Giri and Uma Peters are a brother/sister duo from Nashville, TN. These award-winning multi-instrumentalists have been electrifying audiences with their refreshing, soulful blend of old-time and roots music. Although young in age, their musicianship and vocal harmonies showcase a level of creativity and originality well beyond their years.
Artist Category: Roots
Turtle Vibe
Sliding from the murky depths of Berklee practice rooms, this band is named Turtle Vibe because at least one member is reminiscent of a shell-wearing reptile… their music is a combination of both songs and instrumentals, a unique perspective rooted in a mixture of traditions including bluegrass, old time, jazz, funk, and blues.
Brian Murray – Guitar
Corban Welter – Mandolin
Trevin Nelson – Banjo
Noah Harrington – Bass
Spotted Tiger
Spotted Tiger formed around the songwriting of Laurence Scudder & Erik White. Drawing on shared musical influences the band has shaped a unique sound from the ground up. Join them for an evening full of new material & arrangements exploring the inner workings of their songs. This show will be different than any other Spotted Tiger show thus far.
Jeffrey & Aaron Halford
It’s nearly impossible to describe this artist’s musicality in a few limiting words. Jeffrey Halford, Americana singer/songwriter, establishes a special connection with fans through his soulful fusion of folk, rock, country and blues. Jeffrey Halford and his band the Healers continue their tour nationwide and internationally in support of their recent record ‘West Towards South’ which was released through Floating Records.
Atmospheric, funky, rustic, and raw this is narrative Americana at its finest; poetic story songs delivered with the voice of authenticity, sitting atop a moody bed of dirty slide guitars, organic drums, and swampy bass. Subtle touches of violin, piano, and lap steel adorn a song cycle that chronicles the westbound adventures of two mythic brothers in an equally mythic America. Jeffrey with co-writer Don Zimmer and Adam Rossi (band member, co-producer) created a genuine Americana concept album that is simultaneously devoid of pretension, and richly authentic. The album already received acclaim by Rolling Stone, LA Music Critic, Middle Tennessee Music and many others.
Over the last 25 years, Jeffrey Halford and the Healers have played shows with some of music’s most acclaimed artists and songwriters, as well as Halford’s influences, such as Taj Mahal, Los Lobos, George Thorogood, Gregg Allman, Etta James, John Hammond, and Texas Greats Augie Meyers, Guy Clark and Robert Earl Keen.
Corner House
Originally hailing from Boston, MA, Corner House takes their name from the place where the four young band members found musical family in one another – their shared home in Brighton, as students at Berklee College of Music. Emerging from varied genre backgrounds, the quartet’s unique strength is their desire to learn from one another, not only in musical skill and style, but in life experience; such that every challenge overcome by one band member becomes part of the group’s shared musical and personal DNA. On their debut full length album How Beautiful It’s Been the band reveals the sublime result of that growth mindset, with a singular sound that incorporates old time, Scottish, progressive bluegrass and folk.
Originally made up of songwriter and guitarist Ethan Hawkins, Scottish fiddle player Louise Bichan, and bluegrass mandolinist Ethan Setiawan, Corner House are students of a wide variety of musical traditions. In the autumn of 2017, the group debuted at FreshGrass Festival in North Adams, MA, before recording a self-titled EP and touring Scotland the following year. Returning from overseas, the three found the illustrious cellist, Casey Murray, living just down the street and invited her to join the fold, unveiling the new line-up on a second EP, Smart Folks, released in 2019. For their debut full length record, which focuses more on lyric based arrangements, they enlisted harp virtuoso Maeve Gilchrist, a past mentor to all four band members, to produce. “We all really admired her musicality, arranging and writing, and Ethan and Maeve bonded over poetry, and songwriting”, explains Bichan.
How Beautiful It’s Been features five songs and four instrumentals, which serve as soundscape meditations between each lyrical offering. Several of the instrumentals, such as “2 Rights Make A Chicken”, showcase the Celtic influence in the band, with gorgeous cello and fiddle melodies calling Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Haas recordings to mind. In this context, however, they are also accompanied by rhythmic and arpeggiated mandolin and guitar, emerging into improvised solos before returning to the melodic backbone of the tune.
In many ways, Corner House is the band we all wish we could be a part of. Mutually inspired, learning from one another, and open to any and all ideas, the group is a beautiful representation of their generation; not only tolerating, but embracing diversity in every aspect of their music making. If we listen closely enough, we may be able to learn just as much from them as they have from one another.
Stillhouse Junkies
A crowd-thrilling trio from the hills of Colorado, Stillhouse Junkies share the kind of strangely charmed chemistry that elevates both artist and audience alike. Since forming in 2017, the Durango-bred band have offered up a hypnotic and high-energy form of roots music anchored in the free-flowing interplay among the three lifelong musicians (Fred Kosak on guitar and mandolin, Cody Tinnin on upright bass, Alissa Wolf on fiddle). While they’ve gained major traction in the bluegrass world in recent years — including winning the IBMA Momentum Band of the Year award in 2021—Stillhouse Junkies ultimately inhabit a genre – blurring and subtly inventive sound informed by everything from blues to classical to Texas swing. When matched with their nuanced songcraft and soul-stirring harmonies, the result is a one-of-a-kind musical experience that immediately transports the listener into a more enchanted state of mind.
OKAN
Taking their name from the word for heart or soul in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria, OKAN fuses Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk and global rhythms in songs about immigration, bravery and love.
Embracing musical roles traditionally been occupied by men in their genres of focus, co-leaders, composers and multi-instrumentalists Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne bring a fresh perspective to Latin and world jazz through their powerful harmonies, incredible musicianship and potent lyrics.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Elizabeth Rodriguez is a classically trained violinist who served as concertmaster for Havana’s Youth Orchestra. Magdelys Savigne hails from Santiago de Cuba and graduated with honours in orchestral percussion from Havana’s University of the Arts. Both are JUNO-nominees for their work with Battle of Santiago and Grammy-nominees for their contributions to Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, of which they are former members.
Living and collaborating in the beautifully multicultural city of Toronto has enriched OKAN’s compositions with influences from Brazil, Spain and New Orleans. Backed by some of the Canada’s finest jazz and Latin players including Miguel de Armas, Roberto Riveron, Jeremy Ledbetter and Alexis Baro, OKAN launched their debut recording Laberinto in October of 2018 and will release their full-length recording in 2019.
Will Evans
Will Evans has spent the last decade as the primary songwriter, drummer, and front man for the Roots Rock outfit Barefoot Truth. The band released four full-length albums and has surpassed over 20 million plays on Spotify.
With BFT on an extended hiatus, Will has opened a new chapter in his musical journey. In 2018, Will joined his good friend Trevor Hall as a member of his touring band. Together they have performed to passionate crowds across North America and Europe.
On Election Day in November 2018, Will released his third full-length solo album “RISE”. His deepest and most personal album to date, songs contain topics of humanity, compassion, and a reflection of the current political times. In a time when many are looking for words of inspiration and reassurance, the singer-songwriter is once again speaking from his heart, advocating his own brand of socially-conscious messages of love and inclusion. A lifelong surfer and environmentalist, his songs also speak to the importance of connecting with and protecting the earth. The album features guest appearances by Trevor Hall, Mihali of Twiddle, and more.
In his live performances, Will uses his impressive looping skills to combine his drumming background with his highly energized and entertaining acoustic style. Displaying his technical mastery of looping on the stage, crowds always get to their feet and he always reaches their hearts.
Will has shared the stage with many top artists including Crosby and Nash, Grace Potter, Bruce Hornsby, Rusted Root, Trevor Hall, Nahko, Xavier Rudd, Donavon Frankenreiter, Railroad Earth and members of Dispatch.
Sarah Eide
In an industry that can often feel over saturated with stale soundscapes, lifeless lyrics, and predictable patterns, Sarah Eide’s music cuts through the clutter. Bursting out of any genre’s box, her music deftly weaves influences of roots, folk, jazz and pop, creating a singular sound that is uniquely her own. Songs that are thoughtful, quirky, and honest, are matched with a signature musical style that is equal parts complex and catchy. With skillful piano playing and a powerful voice, these songs are what pulls her audience in and keeps them coming back.
Eide’s newest release, “Dream on Hold” (May 6, 2019) is a heart-throbbing album that depicts the unique, modern challenges of a real woman experiencing motherhood for the first time. Music from the album has been featured on The Bluegrass Situation, For Folk’s Sake, NYS Music and more, with critics calling it “an enthralling Americana storybook” (CITY Newspaper). Sarah will be celebrating the release of this album with some guest musicians accompanying her.
The Wildmans
The Wildmans are a brother-and-sister-led band bringing an eclectic, energetic and captivating live performance that is deeply rooted in the Appalachian American and old-time, country music tradition. The Wildmans expand on these roots with dynamic improvisational interludes and original songs, written by the band and friends of the area. Sing songs featuring brother sister “blood” harmonies.
Growing up in and basing out of the small one stoplight town of Floyd, Virginia, located in the heart of Appalachia. The Wildmans represent Appalachian American culture not only through their music, but through their upbringing and love for this region’s lifestyle and influence on all American music.
From campsite jamming at festivals and fiddler’s conventions and a Berklee College of Music education comes the foundation for musical exploration that sets this group apart, taking the audience on a musical journey that reflects the growth and passion of these talented musicians.
The Wildmans have appeared on stages large and small, including an extensive list of music festivals along the east coast, midwest, Wyoming and Colorado. Appearing on stages with artists such as, Bela Fleck, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Oliver Wood, Sierra Ferrell, The Steel Wheels, Sammy Shelor, Sierra Hull, Billy Strings, and more.
