of the Year in the Arkansas Country Music Awards) as well as out in the wider bluegrass, Americana, and festival music scenes.  

Having played shows from California to Connecticut over the last several years in addition to two tours in Europe, the band is no stranger to the road. They supported Yonder Mountain String Band for a leg of their summer tour in 2019, played mainstage spots on festivals with bands (including but not limited to) Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, The Del McCoury Band, Billy Strings, Leftover Salmon, Tauk, The Wood Brothers, and shared the stage with the legendary Sam Bush as a guest.  

For more information and news from the road, please visit www.arkansauce music.com, www.facebook.com/Arkansauce.Music, www.instagram.com/arkansaucemusic, and www.youtube.com/@arkansaucemusic314.

OK to Wonder Track Listing
1. Up on the Shelf 4:25 (Bush)
2. Big City Chicken 6:31 (Bush)
3. First Night of the Tour 3:29  (Bush)
4. Coldiron 5:42 (Bush)
5. Bim Batta 4:44 (Collins)
6. I’ll Be Yours 4:32 (Bush)
7. Early Bird 4:58 (Archuleta)
8. The Funky Gorilla 5:09 (Collins)
9. How Time Flies 4:48 (Bush)
10. My Home in Arkansas 4:11 (Andersen)
11. Air Bender 4:58 (Collins)

Ethan Bush – Mandolin, Vox on 1,3,4,6,7,9,10
Adams Collins – Banjo, Vox on 1,3,4,6,8,10, Piano on 7
Zac Archuleta – Guitar, Vox on 1,7,9 
Tom Andersen – Bass, Vox on 1,3,4,6,7,9,10

Arkansauce Tour Dates

https://arkansaucemusic.com/tour

3/03 Fri – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis, MN
3/04 Sat – Appleton Beer Factory – Appleton, WI
3/08 Wed – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
3/09 Thu – Golden Dagger – Chicago, IL
3/10 Fri – Granada Theatre – Mount Vernon, IL
3/22 Wed – Hop Springs Beer Park – Murfreesboro, TN
3/23 Thu – Barley’s – Knoxville, TN
3/24 Fri – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC
3/28 Tue – The Camel – Richmond, VA
3/29 Wed – The Southern – Charlottesville, VA
3/31 Fri – Best Booth Bash – Ridgeway, IA
4/2 Sun – Parkway Brewing – Salem, VA
4/13 Thu – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA*
4/14 Fri – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ*
4/15 Sat – 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ*
4/16 Sun – Yucca North – Flagstaff, AZ*
4/21 Fri – Beer City Music Hall – Oklahoma City, OK
4/22 Sat – Backwoods Music Festival – Ozark, AR
4/27 Thu – 123 Pleasant St. – Morgantown, WV
4/28 Fri – Some Kind of Jam – Kempton, PA
4/29 Sat – Private Wedding – Roanoke, VA
4/30 Sun – House Show – Lynchburg, VA
5/06 Sat – Record Bar – Kansas City, MO
5/12 Fri – Sustain Art & Music Festival – French Lick, IN
5/19 Fri – FreshGrass – Bentonville, AR
5/25 Thu – The Lariat – Buena Vista, CO
5/26 Fri – Cervantes Other Side – Denver, CO
5/28 Sun – McAwesome Fest – Castle Rock, CO
6/02 Fri – Dixie Center for the Arts – Ruston, LA
6/15 Thu – Ozark Mountain Soul Fest – Eureka Springs, AR
6/17 Sat – Survivor’s Ball – Lonedell, MO
6/23 Fri – Argentina Vibes – North Little Rock, AR
7/14 Fri – ABQ Biopark Zoo – Albuquerque, NM
8/5 Sat – Keystone Bluegrass & Beer – Keystone, CO
8/6 Sun – Rhythm on the Rio – Del Norte, CO
8/11-12 Fri-Sat – Lovegrass Music Festival – Wilson Lake, KS
* w/ The Brothers Comatose

Suwannee Spring Reunion Schedule Announced! The Infamous Stringdusters ft. Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon – March 23-26

THE 5TH SUWANNEE SPRING REUNION

MARCH 23-26, 2023

SPIRIT OF THE SUWANNEE MUSIC PARK IN LIVE OAK, FLORIDA

FEATURING 
The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle 
Sam Bush – Leftover Salmon – Steep Canyon Rangers 
The Earls of Leicester – Peter Rowan – Donna the Buffalo – Sierra Hull
Keller Williams – Jim Lauderdale – Jon Stickley Trio – and more!

DAILY SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED! 
Tickets on sale at → www.suwanneespringreunion.com  

LIVE OAK, FL — Suwannee Spring Reunion takes place Thursday through Sunday, March 23-26, 2023 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. Suwannee Spring Reunion is truly a gem of a festival where festival goers experience four days and nights of music rooted in Americana, newgrass, bluegrass, folk, blues, and more. Slip into Spring in the most fabulous of ways—making memories with friends old and new while gathering under the gorgeous, mossy live oak trees in this picturesque setting in the midst of a friendly, family-style environment! 

Suwannee Spring Reunion will feature music on multiple stages including the beloved tree lined Amphitheater Stage, the Porch Stage, the Dance Tent Stage, and the Music Hall Stage. There will be workshops by a wide range of performers at the festival on the Music Farmers Stage, jam sessions at Slopryland and Bill Monroe Shrine, as well as pickin’ parties throughout the campgrounds. The Vending Village will feature a wide variety of arts and crafts, as well as culinary pleasures, with a strong emphasis on original creations and unique items sure to satisfy all.  

We are thrilled to announce the full schedule of events → suwanneespringreunion.com/schedule

Thursday: Sierra Hull performs the sunset slot on the Amphitheater Stage, preceded by Peter Rowan and followed with a Leftover Salmon late-night set. Armchair Boogie kicks off the festival music at 4pm! Others performing Thursday include John Mailander’s Forecast, Mile Twelve, and Hattie & Joe Craven on the Porch Stage. 

Free Range Strange and Sloppy Joe will be performing Thursday sets on the Music Hall Stage. 

Friday sees Sam Bush,The Earls of Leicester, Keller Williams, Donna the Buffalo, Big Richard, Caleb Caudle and more on The Amphitheater and Porch Stages. Jon Stickley Trio closes out the night on the Porch, followed by another late-night set with Leftover Salmon on the Amphitheater Stage. Two other stages open on Friday—The Dance Tent and Music Farmers Stages—bring more music from Peter Rowan, Armchair Boogie, Roy Book Binder, The Grass in Dead, The Ain’t Sisters, Shawn Camp & Verlon Thompson doing the songs of Guy Clark, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Mile Twelve, Sloppy Joe, and Quartermoon. 

The Music Farmers Stage will have hands-on workshops with Rev Jeff Mosier (banjo), Jared Womack (Dobro), Hattie & Joe Craven (‘Singing with Soul’), Tom Nelly (guitar), and Roy Book Binder (blues guitar). 

Saturday is just as stacked between the five stages. The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle will play the Amp Stage evening slot, preceded by the Steep Canyon Rangers and followed by a  late-night set with Donna the Buffalo. We’ll see daytime Amphitheater Stage sets by Jon Stickley Trio (they’ll also be late-night on the Dance Tent Stage), Big Richard (also post-sunset on Dance Tent Stage), Hattie & Joe Craven (also on the Dance Tent Stage), and Medicine Springs. Others performing through the festival include Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, Jim Lauderdale with Donna the Buffalo, Habanero Honeys, Lee Hunter & The Gatherers, and further music from Verlon Thompson (including a set with Jim Lauderdale on the Music Hall Stage), Roy Book Binder, Free Range Strange, Caleb Caudle, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Shawn Camp, and Quartermoon. 

Workshops for Saturday include Brett Bass (Building Speed for Bluegrass Guitar), Barry Sager (harmonica), Tom Nelly (guitar), workshop with Joe Craven and a Sloppy Joe Jam set. 

Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus will host a Kids Talent Show Saturday morning on the Music Farmers Stage. 

Vassar Sunday brings it all in reunion-style and, as always, Donna the Buffalo will host the closing jam on The Amphitheater Stage– bringing up a plethora of guest performers who performed through the weekend. Sunday brings full sets by Jim Lauderdale Band, Verlon Thompson & John Mailander, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass Is Dead, The Ain’t Sisters, Belle & The Band, Roy Book Binder, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, and Quartermoon. Tania & The Moon Tunes opens with the morning slot on the Amphitheater Stage with fantastic kids performances.

Serendipitous moments seem to spring forth like wildflowers and so many of these incredible musicians have been returning to the park for a long time, often referring to it as a “Soul Retreat” of sorts. It is called a “reunion” for a reason and because of that there’s always an exciting amount of “surprise” stage collaborations between the musicians performing! 

The woods light up to the sounds of campground pickin’ and performers can often be found joining right along with attendees around the campfires. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Matching the history on the stage, longtime park hosts, Beth and Randy Judy, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed to make an epic weekend of music and fun is in place and ready to write the new entries for this new legend. Suwannee Spring Reunion (and its sister festival Suwannee Roots Revival which takes place in October) hold the space for a special couple of music-filled weekends to look forward to and back upon with laughter and love in your heart.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Advance Tier 4 Tickets are on sale now, priced at $200 (includes fees and taxes). Student /Military Early Bird are $185 (includes fees and taxes). Prices advance to Tier 5 on Monday, March 6, so get your tickets now! An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground—Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park’s web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information. 

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2023 Lineup

The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle
Sam Bush
Leftover Salmon
Steep Canyon Rangers
The Earls of Leicester
Peter Rowan
Donna the Buffalo
Sierra Hull
Keller Williams
Jim Lauderdale
Jon Stickley Trio
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp
Roy Book Binder
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble
The Grass Is Dead
Big Richard
Hattie Craven & Joe Craven
John Mailander’s Forecast
Armchair Boogie
Caleb Caudle
Mile Twelve
The Ain’t Sisters
Medicine Springs
Lee Hunter & The Gatherers
Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Belle & The Band
Free Range Strange
Habanero Honeys
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com. 

Bill Scorzari Releases 3 Acoustic Singles to Accompany ‘The Crosswinds of Kansas’

Bill Scorzari Releases 3 Acoustic Singles to Accompany ‘The Crosswinds of Kansas’

“I – 70 East (Acoustic)” – Out THIS FRIDAY February 17

“The Broken Heart Side of the Road (Acoustic)” – AVAILABLE NOW! 

“Multnomah Falls (Acoustic)” – Out March 10

HUNTINGTON, NY —  With a rich, raspy voice and a remarkable ear for lyrics and composition, prolific songwriter Bill Scorzari is thrilled to release three acoustic versions of songs featured on his most recent album, The Crosswinds of Kansas (Independently Released Aug 2022): “The Broken Heart Side of the Road (Acoustic),” “I-70 East (Acoustic),” and “Multnomah Falls (Acoustic).” 

“Now that we’ve started a new year (Happy New Year!), it’s great to be able to look back at the good things that have come out of all of the effort we put into The Crosswinds of Kansas… It’s been a long road and I’m so grateful to everyone who has made it all possible,” says Bill. “As a thank you to everyone who has listened to and enjoyed the songs, I decided to release new versions of three tracks from the album, which I’ve re-recorded in a singer-songwriter style, with just acoustic guitar and vocals.”

The album was listed in Americana UK’s Top Albums of 2022! Mark Whitfield writes, “The simple use of imagery and clever phraseology make it a very poignant record at times… The pain on some tracks is visceral in its honesty—and Scorzari’s voice is the perfect match for these substantial songs.” 

Today (2/13), Americana UK premiered “1-70 East (Acoustic)” here: https://americana-uk.com/track-premiere-bill-scorzari-i-70-east-acoustic 

“Bill Scorzari has captured the sonic embodiment of the Tolkien quote ‘not all who wander are lost’ with each album he’s released, yet The Crosswinds of Kansas bleeds this sentiment with each chord and word. The vivid storytelling balances delicately on masterful musicianship to create a massively memorable album,” writes Nanobot Rock in their Top 10 Discoveries of 2022.

These stripped down versions reflect more of what seeing Bill perform live and solo is like, and had been requested by a handful of terrestrial radio stations. Recorded at his First Thunder Recording Studio in Huntington, NY, the abridged songs were mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studio in Nashville in 2022.

“The Broken Heart Side of the Road (Acoustic)” is the first of the three songs released—Hear it now at  https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/i-70-east-acoustic. Glide Magazine premiered the album version and wrote, “With its melancholy tone, Scorzari lends his gritty vocals to a work of dark Americana roots music…  a song that carries a stirring energy and a haunting tale.” Americana Highways’ John Apice wrote, “‘The Broken Heart Side of the Road,’ is pure Bill. Precise, an impressive composition that’s subtle & striking. Bullseye.” 

“I-70 East (Acoustic)” will be out February 17. Americana Highways’s Melissa Clarke calls it a, “song of the anguished parallels between an elderly mother fading and passing on, and a lover’s betrayal. He’s captured such pain. And the beauty of a Rose.” 

“Multnomah Falls (Acoustic)” weaves a chronicle of a rainy day’s hike into an account of the trials of change and transcendence. It will be out March 10. 

FervorCoulee’s Donald Tepylske says, “The poetic rhythm of Scorzari’s lyrics is most impressive… Scorzari doesn’t do conventional… Each song envelopes the listener, sharing its secrets and truths.” Jim Hynes of Glide Magazine seems to concur, “To be sure, one needs solitude to appreciate his literate craft, a blend of prose and poetry put to music, a Walt Whitman of sorts for our times… With Scorzari, one hangs not just onto every word, but just about every breath.” 

We hope that listeners will be as moved by the acoustic renditions as these folks were by the originals. Bill has also started working on a new album! It is too early to say when it might be finished; so stay tuned to Bill’s social media for more information as things start to gather momentum and move forward.

More about Bill Scorzari: Born and raised in New York, Bill transformed his life as a New York Trial Attorney to a new life as a full-time musician beginning around 2011. He has independently released four studio albums including 2014’s Just the Same, 2017’s Through These Waves (Produced by Jonah Tolchin at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville), 2019’s Now I’m Free (Produced by Neilson Hubbard at Skinny Elephant Recording in Nashville), and The 2022’s Crosswinds of Kansas (Co-Produced with Neilson Hubbard at First Thunder Recording and Skinny Elephant Recording). Some of the musical artists that can be heard on Bill’s albums include Fats Kaplin, Eamon McLoughlin, Matt Menefee, Will Kimbrough, Michael Rinne, Dan Mitchell, Juan Solarzano, Brent Burke, Marie Lewey, Cindy Richardson Walker, Joachim Cooder, Kim Richie, Chris Scruggs, Laur Joamets, Jonah Tolchin, Erin Rae, John Estes, and Kyle Tuttle, among others.

Scorzari’s music has been well received by the press over the years with nods from those mentioned above in addition to Billboard, Acoustic Guitar, No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation, The Boot, Music City Magazine, Music Mecca, Making A Scene!, The Aquarian Weekly’s Rant ‘n’ Roll, Country Standard Time, The Alternate Root, DittyTV, Beyond A Song, Australia’s Listening Through The Lens, Alt Country Netherlands, and more.   

His music can be heard on the airwaves across the country and beyond! The Crosswinds of Kansas made a handful of DJs’ Year End Lists including KPFA Radio’s Tim Lynch, XPN’s Chuck Elliot, KVMR’s Kim Rogers, WFPK’s Michael Young, and WWSP’s Jim Canales. In 2022, Bill did in depth interviews with WVTF’s Luke Church, Beyond A Song’s Rich Reardin, High Plains Public Radio’s This Is the Place with host Jenny Inzerilo, and The Long Island Sound Podcast with Steve Yusko. The Crosswinds of Kansas peaked at #4 on the Alt. Country Specialty Chart, hit #36 on the Folk DJ Chart, and #85 on The Americana Music Chart. Some of Scorzari’s top spins come from Americana Boogie Radio; WBCM in Bristol, VA; WVMO in Madison, WI; KNOW in St Paul, MN; and KSYM in San Antonio, TX. 

If you have not yet heard The Crosswind of Kansas, listen here https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/the-crosswinds-of-kansas.  
For more information, updates and tour dates, visit ww

Suwannee Spring Reunion w/ The Infamous Stringdusters ft. Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon – March 23-26

ANNOUNCING THE 5TH SUWANNEE SPRING REUNION

MARCH 23-26, 2023

THE SPIRIT OF SUWANNEE MUSIC PARK IN LIVE OAK, FLORIDA

FEATURING 
The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle – Sam Bush – Leftover Salmon – Steep Canyon Rangers – The Earls of Leicester – Peter Rowan – Donna the Buffalo – Sierra Hull – Keller Williams – Jim Lauderdale – Jon Stickley Trio – and more!

Early Bird Tickets on sale now at → www.suwanneespringreunion.com  

LIVE OAK, FL — Suwannee Spring Reunion takes place Thursday through Sunday, March 23-26, 2023 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. Slip into Spring in the most fabulous of ways—making memories with friends old and new while gathering under the gorgeous, mossy live oak trees in this picturesque setting for four days and nights of music rooted in Americana, newgrass, bluegrass, folk, blues, and more!

Suwannee Spring Reunion is excited to announce the 2023 lineup which features The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Earls of Leicester, Peter Rowan, Donna the Buffalo, Sierra Hull, Keller Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Jon Stickley Trio, Verlon Thompson, Roy Book Binder, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass Is Dead, Big Richard, Hattie Craven & Joe Craven, John Mailander’s Forecast, Armchair Boogie, Caleb Caudle, Mile Twelve, The Ain’t Sisters, Medicine Springs, Lee Hunter & The Gatherers, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, Belle & The Band, Free Range Strange, Habanero Honeys, and Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

Suwannee Spring Reunion will feature music on multiple stages including the beloved tree lined Amphitheater Stage, the Porch Stage, the Dance Tent Stage, and the Music Hall. There will be workshops by a wide range of performers at the festival on the Music Farmers Stage, jam sessions at Slopryland and Bill Monroe Shrine, as well as pickin’ parties throughout the campgrounds. 

This family-friendly festival has a lot of fun for the little ones too! Complete with a kids area tucked accessibly into the woods, with open areas for running, and a kids parade at the end of the weekend led by Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus. The Vending Village will feature a wide variety of arts and crafts, as well as culinary pleasures, with a strong emphasis on original creations and unique items sure to satisfy all.  

The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Matching the history on the stage, longtime park hosts, Randy and Beth Judy, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed to make an epic weekend of music and fun is in place and ready to write the new entries for this new legend.

Americana UK writer, Mike Fiorito, writes “Making our way into the park… I was immediately struck by the beauty of the place: majestic cypresses and oaks draped with Spanish moss and swaying in the breeze… There is an air of joy and familiarity about the whole thing. People come together for one reason: to listen to fantastic music acts in a beautiful environment. There were all kinds of people at the event: older people, younger people, families, hippies, Deadheads, men, women, and children.” 

MusicFestNews’ Betsie Green calls it, “a festival all about the love of roots music and the people who make and support that music. From the epic campfire jams to the small and intimate workshops, there was an abundance of opportunities to be IN the music. This is true for the festivillians and musicians alike. Being able to get up close and personal with the music in such an open and collaborative environment sets a standard that most other festivals can only dream of.” 

“You can feel the musical history floating through the air and you have people full of intention, both onstage and out in the crowd that are there with respect for the past but also there for the now,” says Live And Listen’s Brett Hutchins. 

Suwannee Spring Reunion (and its sister festival Suwannee Roots Revival which takes place in October) hold the space for a special couple of music-filled weekends to look forward to and back upon with laughter and love in your heart. Many of the artists look forward to returning each year just as much as the attendees! The atmosphere and the people that gather are uplifting and warmhearted—the perfect end caps to the long festival season. 

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tier 2 Early Bird Tickets are on sale now through Wednesday, December 14th priced at $155 (includes fees and taxes). Student /Military Early Bird are $144 (includes fees and taxes). Tier 3 Early Bird Ticket price of $175 ($160 military/Student) begins Thursday, Dec 15. Get your tickets before the Early Bird Tier2 ends! An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground—Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park’s web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2023 Lineup

The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle

Sam Bush

Leftover Salmon

Steep Canyon Rangers

The Earls of Leicester

Peter Rowan

Donna the Buffalo

Sierra Hull

Keller Williams

Jim Lauderdale

Jon Stickley Trio

Verlon Thompson

Roy Book Binder

Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble

The Grass Is Dead

Big Richard

Hattie Craven & Joe Craven

John Mailander’s Forecast

Armchair Boogie

Caleb Caudle

Mile Twelve

The Ain’t Sisters

Medicine Springs

Lee Hunter & The Gatherers

Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp

Quartermoon

Sloppy Joe

Belle & The Band

Free Range Strange

Habanero Honeys

Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com. 

‘The Family Album’ by The Company Stores Independently Released Today! “Soundtrack Ready”

The Company Stores Independently Release The Family Album
Produced by Galactic’s Robert Mercurio
OUT TODAY – Sept 23, 2022→ https://thecompanystores.hearnow.com/the-family-album  

“The Family Album captures those moments of magic…
From endearing to personal and taking that party up a notch.
From their hearts to your soul via your listening device.
Please listen to this on a proper stereo.”
—Jammerzine Exclusive: An Interview + Album Premiere, Ryan Martin

“The album had me from the opening track, ‘Savannah,’ which could have easily been on a Steely Dan record (notably the guitar parts), by way of the jazz group Return to Forever. The vocals by Ileana Ille glide over the instrumentation much like those of Return to Forever’s first vocalist, Flora Purim, did. Ille’s vocals are but one of the many textured layers that blend together in unexpected ways.”
—No Depression, Amos Perrine

“…a whirling musical milieu… Complete with horns to punctuate the high points’”
—Americana Highways, Melissa Clarke, Song Premiere: “A New Leaf” 

“The Latin-influenced ‘Maria’ … is about relationships and patterns and is soundtrack-ready. Indeed, you can almost envision it as a theme song to a TV show…” —HVY, Will Phoenix

Watch the Official “Ways” Music Video

CHARLESTON, WV — With Horns, Strings, & Soaring Vocals, The Company Stores release The Family Album today, September 23. The album has received notable mentions in Bass Musician Magazine, No Depression, Beehive Candy, and a slot in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s September ‘Trail Mix’ Playlist; as well as premieres in JamBase, Americana Highways, and Jammerzine. No Depression’s Amos Perrine says, “This Charleston-based band has been making a lot of noise during the past few years. I first saw them six years ago at a one-day festival where they blew much bigger names off the stage. Not in loudness, but rather the quality of their songs and their intricate arrangements.” 

“This album tells a story of everything being turned upside down; both personally and across the country,” says Matthew Marks, the primary songwriter for the band.  “It is about family and understanding the triumphs, failures, tendencies, and choices of the people who came before, in order to understand how to successfully navigate where you are going.” 

The Company Stores had plans to hit the road hard, raise funds, and save to record their new album in 2020, then all plans got curtailed and almost all of their live shows and side jobs were canceled due to the pandemic. The songs were written during a time of personal havoc for Marks after his engagement had ended and he moved to his family farm, where he still resides, in March 2020 to help with his Grandad who was dying of lung cancer. While first there, he did a deep dive into his family history and roots lending to the content and mood of the album. They were able to start recording in mid-2021 after a year-long pause once things seemed safe for travel again. 

Ileana Ille

The Company Stores features lead vocalist Ileana Ille’s stunning voice as she captivates the audience with her ability to express raw emotion. Ille says, “I am honored that The Company Stores chose my voice as a vehicle to express the stories in The Family Album. Each song is a collection of the people who have shaped us and the times that made us. I hope the listeners are able to connect with the musicality, storytelling, and creativity and feel at home when they listen to it.”

The Company Stores unites many influences to lay down bold grooves amidst dynamic crescendos. In addition to collaborating with Marks on song arrangements, their key/vibes/trombone player Matthew Jackfert, works as a classical broadcaster/composer and host of All Things Considered at WV Public Broadcasting (and he and his family will appear on Family Feud in mid-October). Their music is brimming with beautiful orchestral soundscapes, soaring harmonies, strings, horns, electronic textures, and a tight rhythm section including bassist Michael Micucci, Joseph Cevallos on violin/trumpet, and John Query on drums.

The Family Album was produced by Robert Mercurio, bassist for New Orleans funk legends Galactic. The instrumentation was recorded by Julian Dreyer at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, NC. Mercurio stepped in as engineer to record the vocal parts at Galactic’s Number C Studio in New Orleans—including bringing in the Josh Kagler Choral Group to enhance the choruses on much of the album. The album was mixed and mastered by Mikael “Count” Eldridge [Trombone Shorty, DJ Shadow, The Revivalists]. 

Mercurio says, “As a producer, I feel like I saw this band grow immensely as songwriters though the process of making this album. We started working on it before the pandemic, and with their downtime they put in the work it takes to make great songs. Illy blossomed into the rock star she now is—crushing the vocals on every take. I’m very proud of the final product and had a blast working with all of them.” Along with his own band, Mercurio has production credits with an impressive list of artists including Big Freedia, Lyrics Born, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.

With keys and vibes at the front, the album opens with “Savannah,” which alternates from dark and melancholy to upbeat and happy verses. Marks says, “This song is about my best and worst day in Savannah, GA. The verse is written in present time, on a day I was on tour and just found out my engagement to my fiancé had ended. The pre-chorus and chorus is me remembering my best day, when we got engaged on vacation in Savannah, GA.”

Press Shots by The Oberports 
Album Artwork by Chris Woodall 

The fiery “A New Leaf,” the second track as well as second single, explores negative patterns in life, with the lyrics, “Damn… what a year. Sucker punched me to the next hemisphere… And now I’m waking up thunderstruck. Right in front of God and everyone… But now…clarity… A view from the floor that I had to see myself for sure. To turn over a new leaf…” 

With its rockin’ country western vibe “Ways,” the album’s lead single, continues on this theme, but sees the narrator start to recognize how choices made have developed these patterns of behavior that produce similar outcomes. “These old ways ain’t the best ways, just the ones I know… Trails blazed over time in my mind are deciding where I go… Now I gotta find peace of mind, redefine my life…”  “Ways” also sees special guests Walter DeBarr [Song of the Year in Minnesota 2021, William Elliot Whitmore] and Jodi Hall (also on “A New Leaf”) on backing vocals. “Ways” is dedicated to DeBarr, known for his soulful songwriting and deep raspy voice, who sadly passed away shortly after recording with the band.

JamBase premiered the “Ways” music video

“Maria” sees someone trapped in comparisons of old relationships and incorporates Latin styles and instruments including Flamenco Guitar, Spanish Trumpet, Latin Bird Flute, Congas, Bongos, Timbales, and Talking Drum. 

“Old Dog” is told from two perspectives; it has a hip hop flare on the verses—the “Old Dog” who is stuck in the past, afraid of change, and fighting the future and getting old—and heavy guitars and horns on the chorus—the “Boy” who is bluntly saying “stop barking at the shadows.” Jammerzine says of it, “Originality and presence collide in glorious splendor and raucous attitude to define our day and redefine our listening preferences. This is music.” 

Set in the minor key, “Fathers” looks into how mistakes made can be passed down for generations, stuck in a cycle and an ethereal “Blue Tide” calls out to explore the dark depths of oneself. A rock opera, “There Went The Neighborhood” is followed by the progressive “American Dream Girl.” “Some Sunday,” composed and written by Micucci, has a R&B flavor, with a focus on bass and groove. The album closes with a southern rock gospel ambience in “Castles & Cain.”

The name “The Company Stores” is a throwback to the old coal mines of West Virginia referring to the store in Appalachian coal towns during the 19th and 20th century where workers were paid in coal money or “scrip,” leaving them with no exit from working the mines. This name not only shows the bands heritage, but also the gritty feel of their music and the meaning behind many of their songs about the struggles of the common man.

“Together we spent countless quarantine hours writing and the rehearsal room, growing as songwriters and musicians, and are getting excited to present what we think will be our greatest record to date.” The Family Album is preceded by Little Lights (2017), also recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, and their local debut Rollin’ In (2014). 

Stream/ Order The Family Album at https://thecompanystores.hearnow.com/the-family-album.   

The Company Stores – The Family Album – Track Listing
1. Savannah (4:08)
2. A New Leaf (3:31
3. Ways (3:47)
4. Maria (5:53)
5. Old Dog (4:58)*
6. Fathers (4:07)*
7. Blue Tide (3:47)
8. There Went The Neighborhood (2:43)*
9. American Dream Girl (3:32)
10. Some Sunday (3:58)
11. Castles & Cain (3:54)
*FCC Warning: please note explicit language
Radio edited versions are available for “Old Dog” and “There Went The Neighborhood”

The Company Stores Tour Dates 
10/15 Sat – Spirits in the Sky Fest @ The Bullock Distillery – Charleston, WV
10/28 Fri – Martin’s – Jackson, MS
10/29 Sat – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA *w/ Galactic

Keep an eye on their website and socials for tour dates and further news: www.thecompanystoresband.com, facebook.com/thecompanystores, twitter.com/CompanyStoresWV and instagram.com/thecompanystores. 

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Leftover Salmon’s Andy Thorn Releases ‘Songs of the Sunrise Fox’ Today 9/16

Leftover Salmon’s Andy Thorn Releases Songs of the Sunrise Fox Today 9/16

Available Now: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/andythorn/songs-of-the-sunrise-fox

“Just a Banjo Player Serenading a Wild Fox” —The A.V. Club

BOULDER, CO — Leftover Salmon banjo player Andy Thorn never expected to go viral. But in 2021, he was in his backyard, playing an improvised banjo tune to a wild fox, when his wife caught the whole thing on video. The video made headlines around the world. Soon, Andy was interviewed on the Kelly Clarkson Show, The Dodo, and A & E’s Neighborhood Wars. Even Political Gabfest discussed the video. A New York Times writer, Ferris Jabr, called it “a moment plucked from Aesop.” 

Andy was stunned by the publicity, and by how many people kept asking him about the song. He finally recorded it (“Aesop Mountain”), along with 14 other banjo instrumentals. The resulting album, Songs of the Sunrise Fox, stands in contrast to the music Andy normally plays with Leftover Salmon. This new album isn’t about the flashy banjo picking favored by jam bands. Instead, it’s the banjo melodies Andy would play for his friend “Foxy” at sunrise. The stripped-down band also features Erik Deutsch [Black Crowes] on piano, Greg Garrison [Leftover Salmon] on bass, and Windfield champ Tyler Grant on guitar. 

Andy Thorn
Photo by Molly McCormick

The first single, “Aesop Mountain,” was released last month asd has already garnered nearly 100,000 listens on Spotify. This is the song from the viral video that started all the Foxy craze (that now has 3.8 million views). Thorn says, “I really enjoyed turning it into a full band tune and Erik Deutsch’s piano brought it all together.” The album also includes an acoustic solo version of the song as the closing track.

Other songs include the upbeat solo banjo tune, “Barry’s Bounce,” which was written right around the time Thorn’s baby boy Barry started bouncing around, while the solo clawhammer number “Stork Bite” was written right after his birth. “Red Sun Salutation” commemorates a wintery sunrise and “Dawn is Coming” feels like the winter storm that it was written about with the addition of Garrison and Grant adding  to the mood. “Monarch Morning” is a relaxing duet with Deutsch on piano; Andy wrote this tune in his backyard while butterflies were swirling around. 

As you keep listening you will hear more of the songs that were first performed for Foxy during the morning light, sun pillars, and sundown as his furry little friend sat down and listened and then trotted along…  Foxy even has kids of her own now. “In a world full of crazy, this brought joy to my soul. Thank you,” Eve S. wrote on YouTube. Andy is thrilled to release Songs of the Sunrise Fox and hopes it sends some joy your way as well.

Andy Thorn: Songs of the Sunrise Fox Track Listing:

1. Aesop Mountain (3:28)
2. Barry’s Bounce (1:40)
3. Red Sun Salutation (2:44)
4. Dawn is Coming (3:42)
5. Stork Bite (2:22)
6. Monarch Morning (3:39)
7. The Morning Light (1:25)
8. Whisker Twitchin’ (1:02)
9. Fox’s Fancy (3:06)
10. Fabled Way (3:45)
11. Trot Along (1:37)
12. Fox Trail (3:05)
13. Sun Pillar (1:54)
14. Silver Thorn (3:24)
15. Aesop Mountain (2:20)

Songs of the Sunrise Fox is available at  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/andythorn/songs-of-the-sunrise-fox.
Vinyl records are  available to purchase at the website www.andythornmusic.com/shop. 

More information at www.andythornmusic.com, facebook.com/andythornmusic.com, instagram.com/_thornpipe_, and youtube: Andy Thorn – Thornhub.