Jon Stickley Trio Releases New EP, Announces Kickstarter for Next Full Length, Song Premiere

Jon Stickley Trio. Photo by Heather Hambor

Jon Stickley Trio Releases New EP, Announces Kickstarter for Next Full Length Album to be Produced by Dave King (The Bad Plus) at Echo Mountain Studios

Pre-Order the New Album Now & Receive the New EP, Triangular, the day the goal is reached!

KICKSTARTER → http://kck.st/2e0lTzL  

Live For Live World Premiere of  “Blackburn Brothers” from Triangular →
http://bit.ly/JS3_L4LM_BlackburnBrothersPremiere

Donate over $5 and get that song immediately

ASHEVILLE, NC – It’s been a whirlwind year for the Jon Stickley Trio! On the tail of their 2015 fan funded and independent release, Lost at Last, they have just announced a brand new 5-song EP, Triangular, and a Kickstarter Campaign to help them head back into Echo Mountain Recording Studio with Producer Dave King (Of The Bad Plus) to record a new full length album. King also produced Lost At Last which garnered praise from The New York Times, NPR’s Heavy Rotation, NPR’s World Cafe, Premier Guitar Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and many others.

Lost At Last made it into rotation on radio stations both nationally and internationally, the Trio performed at over 100 festivals and venues across the country (Including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC), attracted attention of thousands of new fans, and landed a top notch booking agent. All of this interlocks, proving that the release of a recording can translate directly into touring traction and financial returns that propel the band into the future. Jon Stickley Trio heads into the studio in early December to record the yet unnamed full length album.

“Asheville, NC’s Jon Stickley has been playing in bluegrass bands for years, and is known as a progressive and adventurous flatpicker, but his musical roots and influences range widely to include rap, grunge, punk and more.” Linda Fahey with FolkAlley says for NPR’s Heavy Rotation. “When he teamed up with fiddler Lyndsay Pruett and drummer Patrick Armitage — originally as a lighthearted side project — the end result is a wonderfully unique sound that defies easy categorization.”

Jon Stickley Trio is looking to raise $28,000 and launched the Kickstarter campaign on 10/10; Folks can get involved until it ends on 11/11. They say, “We’ve set our goal at $28,000 which is substantially less than what the realistic costs add up to, because we understand that this is a group effort, and we are a part of that group!”

Anyone that donates $5 or more toward the new full length album will get one song from the new 5-song EP, Triangular, as an immediate download. The track is called “Blackburn Brothers” and it is a funky trio version of a tune Jon originally wrote with his brother Jeff while down at the Carolina coast. It features expressive solos by Jon and Lyndsay, that sync up with their signature, on point unison melody playing at the end. The song also highlights a danceable, somewhat latin drum beat.

Head on over to Live For Live Music to listen to the World Premiere of “Blackburn Brothers.” →  http://bit.ly/JS3_L4LM_BlackburnBrothersPremiere.

Anyone that donates $10 or more will get Triangular as soon as the goal is reached. The EP was recorded at Blue Sprocket Sound in Harrisonburg, VA this summer. Other packages include private house concerts, a day at the studio with the band when they record the new album, music lessons with each member, limited edition “Individual Person” t-shirts of each member of the band (only available through the Kickstarter campaign), the new yet un-named album,  an ultra-special limited Vinyl edition of Triangular (only available through the Kickstarter campaign), previous recordings, and more!

This budget figures in the recording, mixing, mastering and pressing of the new full length album. A portion of the budget is also dedicated to promotion of the new album as well as the EP, this includes print and radio. Jon Says, “This was such a huge part of the success of Lost at Last and since we didn’t plan for it last time we added it in this time around.” They’ve also budgeted in album art, photos and graphic designs that will all be a part of the new album as well.

Who is this Dave King character?
Dave King is the drummer of The Bad Plus, also a trio, whose music combines elements of modern avant-garde jazz with rock and pop influences. “The Bad Plus, also a mainly instrumental group, has had an influence on our band since the start.” Jon Stickley continues, “We all loved Dave King independently and when we found out one day he used to be Patrick’s drum teacher we freaked out. Dave’s presence on the last album was unmistakable. His sometimes subtle guidance, and other times obvious counsel made Lost at Last what it was. We’re so excited about going into the studio with him for a second time around, now that we’ve gotten to know him and are less fan-girly.”

Jon Stickley Trio with Dave King

The band’s drummer, Patrick Armitage, has deep roots to Minneapolis, where King is from. He says, “I was lucky enough to study under Dave King for 6 years. Now I get to work with him professionally. That’s an honor. With Dave producing our last record and my drumming it’s nice to know there is a little bit of Minneapolis sneaking it’s way into The Jon Stickley Trio.”

The rest of the band first met King the evening before hitting the studio to make Lost at Last. In a way, that session was a “getting to know you” experience for all of them. They became fast friends, and clicked musically in the studio, but in the end it left the band wondering what they could accomplish if they were to have the same opportunity again. The exciting prospects led them to decide to work with him on this upcoming record in the same studio.

“Echo Mountain was the perfect fit for us because the setting of the old church, the creakiness of the wood, the vintage hum of the gear, and the discerning ear of Julian Dryer added an audible realness and character to the recording that was totally complimentary to our improvisational, original instrumental music, “ says Jon Stickley.

Since the recording and release of Lost at Last, Jon Stickley Trio has traveled over 50,000 miles, played shows in new territories all over the country, and evolved into a fully formed, musical identity that was just beginning to take shape on the first record. Stickley realizes, “Our musicality has matured individually, and collectively to the extent that we can read each other, and respond to each other in a completely intuitive and natural way. We can’t wait to take our matured sound back into Echo Mountain with our mentor and producer, Dave King.”

Jon Stickley Trio On Tour 2016
10/8 Sat – The Festy – Arrington, VA
10/14 Fri – PLC Land Jam @ Carolina Theatre – Greensboro, NC*
10/15-16 Sat-Sun – Suwannee Roots Revival – Live Oak, FL
10/17 Mon – Beaches Museum History Park Chapel – Jacksonville, Fl
10/20 Thu – NC State Fair – Raleigh, NC
10/21 Fri – House Concert – Durham, NC
10/22 – Cat’s Cradle- Carrboro, NC
11/2 Wed – 1904 Music Hall – Jacksonville, FL
11/3 Thu – The Ale & The Witch – St. Petersburg, FL
11/4 Fri – Fogarty Community Media and Arts Center – Sarasota, FL
11/5 Sat – Arts Garage – Delray Beach, FL
11/9 Wed – Guanabanas – Jupiter, FL
11/10 Thu – Terra Fermata – Stuart, FL
11/11 Fri – Point Ybel Brewing – Fort Myers, FL
11/12 Sat – The Funky Buddha – Boca Raton, FL
11/13 Sun – Fifth and Thomas Kitchen – Tallahassee, FL
12/7 Wed – WDVX Tennessee Shines @ Boyd’s Jig & Reel – Knoxville, TN
12/30 Fri – The National – Richmond, VA ^
12/31 Sat – Isis Music Hall – Asheville, NC #

* w. Ricky Skaggs
^ w. The Infamous Stringdusters
# w. The Honeycutters

For more information, updates from the road, and more, please visit www.jonstickley.com, www.facebook.com/JonStickleyTrio, www.instagram.com/JonStickleyTrio , and www.twitter.com/StickleyMusic.

Read Full Post »

Help Tellico Grow Their Community, New Asheville Band Hits Kickstarter Goal In One Day For Debut Album

Newly Formed Asheville Band, Tellico, Raises $7500 In A Day For Debut Album
Tellico is Anya Hinkle (guitar, fiddle & vocals), Stig Stiglets (bass & vocals),
Aaron Ballance (dobro), and Jed Willis (mandolin, clawhammer banjo)

Help Tellico Grow Their Community By Doubling The Amount of Backers
From 100 to 200 By The End Of The Campaign (Mon 11/17)

http://bit.ly/TellicoKickstarter

More about Tellico at: tellicoband.com, facebook.com/tellico & twitter.com/TellicoBand

 Tellico is the most recent product of Asheville NC’s thriving roots music scene, with its members well schooled in bluegrass but with an unbridled organic Appalachiacana sound, and they are excited to be debuting an album in 2015. Tellico features the singing and songwriting of Anya Hinkle (guitar, fiddle, vocals) and Stig Stiglets (bass, vocals) with Aaron Ballance on dobro, as well as Jed Willis on mandolin and clawhammer banjo. After playing together late last year, three former members of the Asheville bands Dehlia Low (Anya, Aaron, and Stig) and Town Mountain (Jed) decided the combination of so much history together and the excitement of a new project was so compelling that they decided to form Tellico.

Well known for their rootsy, authentic singing and vocal harmony, as well as in the hard-edge nostalgic yet modern themes of their songwriting, the quartet combines some of the finest voices, songs and instrumental prowess in western North Carolina and beyond. In previous lineups, the band’s members have performed at some of the nation’s most prestigious festivals and venues including MerleFest, Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Mountain Song Festival, and the Freight and Salvage. Aaron also won the Rockygrass Dobro Competition in 2010. Anya, Stig and Aaron also recorded under the Rebel Records label in 2011 for Dehlia Low’s Ravens and Crows album as well as three other independent releases with their previous band between 2007 and 2010.

Folks are excited to hear the new music and within the first 24 hours of launching a 33-day Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for their debut album they had met their goal of $7500. By day nine, they had surpassed it to reach $10,000. The band is wowed by all of the support which will not only enable them to make the album, but also to expand their calendar and get their music out to more listeners across the country. Tellico has reached a beautiful milestone in this campaign and now has a bit over 100 backers! This campaign has always been about getting the music out there and growing a community around that effort and they still have more than halfway to go.

Seeing such a positive response from the community, the band would like to grow the Tellico family over the remainder of the campaign to double the amount of backers to 200 at any reward level! Getting involved before the CD is even made allows them to get as many CDs printed as they can, which will shipped out to backers before the album even releases to the public. In addition, becoming a backer means becoming a part of the project, and a feeling of investment in the album’s recording and release, as well as helping to provide us more financial options than if you were to purchase the album after it is released. Backers become Tellico’s record label, the band digs it, wants you to join them in this and for you to bring your friends along for the ride too!

“Connecting with and hearing from their fans makes such a difference in the way they think about the “why” part of what they do. It’s wonderful hearing from you,” says Anya Hinkle. One backer, LFW, wrote “Dehlia Low’s music brought me through some of the most difficult times in my life as I coped with the illness/deaths of my parents…… and, of course, still inspires me today. I’m so thankful for that and feel like I owe these wonderful talented musicians. Looking forward to hearing the great/beautiful music they will produce. Can’t wait for the CD!!!”

The songs that will be on the album reflects the sights, sounds, and feelings of living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina capturing the resonating and universal themes of love, disaster, cheatin’, loss, busking, dreams, and change. The blend of Anya and Stig’s committed, authentic vocals with Aaron’s flowing and soaring dobro and Jed’s textured and expressive mandolin bring to the songs their foundation, rooted in the mountain music they grew up with, but taken to somewhere unique.

Check out the video they made for the campaign and listen to a few demo cuts of three new songs at  http://bit.ly/TellicoKickstarter. Please do help us spread the word with friends and family that may be interested!

By becoming a backer for our upcoming album, not only do you get an autographed copy of the disk mailed right to your door, but also other perks only available to backers, like personal thank-yous, limited edition hats, shirts, crafts and stickers, demos and pre-release tracks, photos from the studio and project updates. Most importantly though, you join us in the process creating this album.  It’s a big world but it becomes smaller when we connect with each other. And more fun.

What folks are saying about Tellico:

“Tellico’s music is easy enough to understand at first: acoustic music rooted in Appalachian traditions that is memorable and well played, with a female lead singer whose voice is as dreamy and sad as it is soulful and sweet. But there’s so much more to it than that, and uncovering all the layers of what makes Tellico special can become a kind of captivating mystery story. Here you have members of bands Dehlia Low and Town Mountain making music that is both true to their roots but unique and fresh. It’s music that can appeal to die-hard old-time, bluegrass, ragtime and blues fans while bending the ears of folks who never liked songs that even came close to a pair of overalls. Front and center is the voice of Anya Hinkle, who reminds me of Billie Holiday in a Carter Family setting; she seals the deal. I’m very much looking forward to hearing their first album.” –Joe Kendrick, WNCW 88.7 FM & Producer of Lingua Musica, Asheville, NC

“Delivering an authentic Appalachian string band sound aesthetic with modern but timeless lyrics, Tellico defines Asheville Americana. These musicians will touch your heart and mind with their cabin porch informed vocals and tasteful instrumentation….every song’s a ‘keeper’”. –Davis Tracy, WDCV Carlisle, PA & Bluegrass@Dickenson

“It strikes a chord in me…it sends chills up my spine.” –“Hippie” Jack Stoddart, Jammin’ at Hippie Jack’s Americana Festival and Council for Americana Roots Music

“I knew from the first moment I heard Anya sing that I had found the voice I craved to hear once again–a voice that is both unique yet beautiful, with a truly authentic quality. I can’t wait to review the forthcoming Tellico release.” –Dennis Brunnenmeyer, KVMR, Nevada City Limits, Nevada City CA

Find out more about Tellico and stay up to date on their news at: tellicoband.com, facebook.com/tellico & twitter.com/TellicoBand

Read Full Post »

The Honeycutters Debut New Song on WNCW! Kickstarter Campaign Update

The Honeycutters Debut New Song on WNCW!
Kickstarter Campaign Update, Tour Dates

CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

The Honeycutters just debuted a new song on WNCW, are about to embark on an extensive tour throughout the northwest, and are in the last ten days of their Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a Spring 2014 album release! The band is fronted by vocalist and songwriter, Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James and includes Tal Taylor on mandolin, bassist Rick Cooper, and Josh Milligan on drums. For a FREE download of a sampler of The Honeycutters’ music, visit NoiseTrade: http://bit.ly/honeycuttersntm.

Last weekend was great week for The Honeycutters! They had a pair of hometown shows at the Isis Music Hall in Asheville with a more formal sit down dinner crowd on Friday night and a sold-out standing room only show on Saturday night. Check out this great review of the show in the Mountain Xpress by Alli Marshall. They’ll be LIVE on WGWG in Boiling Springs, NC at 2 PM Eastern on Thursday, May 30th. You can listen here!!

They just introduced a brand new song “Wedding Song” and have been thinking of putting it on the new record but haven’t made up their minds yet! Please let us know what you think of it by posted a comment below or leave a note on their facebook wall! Watch the performance of the song below.

The Honeycutters – Wedding Song (Live at WNCW on 5/15/13)

The Honeycutters are currently being featured on CMT Concrete Country!! CMT got a few videos of the band playing at their headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee with performances of “Oh Me, Oh My,” “Waiting in the Morning” and “90 Miles.”

There is still time to jump on The Honeycutters honey train to raise funds for their 4th album through Kickstarter. They’ve had over 180 fans pledge over $19,000 but they need to make it to $28,000 in 10 days or they don’t get any of it :(. You can pledge by going to the Honeycutters Kickstarter page and pledging whatever you can give in support of their next record. There are many great incentives at every level including a day at the studio w/ The Honeycutters; handwritten lyrics booklets to accompany the album; house concerts featuring The Honeycutters; an invitation to a either a guitar workshop w/ Peter James or a songwriting workshop w/ Amanda Anne Platt; a special edition poster; pre-release copies of the album; stickers; digital downloads and more.

Upcoming Honeycutters Shows:
May 29, 2013 – Raleigh, NC @ The Berkeley Cafe
May 30, 2013 – Charlotte, NC @ US National Whitewater Center
Jun 1, 2013 – Nelsonville, OH @ Hocking College – Nelsonville Music Festival
Jun 5, 2013 – Bend, OR @ Old Saint Francis/Father Luke’s
Jun 6, 2013 – Portland, OR @ Kennedy School
Jun 7, 2013 – McMinnville, OR @ Hotel Oregon
Jun 8, 2013 – Bainbridge Island, WA @ Treehouse Cafe
Jun 9, 2013 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Jun 11, 2013 – Centralia, WA @ Oly Club
Jun 12, 2013 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield Little Red Shed
Jun 13, 2013 – Gearhart, OR @ Sand Trap Pub
Jun 14, 2013 – Forest Grove, OR @ Grand Lodge
Jun 15, 2013 – Seattle, WA @ Conor Byrne Pub
Jun 16, 2013 – Bellingham, WA @ The Green Frog Cafe and Acoustic Tavern
Jun 27, 2013 – Cullowhee, NC @ Univ Ctr. Central Plaza – WCU’s Summer Concert Series
Jun 28, 2013 – Lexington, NC @ High Rock Outfitters
Jun 29, 2013 – Knoxville, TN @ Barley’s (Amanda Anne Platt solo)
Jul 4, 2013 – Athens, GA @ The Melting Point – Classic City American Music Festival
Jul 5, 2013 – Isle Of Palms, SC @ Windjammer
Jul 11, 2013 – Opelika, AL @ The Overall Company
Jul 12, 2013 – Birmingham, AL @ Moonlight on The Mountain Concert Series
Jul 19, 2013 – Juliette, GA @ Juliette Opry
Jul 20, 2013 –  Eastman, GA @ The Magnolia Theater
Aug 10, 2013 – Willits, CA @ Dead on the Creek – Dead on the Creek Music Weekend
Aug 23, 2013 – Tryon, NC @ Rogers Park Summer Tracks Concert Series
Aug 25, 2013 – Flat Rock, NC @ Music by the Lake Concert Series at Blue Ridge Community College
Sep 6, 2013 – Nelsonville, OH @ Stuart’s Opera House
Sep 7, 2013 –   Harmony, PA @ Harmony Music Festival
Mar 30, 2014 – Fripp Island, SC @ Fripp Island Community Center

WHEN BITTER MET SWEET

If you haven’t already, pick up a copy at a show or on Amazon!

You can also stream the album on Spotify!

For more updates visit: www.thehoneycutters.com

Read Full Post »

The Honeycutters Perform Two Evenings at Isis Music Hall w/ Rorey Carroll 5/17 & Moses Atwood 5/18

The Honeycutters Perform Two Evenings at Isis Music Hall
w/ Rorey Carroll 5/17 & Moses Atwood 5/18

The Honeycutters are thrilled to be performing two evenings this May in their hometown of Asheville, NC at Isis Music Hall. Tickets are $12 in advance / $15 at door for each night.

The Friday, May 17th concert will be a seated event with Rorey Carroll opening the show.

The Saturday, May 18th concert will be a standing room only  (minimal seating on the concert floor and in the balcony) show with Moses Atwood and his band opening the show.

The Honeycutters are, at the heart, the musical collaboration of singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James. While their sound has drawn comparisons to such artists as Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Platt and James produce a refreshingly unique blend of Americana music that is comfortingly familiar while being entirely original.

Like so many of country music’s great duos, Platt and James have a musical chemistry that can be felt throughout the songs they play, from the sounds of their guitars to their vocal harmonies. Perhaps this is why they are frequently mentioned along with the movement to “take country music back to its roots.” Tal Taylor on mandolin, Rick Cooper on bass, and Josh Milligan on drums round out Platt’s songs and create a sound that carries just as well across the bar room as it does in a church or a music hall.

The Honeycutters launched a Kickstarter campaign over MerleFest weekend, where they performed, and it will run for forty days. The goal is set to raise $28,000, which will be earmarked for recording; the mixing & mastering of the album at the prestigious Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville; album packaging design; album pressing; distribution; publicity and radio promotion. Supporters will receive an assortment of special gifts for pledging to the campaign including a day at the studio w/ The Honeycutters; handwritten lyrics booklets to accompany the album; house concerts featuring The Honeycutters; an invitation to a either a guitar workshop w/ Peter James or a songwriting workshop w/ Amanda Anne Platt; a special edition poster; pre-release copies of the album; stickers; digital downloads and more.

The Honeycutters are currently featured in CMT’s Concrete Country series where they perform three original songs live in the heart of Downtown Nashville.  “With smart songs and a pleasant acoustic approach, the Honeycutters may become one of Americana’s next buzz bands,” said CMT Edge’s Craig Shelburne. Watch it here: http://www.cmtedge.com/2013/04/22/concrete-country-the-honeycutters/.

Last year marked a successful year for The Honeycutters, with the release of their second album, When Bitter Met Sweet, which was also fan funded. The album released at MerleFest and was one of the top ten selling albums at MerleFest 2012. The band went on to sell out the Grey Eagle in Asheville for their official CD release party, and they performed at Strawberry Music Fest in California. Highlights for the band in 2012 included opening for Guy Clark in Nashville, TN and for Jim Lauderdale in New York City.

When Bitter Met Sweet remained on the Americana Radio Chart for 11 weeks after its June release where it reached #23. It  landed at #94 in the top 100 Americana releases for 2012 and placed #4 in WNCW’s Top 100 Albums of the same year. Regionally, it was the #2 record, right behind The Avett Brothers’ The Carpenter. Asheville’s Mountain Xpress reader’s poll selected The Honeycutters as “Best Local Americana Country Band” for the second year running. The group’s first release, Irene (2009) also received positive accolades like placing #32 on WNCW’s Top 100 Chart and a listing on Iaan Hughes’ No Depression Podcast’s Top Twenty of 2009.

For a free download of a sampler of The Honeycutters’ music, visit NoiseTrade: http://bit.ly/honeycuttersntm.

SHOW DETAILS AT A GLANCE

The Honeycutters @ Isis Music Hall on Fri & Sat, May 17-18th
Each night: $12 in advance / $15 at door. (cash only)
Doors 8pm, Show 9pm, 828-575-2737 (for reservations)
743 Haywood Road Asheville, NC 28806
www.isisasheville.com

Friday, May 17th with Rorey Carroll (seated)
Seated concert with limited tablets of 4 or 8 available with dinner reservations.
There is also theater-style & balcony seating seating available on a first come first serve basis.
Friday Tickets: http://isisasheville.com/events/the-honeycutters/

Saturday, May 18th with Moses Atwood (standing room)
The Saturday concert will be a standing room only show with limited seating
Saturday Tickets:  http://isisasheville.com/events/the-honeycutters-2/

More information can be found at www.thehoneycutters.com

CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

Read Full Post »

The Honeycutters Launch Kickstarter Campaign, CMT Show

The Honeycutters Launch Kickstarter Campaign
CMT’s Concrete Country Features The Honeycutters

 CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

The Honeycutters are thrilled to announce the launch of their Kickstarter campaign on Thursday, April 25, 2013 for a Spring 2014 album release! The band is fronted by vocalist and songwriter, Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James and includes Tal Taylor on mandolin, bassist Rick Cooper, and Josh Milligan on drums.

The Kickstarter campaign launches during this weekend’s MerleFest, where The Honeycutters are set to perform, and will run for forty days. The goal is set to raise $28,000, which will be earmarked for recording; the mixing & mastering of the album at the prestigious Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville; album packaging design; album pressing; distribution; publicity and radio promotion. Supporters will receive an assortment of special gifts for pledging to the campaign including a day at the studio w/ The Honeycutters; handwritten lyrics booklets to accompany the album; house concerts featuring The Honeycutters; an invitation to a either a guitar workshop w/ Peter James or a songwriting workshop w/ Amanda Anne Platt; a special edition poster; pre-release copies of the album; stickers; digital downloads and more.

“We love playing music, being on the road, and meeting the people that make our lives as musicians possible,” Platt says. “We’re hoping that the release of this next record will afford us a greater opportunity for doing what we love–we want to bring more Honeycutters music into the world!”

Last year marked a successful year for The Honeycutters, with the release of their second album, When Bitter Met Sweet, which was also fan funded. The album released at MerleFest and was one of the top ten selling albums at MerleFest 2012. The band went on to sell out the Grey Eagle in Asheville for their official CD release party, and they performed at Strawberry Music Fest in California. Highlights for the band in 2012 included opening for Guy Clark in Nashville, TN and for Jim Lauderdale in New York City.

When Bitter Met Sweet remained on the Americana Radio Chart for 11 weeks after its June release where it reached #23. It  landed at #94 in the top 100 Americana releases for 2012 and placed #4 in WNCW’s Top 100 Albums of the same year. Regionally, it was the #2 record, right behind The Avett Brothers’ The Carpenter. Asheville’s Mountain Xpress reader’s poll selected The Honeycutters as “Best Local Americana Country Band” for the second year running. The group’s first release, Irene (2009) also received positive accolades like placing #32 on WNCW’s Top 100 Chart and a listing on Iaan Hughes’ No Depression Podcast’s Top Twenty of 2009.

The Honeycutters are currently featured in CMT’s Concrete Country series where they perform three original songs live in the heart of Downtown Nashville. Watch it here: http://www.cmtedge.com/2013/04/22/concrete-country-the-honeycutters/

For a free download of a sampler of The Honeycutters’ music, visit NoiseTrade: http://bit.ly/honeycuttersntm.

 CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

The Honeycutters on Tour:
Fri & Sat 4/26-27/13 MerleFest – Wilkesboro, NC
Fri & Sat 5/17-18/13 Isis Music Hall – Asheville, NC
Wed 5/29 The Berkeley Cafe – Raleigh, NC *w/ Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers
Thu 5/30 US National Whitewater Center – Charlotte, NC
Sat 6/1 Nelsonville Music Fest – Nelsonville, OH
Wed 6/5 Old St Francis Theater, Bend OR *
Thu 6/6 Kennedy School – Portland, OR *
Fri 6/7 Hotel Oregon – McMinnville, OR *
Sat 6/8 Treehouse Cafe – Bainbridge Island, WA
Sun 6/9 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR *
Tue 6/11 Oly Club Centralia – WA *
Wed 6/12 Edgefield – Troutdale, OR *
Thu 6/13 Sand Trap – Gearhart, OR *
Fri 6/14 Grand Lodge – Forest Grove, OR *
Sat 6/15 Conor Byrne Pub – Seattle, WA
Sun 6/16 Green Frog Acoustic Cafe – Bellingham, WA
Thu 6/27 Western Carolina U’s Summer Concert Series – Cullowhee, NC
Fri 6/28 High Rock Outfitters – Lexington, NC
Sat 6/29 Amanda Anne Platt solo opening for Jill Andrews (Barley’s Knoxville, ticketed show)
Wed 7/10 Eddies’ Attic – Decatur, GA w/ Rebecca Pronsky
Sat 7/20 Magnolia Music and Medicine Show – Eastman GA
Sat 8/10 Dead On The Creek Music Festival – Willits CA
Fri 8/23 Summer Tracks Series – Tryon NC
Sun 8/25 Music On The Lake, Blue Ridge Community College – Flat Rock, NC (  (duo show)
Sat 9/7 Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival –  – Harmony PA
*as part of McMenamins Great American Northwest Music Tour

More information can be found at www.thehoneycutters.com

ABOUT THE HONEYCUTTERS
The Honeycutters are, at the heart, the musical collaboration of singer/songwriter Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James. While their sound has drawn comparisons to such artists as Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Platt and James produce a refreshingly unique blend of Americana music that is comfortingly familiar while being entirely original. Whether performing as an acoustic duo or a full fledged Honky-Tonk five piece band, The Honeycutters leave smiles on the faces of the ears that they catch.

Like so many of country music’s great duos, Platt and James have a musical chemistry that can be felt throughout the songs they play, from the sounds of their guitars to their vocal harmonies. Perhaps this is why they are frequently mentioned along with the movement to “take country music back to its roots.” The Honeycutters are just doing what they know how to do: make music that feels as good to hear as it is to play.

 CLICK to Visit The Honeycutters’ Kickstarter Site!

Read Full Post »

The Papercookie Picture Company’s Kickstarter Campaign for an Indie Feature Film in Asheville and Mt. Airy

PRESENT, an independent feature film looking to shoot in Asheville and Mt. Airy, NC this October, is currently seeking fundraising through Kickstarter, the online crowd sourcing website. The film is written and to be directed by Joe Chang and produced by the Asheville-based Papercookie Picture Company. The film is looking to raise $3,950 through Kickstarter and only has until October 14th to do so. In exchange for “backing” the film, contributors can choose from many different gifts at different levels, including Handmade Postcards from the Cast, a copy of the finished film on DVD, or a download of the Original Score among other things.

Synopsis of the film:
Daniel Crane (Nesey Gallons) is a semi-famous performance artist traveling and touring around the country, entertaining small enthralled audiences in the living rooms of houses with his awkward and sometimes alienating acts. On Halloween weekend, he finds himself with a few days off in Asheville, NC, staying with his kid sister, Dorothy (Faith Callaway) who works as a waitress at an old mom and pop Diner.

When a couple leaves a book at the Diner, Dorothy and Daniel decide to revisit the small town where they grew up. Along with Dorothy’s roommate Cassie (Mariana Templin), they set out on a trip to Mount Airy, NC, discovering the things they once remembered are vanishing, and realizing things they’ve kept inside themselves since childhood never go away.

This will be Joe Chang’s second directorial feature. His first feature, the Asheville-made Neutral, is an award winning surrealist comedy that John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) praised as “beautifully written and bursting with sweet sympathy for its whimsical characters”. He also directed (and plays guitar with) local band Kovacs & the Polar Bear’s “Skeleton Crew” video, which won the Top Prize and Audience Award at the 2011 Music Video Asheville Festival.

Present will mark the feature film acting debuts of Faith Callaway, the adorable girl from the Skeleton Crew video, and Nesey Gallons, a musician and collaborator with the highly influential and cult Elephant 6 Music Collective.

The Papercookie Picture Company is a collection of former North Carolina School of the Arts Film School kids, who dropped out and have made a few features, including Grownups, Neutral, and Passenger Pigeons. These films have won awards and played in festivals throughout the world including South By Southwest, BAMcinemaFEST, Indie Grits, and the American Film Festival in Poland.

For more information on the film, please visit:

KICKSTARTER LINK:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787461611/present-a-feature-film

OFFICIAL MOVIE WEBSITE:
www.ithappenedonehalloween.com

Read Full Post »

Changing the World by Changing Me EP: A Kickstarter Campaign in Asheville for Jonathon Santos

UPDATE: THIS PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFULLY FUNDED!

Jonathan Santos is a soulful, globally minded and locally grounded singer/songwriter out of Asheville, NC. People are moved daily by his music that inspires and encourages. Now it is time to take it to the next level. You can listen to his song “Enough” on the official kickstarter page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/578200915/changing-the-world-by-changing-me-ep?ref=video

The goal of the Kickstarter Campaign is to raise $3,333 that will pay for him to record an EP at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville with the incredibly talented producer Josh Blake. Many greats have recorded there including Avett Brothers, Flogging Molly, and Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers.

Help to spread the word and let’s get this project funded!

Santos states, “With so much encouragement from the arts and music community here as well as the supporters of this project from around the world, I realize now that this project is something larger than me and I am honored to play my part. So, I invite you to join me on this adventure!”

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/578200915/changing-the-world-by-changing-me-ep?ref=video

http://www.reverbnation.com/GlocalSoul
http://www.myspace.com/glocalsoul

Read Full Post »

Kickstarter Campaign to finish the priduction of the social issue film “Mother’s Red Dress”

There is a Kickstarter Campaign running now through June 18th to finish the post-production of the film, Mother’s Red Dress.

The film experience is one of the few art forms that exist where people’s lives can be emotionally affected on a personal level. Films like the Academy Award nominated PRECIOUS show us a dark world but at the same time carry a message of hope that inspires.

Latino writer/director Edgar Michael Bravo and John Paul Rice formed No Restrictions Entertainment because they enjoy telling stories that are both entertaining and deal with social issues.

They are seeking funds to finish MOTHER’S RED DRESS a social issue feature film now in post-production.

The film deals directly with the effects of domestic violence, childhood abuse and mental illness – issues we feel are important to shed light on – for the positive change that can come from awareness and action in our communities.

The story is inspired by people they know and from their own personal experiences.

Their motivation to tell the story of MOTHER’S RED DRESS comes from an understanding that far too often abuse goes unreported for years and is kept secret either willfully or with a great measure of denial but when addressed and stopped, there is hope for the victims.

Watch the trailer below and visit: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/johnpaulrice/mothers-red-dress-a-social-issue-feature-film to donate and watch another short film about the campaign.

From the creators of ‘ONE HOUR FANTASY GIRL’, No Restrictions Entertainment presents Mother’s Red Dress:

Read Full Post »

HATCH Music Panel: ‘What’s Working From Who’s Working’ Workshop on Thursday, April 14th at 5pm

Exciting news! I will be speaking on a HATCH Music Panel, What’s Working from Who’s Working,  in Asheville this Thursday! More info is posted below.

The HATCH Experience takes place in Asheville from April 14th to 17th.  HATCH is a great opportunity for creative professionals on a local and National level to network.  Join in on the Music panels and workshops for discussions on how technology is changing how we interact with music.   Meet thought and creative leaders in music to discuss the cultural trends, the future and you. Find out more about the various HATCH Music events at: http://www.hatchasheville.org/music/. Other creative areas within HATCH are film, photo, fashion, architecture, design/ technology, and journalism. More information is on the website.

Music Conversation: What’s Working From Who’s Working Workshop
Echo Mountain’s API  Recording Studio
Don’t miss this conversation with musicians, publicists, agents, club and festivals at Echo Mountain’s API Recording Studio Thursday, April 14th at 5 pm – 7 pm. Join local musicians and industry pros for a discussion about making money making music.  Real advice for musicians who are making a living performing music.  Network with your peers and learn tips from musicians and industry folks on how to make it in the new music business.

Justin Ray ~ Professional Musician (Michale Buble, Spork, Boathouse All Stars)
www.facebook.com/#!/Sporkband and www.facebook.com/#!/BoathouseAllStars

Justin Ray has spent the last 8 years touring as a trumpet soloist, composer, and
arranger for Warner Bros recording artist Michael Buble. In addition to his duties with
Buble, he also fronts two other ensembles: Spork, a jazz quintet comprised of Asheville-
area musicians; and the Boathouse All-Stars, an internationally recognized group that
performs his original compositions for big band.

Jay Sanders ~ Musician (Acoustic Syndicate, The E.Normus Trio) and Application Developer (Creative Allies)
http://mindtonic.net and www.creativeallies.com

Jay Sanders has been a successful musician in the Western North Carolina music scene for almost 20 years.  He is best know for his work with Acoustic Syndicate, Donna The Buffalo and The E.Normus Trio.  When not shaping low frequency sound waves into genre bending styles, he is an active participant in the local technology sector through his work with Creative Allies and many other community minded projects.

Jessica Tomasin ~ Studio Manager at Echo Mountain Recording, Band Manager
www.echomountain.net

Jessica Tomasin has been the studio manager at Echo Mountain Recording since it’s start five years ago and has assisted it’s growth to become a world renown recording studio working with acts such as Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, The Avett Brothers, and Dierks Bentley amongst many other national and local acts. She was also the manager of the label, Echo Mountain Records. Jessica had been managing Aaron Wood for the past two years and launched the first successful Kickstarter campaign in the Asheville area to fund Wood’s self-titled album which was released this month.

Bowie van Ling ~ DJ / Producer / Percussionist, Graphic Designer, Event Producer
http://playlowmusic.com

Bowie van Ling of Playlow, the Asheville based DJ / Producer / Percussionist with complimentary expertise in multimedia design, event production and promotion. Has been observed in the wild wielding a multi-faceted multi-genre approach that empowers his career in the music industry. He’s seen great success with hundreds of shows at venues, spanning 3 continents from Amsterdam to the rainforests of Costa Rica. Locally he’s known as the four year consecutive hall of fame winner of best DJ/Turntablist in WNC.

Katherine “KP” Powell ~  founder / partner at Geniass Productions, partner at Tree Power & Sound, owner Asheville Music Hall / The One Stop Deli & Bar
www.geniassproductions.com and ww.treeleafmusic.com/treepower.html and

Katherine Powell has been working in the industry for the past 6 years with the intent of propelling music and musicians towards a place of business stability and financial security. She founded Geniass Productions in 2005 and shortly after teamed up with Laura Reed to form Deep Pocket which they quickly grew into a successful touring operation. Katherine also does solar-powered production, talent buying, publicity and is currently working on opening a music venue in Downtown Asheville.

Erin Scholze ~ owner of Dreamspider Publicity & Events
www.dreamspider.net

Erin Scholze has long been one of the greatest supporters of the Asheville music scene.  Her love of celebration has manifested itself through the work she has done for the community at large for such events and organizations as the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival, Music Video Asheville, the All Go West Festival, Community Choreography and more.  Her company, Dreamspider Publicity, raises international awareness of the amazing local, regional and national talent that she represents.  Her client list includes Donna the Buffalo, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Acoustic Syndicate, Galen Kipar Project, Dehlia Low, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra and Mad Tea Party.

Read Full Post »

“This isn’t a Woody Wood album. This is Aaron Wood.” CD Release at Highland Brewing on April 2nd

written by Mike McWilliams.

This isn’t a Woody Wood album. This is Aaron Wood.

After years of going by “Woody,” a nickname given to him by a childhood friend, the 37-year-old rocker said  he’s decided to start using the name his real name on stage, and his new album, he hopes, is the first step toward forging his own identity and being true to himself.

“This album is me. It might be painful for me to listen to, or it might be painful for others to listen to because it’s sad, but this is who I am, and I want to make sure for the rest of my life that I don’t run away from that,” Wood said before a recent gig at the Lexington Avenue Brewery in downtown Asheville.

“At the end of the day, this (album) is me and nobody else. I only hope that everything I put out from this point will be able to follow that frame of mind, and just being honest about who I am and what I am.”

Wood, who’s hot guitar licks and Al Green-inspired voice have been a staple on the Asheville music scene for nearly two decades, is set to release his first full-length album at a CD release party Saturday, April 2 at Highland Brewing Co. The self-titled Aaron Wood album features 11 tracks inspired by recent trials and tribulations in his life, including a painful divorce.

“There aint no happiness in any song on this. It’s all about sadness and pain,” Wood said. “This album is as true about how I have felt in the last two years and there aint a single song on there that’s not painful for me. It’s cathartic as a motherfucker.”

The album has been a year and a half in the making. At the urging of his manager, Jessica Tomasin, Wood used the Kickstarter fund-raising website to help cover recording and production costs. The site raised more than $9,000 in pledges from folks all over the United States and overseas. He cut the album at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville, with some local talent lending a hand, including Artimus Pyle, Ryan Burns, Tony Black and Mike Rhodes.

At the CD release party, Wood will be joined on stage by several who helped make the album. LaZoom Bus is offering a free shuttle service from downtown in front of the Emerald Lounge to the Highland Brewing Tasting room off Old Charlotte Highway. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

After the CD release, the band will return to Emerald Lounge from midnight to 2 a.m. To play an after party featuring Motown and soul cover songs. The after party is free to those who attend the CD release  party. Otherwise, it’s $5.

Wood hopes the new album will allow him to take his music across the globe. Although he will always consider Asheville home, Wood also thinks it’s time to spread his wings and check out another scene for a while. New Orleans, where he regularly plays, is beckoning.

“I bitch about Asheville a lot. I get sick of it a lot, and I have an urge to stay down in New Orleans for a while,” Wood said. “New Orleans is my spiritual hometown for sure.”

written by Mike McWilliams.  Mike writes about entertainment for take5 in Asheville.

Read Full Post »