Americana duo 3 Pairs of Boots to release debut album, “Gone South,” on July 12th

For Immediate Release
May 1, 2019

 

Americana duo 3 Pairs of Boots to release debut album, Gone South, on July 12th 

San Francisco, CA-based Americana husband-and-wife duo 3 Pairs of Boots (Andrew Stern and Laura Arias) is set to release its debut album, Gone South, on July 12, 2019.  Produced by Stern and recorded in the band’s own studio, the music is an amalgam of twangy two-step, gritty guitars, dusty pop, and bluesy, bittersweet folk from the Left Coast.  While Tennessee and Texas reap most of the Americana glory, one cannot discount California’s contributions to the form. After all, the wide and deep genre’s roots reach back into the West Coast’s folk-rock scene just as much as they do the South’s blues and country traditions.

“We had a great time writing and recording these songs and got so much enjoyment as they revealed themselves during the recording process, discovering what they were all about, taking us places where we did not expect,” say Stern about Gone South.  “We feel very close to all of them.”

Stern and Arias, who have performed together for years, originally met through a “Singer Wanted” ad. Within a year, they were not just bandmates; they were also spouses. Ever since, they’ve rolled their way down a long, winding road through various genres — including rock, dance, Latin, fusion, prog rock, and punk — only to end up in the melting pot of Americana with all their influences and experiences still intact. “This music encompasses all of the artists who influenced us: The Beatles, Buffalo Springfield, The Who, The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, Tom Petty, Nick Drake, and more,” Stern notes. “They all have a place in what we create now.” Indeed, with 3 Pairs of Boots, jangle-pop guitars might well sidle right up alongside a two-step groove.

Lyrically, Gone South is anchored by several recurring themes. One that jumps out time and again is working hard for very little. Having — or not having — love is another thread that weaves through the album. As a happily married couple, neither has turned their pen upon themselves just yet. Instead, they prefer the observational approach of writing about others, which is a tool easily employed in any given situation, whether it’s the western traveler in the spry chug of “Hey I’m on My Way,” the working woman in the laid-back groove of “It Ain’t Easy,” or the sentimental parent in the driving bop of “Slipping Away.”

Stern and Arias write separately, though he always writes with her voice in mind. Having a man write from the female perspective can be tricky in the best of circumstances. So what happens when you add on classic country themes — like the man doing a woman wrong on “One More Ride” — and the #MeToo era? “I find it quite interesting and very enjoyable to write about subject matters from a woman’s perspective, like being a screenwriter for actors,” confides Stern. “I have been blessed to be married to an incredible woman, and she has taught me well.”

If one song were forced to stand up for 3 Pairs of Boots, it would have to be the edgy rawness that is “Anything for You.” The juxtaposition of gritty guitars with emotional purity evidences the idea that even, if not especially, in the truest of loves, things can get a little messy.

As with all the songs on Gone South, Stern and Arias sketch out scenes with ordinary details so that they might be relatable to anyone and everyone. “Simplicity is one of my main goals in my lyric writing,” Stern says. “When trying to tell a story or paint a scene, one doesn’t have very much time to get the point across, so you have to imply and leave room for interpretation. It is a craft that needs to be worked on constantly.”

3 Pairs of Boots plans to schedule some shows to celebrate the release of Gone South.  Dates and details will be announced soon.

https://www.3pairsofboots.com

Lucy Isabel to release new album in June; equal parts folk, Americana, rock, and roots, Isabel charms listeners with her wanderlust on “Rambling Stranger”

For Immediate Release
April 15, 2019

 

LUCY ISABEL TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN JUNE

Equal parts folk, Americana, rock, and roots, Isabel charms listeners with her wanderlust on Rambling Stranger

New Jersey-born and Nashville-based singer-songwriter Lucy Isabel is set to release her new album, Rambling Stranger, on June 14, 2019.  Produced by Jared Anderson and recorded in a series of live, inspired takes, Rambling Stranger shows the full scope of Isabel’s songwriting. These 10 songs are filled with images from an adulthood lived on the run: a shuttered army fort along the Jersey Shore; a mountain range outside of Seattle; a road leading to an unknown destination, promising nothing but the unexpected for anyone willing to take it. And Isabel, of course, can’t resist taking those paths.

“This album has been building up inside of me since I first moved to Nashville,” says Isabel. “I’m so excited to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing musicians and friends to bring it to life, and I’m even more excited to share it with as many people as possible.”

On 2019’s Rambling Stranger, Isabel’s classic-sounding folk croon – that evokes everyone from Brandi Carlile to Judy Collins – shares the spotlight with accordion, keyboards, and numerous stringed instruments throughout.  “I was always looking for somewhere else to be,” says Isabel about the album title. “A rambling stranger is who I am to this day, even though I’ve now found a home for myself. My bed is in Nashville. My husband is there. But there’s always a part of me that’s looking to chase down something new, and it keeps me moving.”

Equally inspired by the Americana community of her Nashville home and the boardwalk culture of her native New Jersey, Isabel has been a traveling musician for years, ever since she shelved an acting career in New York City and moved to Tennessee. Living in Nashville motivated her, but it was the road – where she built her audience one show at a time – that sharpened her songwriting. She wrote folk songs, heartland roots-rockers, and acoustic ballads. She wrote about her husband; about the changing landscape of her hometown back east; about the wanderlust that kept her moving night after night, traveling from the listening rooms of America to the pubs of Australia and back again.

All the while, she also made time to visit the recording studio, releasing her first EP, 2016’s Along the Way, within two years of graduating from Yale with a degree in Theater Studies. Another EP, KANE, followed in 2017, stocked with stories about her maternal grandmother’s family. It was during her senior year at Yale that her work with one of the university’s professional a cappella groups prompted her to shift her focus from acting to music.

Isabel plans to tour heavily in support of Rambling Stranger (see below for confirmed tour dates; more dates will be announced soon).

Lucy Isabel Tour Schedule:
6/13/2019 – Nashville, TN / True Music Room @ Cambria Hotel
6/14/2019 – Lexington, KY / Talon Winery
6/15/2019 – St. Louis, MO / Evangeline’s
6/16/2019 – Tulsa, OK / Doc’s
6/18/2019 – Austin, TX / house concert
6/19/2019 – Dallas, TX / Opening Bell
6/20/2019 – Oklahoma City, OK / Art Moves (afternoon set)
6/22/2019 – Mt. Vernon, IA / Lincoln Wine Bar
6/26/2019 – Washington, DC / Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge
6/30/2019 – Somerville, MA / Concert for Clean Water, Hosted by Janji

www.lucyisabelmusic.com

Tony Lucca hits the road to bring songs from his new Nashville-inspired Americana album, “Ain’t No Storm,” to fans in concert

For Immediate Release
April 11, 2019

Tony Lucca hits the road to bring songs from his new Nashville-inspired Americana album, Ain’t No Storm, to fans in concert

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tony Lucca continues touring in support of his brand new album, Ain’t No Storm (out March 29, 2019), with a number of tour dates that include stops at Bonnaroo, the Opelika Songwriters Festival, Pat McGee’s Down the Hatch, and others (see tour schedule below for all confirmed dates).

“I’d say my favorite part of the whole album cycle process is getting back out on the road, playing the new songs for folks, and being able to put the record in their hands, more so as a token of gratitude than anything,” says Lucca. “At this point, my fans are beyond invested in what I do, so to be able to go represent that investment, to show them the kind of pride I’m taking in my music, brings me great joy. They’ve earned a great record. They deserve a great show. This is when I get to deliver both at the same time.”

Over Memorial Day weekend (May 24th to May 26th), Lucca will perform all three days of the inaugural Opelika Songwriters Festival event (www.opelikasongwritersfestival.com) in Alabama alongside more than 30 fellow singer-songwriters, such as Dan Navarro, Harpeth Rising, Kim Richey, and others.  Following that several days later, he heads to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to join the likes of Shawn Mullins, Stephen Kellogg, Chris Trapper, and others on the stage at the 11th Annual Pat McGee’s Down the Hatch, which takes place from May 29th to June 1st (http://patmcgee.net/2019/02/08/down-the-hatch-2019/).  On the evening of June 13th, he’ll be performing on the Whiskey Jam stage at The Ville at Plaza 7 at Bonnaroo (www.bonnaroo.com).  Lucca also has a handful of Northeast dates with Dan Rodriguez on the calendar in April, along with other shows.

On his brand new album, Ain’t No Storm, Lucca is flexing his Americana muscles, and the credits for the album read like a who’s who of East Nashville notables: Ken Coomer produced the record at his studio, Cartoon Moon, great Nashville players like Michael Webb, Ted Pecchio, and Joe Garcia lent their talents — and even Patrick Sweany stopped in for a cameo on “Room With A View.” Replete with songs borne of his admiration for Nashville’s rich history, Ain’t No Storm finds Lucca embracing with reverence the process and craft of songwriting and taking his time (more than two years) to get it right, writing or co-writing “daily and diligently.”

PopMatters.com called Ain’t No Storm “…a refreshing look outward as [Lucca] expands his musical boundaries… Lucca flirts with textured pop-rock and Americana, recalling in spouts the likes of Amos Lee, Jason Isbell, and Ben Schneider… It’s all at once an inviting, familiar embrace and a refreshing step in a brand new direction for Lucca, whose easygoing soul fits well within the roots realm.”  Glide Magazine trumpeted Lucca’s “soulful blast of Americana,” also writing, “Lucca succeeds in tapping into a sort of universal feeling we all have, or at least want to have, as he proves himself to be more than capable of writing lyrics that speak to the everyman.” The Deli Nashville said the album helps Lucca “further claim his stake among the top in the Nashville Americana scene.”  Nashville Lifestyles praised the album, saying, “Journeyman singer-songwriter Tony Lucca embraces life’s hard-earned lessons on Ain’t No Storm, fusing Nashville’s write-what-you-know ethos with Los Angeles’ cool-and-collected flair.”

Lucca’s career is a long and noteworthy one that spans some of the country’s greatest music scenes — from his hometown Motown mecca of Detroit, to the hills of Hollywood, to the borough of Brooklyn.  It includes stints in some of the shiniest environments, from his early years on the “Mickey Mouse Club” alongside future pop stars like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, to his top-three finish on the second season of NBC’s “The Voice.”

Tony Lucca Tour Schedule:
4/11/2019 – Charleston, SC / The Royal American
4/23/2019 – New York, NY / Rockwood Music Hall (w/Dan Rodriguez)
4/24/2019 – Philadelphia, PA / World Cafe Live (w/Dan Rodriguez)
4/25/2019 – Vienna, VA / Jammin’ Java (w/Dan Rodriguez)
4/26/2019 – Boston, MA / City Winery Haymarket (w/Dan Rodriguez)
4/27/2019 – Schenectady, NY / The Van Dyck
4/28/2019 – Basking Ridge, NJ / Ross Farm
5/6/2019 – Nashville, TN / True Music Room @ Cambria Hotel
5/9/2019 – Columbus, OH / Rumba Café
5/24 – 5/26/19 – Opelika, AL / Opelika Songwriters Festival
5/29 – 6/2/2019 – Kill Devil Hills, NC / Pat McGee’s Down The Hatch
6/13/19 – Manchester, TN / Bonnaroo, Whiskey Jam Stage
9/6/2019 – Evanston, IL / SPACE

www.tonylucca.com

Rootsy pop/Americana singer-songwriter Jordan Whitmore set to release first single, “Something Different, from forthcoming EP, “Good Things,” on May 3rd

JordanWhitmoreLumenRoom-47

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2019 

 

Rootsy pop/Americana singer-songwriter Jordan Whitmore is set to release her first single, “Something Different,” from her forthcoming EP, Good Thingson May 3rd

 

Singer-songwriter Jordan Whitmore is set to share her rootsy pop/Americana musical goodness with the world on May 3, 2019 with the release of her first single, “Something Different,” from her forthcoming EP, Good Things (due out September 6, 2019). Mixing heartland rock & roll guitars with bright pop hooks a la Sheryl Crow, Whitmore showcases her cross-genre sound on the track. The new EP was produced by Brian Douglas Phillips, who produced her 2014 album, Other Side, as well as singles like “Here’s To You” and “I Promise.”  Whitmore plans to release two additional singles from the EP before it comes out in September.

 

“‘Something Different’ is a song about being ready for a change of season, a new chapter of your story,” says Whitmore. “I’ve felt that sort of restlessness for a while now, and sharing the single is certainly part of a new chapter for me. I hope people will roll their windows down and enjoy the energy of this song — and maybe it’ll even inspire some of them to move toward something new.”

 

An eclectic EP featuring six songs that excel at turning heavy source material into something beautiful, Good Things casts its net wide, heralding the shifting seasons in Whitmore’s life with a bolder, broader sound, and it’s an album about changes, challenges, time, and the love that makes it all worthwhile. It’s more guitar-driven than Other Side and more diverse than anything else in her catalog. Inspired by a difficult season of transition and waiting, Good Things ultimately looks ahead toward brighter horizons. While some of the themes may be weighty, the music itself is buoyantly arranged and brightly performed, with Whitmore remaining honest and hopeful as she approaches a new season.

 

Now five records into her career, and with influences as varied as Aimee Mann, Shawn Colvin, and Alabama Shakes, Whitmore has maintained her artistic independence while racking up a list of accolades. Her sharply-written songs have been finalists at the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and award-winners at the National Unplugged Songwriting Contest. They’ve told the story of her life, too, serving as the soundtrack for the heartaches, hard roads and happy moments of an adulthood often spent onstage and in the writing room.

 

When she left Austin several years ago and moved to the small town of Granbury, Texas, Whitmore wasn’t only leaving the place she’d called home throughout adulthood. She was leaving the city where she’d launched her career. For years, Austin had been her musical headquarters, inspiring the diverse songwriting that filled her records. Austin press praised her music, with the Chronicle writing, “She sounds thoroughly modern, which speaks well for Whitmore’s writing and alluring vocals.”  KUTX.org’s Austin Music Minute praised her music and its themes, saying, “For all the times you’ve felt alone in this mess, Whitmore steps up to remind you these are universal challenges we all go through.”  And Ear to the Ground Music lauded her “great voice, nice sensitivities in writing, and an eye toward making the world a better place.”

 

Whitmore plans to tour in advance of and around the single and EP release dates (see list of confirmed dates below; more dates will be announced soon). An EP release party is planned in Fort Worth, Texas in September – details to be announced.

 

Jordan Whitmore Tour Dates:

May 17 – Bob’s Off the Square – Granbury, TX

May 30 – Fred’s Texas Cafe – Fort Worth, TX

June 15 – Lindberg’s Tavern – Springfield, MO

June 18 – Vinyl Renaissance – Overland Park, KS

June 19 – Evangeline’s Bistro and Music House – St. Louis, MO

June 20 – Two Old Hippies – Nashville, TN

June 25 – Joe’s Grill & Cantina – Fort Smith, AR

June 26 – JJ’s on Dickson – Fayetteville, AR

October 24 – 04 Center – Austin, TX (with Leigh Nash)

…more dates to be announced soon!

 

www.jordanwhitmore.com

 

Opelika Songwriters Festival announces inaugural event in Alabama; over 30 singer-songwriters to entertain music fans over Memorial Day Weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2019


Opelika Songwriters Festival announces inaugural event in Alabama

Over 30 singer-songwriters to entertain music fans over Memorial Day Weekend
The Opelika Songwriters Festival, a new annual event based in Opelika, Alabama, will entertain music fans at its inaugural celebration over Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-26, 2019) at multiple venues in the town’s historic downtown.  Rob and Jen Slocumb, a.k.a. Martha’s Trouble (a husband-and-wife folk/rock duo and owners of Opelika recording studio/event center The Sound Wall) are bringing the new festival to life. The Opelika Songwriters Festival is a co-production of The Sound Wall and The Arts Association of East Alabama.  Confirmed sponsors include the City of Opelika, Auburn Opelika Tourism, and Sundilla Concert Series, and proceeds from the festival go to benefit The Arts Association of East Alabama.  Attendees from across the Southeast and further afield are expected to gather for this very special event.

More than 30 singer-songwriters will make up the roster of performers, from local acts to internationally touring artists, including Grammy Award-winner Dan Navarro, Kate Campbell, Harpeth Rising, and many more. (See list of confirmed artists below; more to be announced soon.) The festival will take place in Downtown Opelika at more than nine venues, including John Emerald Distillery, Sneak & Dawdle, Irish Bred Pub, Eighth & Rail, Ma Fia’s Outdoor Patio, The Depot Outdoor Stage, Zazu Gastro Pub, and Studio 319 – Festival Merch Hub.

“We expect the Opelika Songwriters Festival to be a destination event for fans of singer-songwriters,” says co-founder Rob Slocumb. “We can’t wait to showcase this amazing array of talent and to shine a light on our wonderful hometown of Opelika,” says co-founder Jen Slocumb.  Even the town’s mayor, Gary Fuller, is excited about music gathering, saying, “It sounds like another big event for Historic Downtown Opelika!”

Tickets are available now:  https://www.freshtix.com/events/opelika-songwriters-festival.

Confirmed artists (more to be announced soon):
Dan Navarro
Kate Campbell
Harpeth Rising
Martha’s Trouble
Kim Richey
David Jacobs-Strain & Bob Beach
Jack Barksdale
Ryanhood
Jeff Black
Jordana Greenberg (solo)
Kipyn Martin
Noah Zacharin
Rock Killough
Korby Lenker
Pat Wictor
Chris Rosser
Grayson Capps
Cliff Eberhardt
Louise Mosrie
Dave Potts
Ted McVay
Mutt Cooper

www.opelikasongwritersfestival.com

About Martha’s Trouble:
Martha’s Trouble (husband-and-wife duo Rob and Jen Slocumb), called “a hidden gem” by Billboard Magazine, is known for its signature sound of folk and Americana, which has been praised by some of the most influential and well-respected music critics of our time. Martha’s Trouble has been listed and featured in the aforementioned Billboard Magazine, as well as USA Today, AOL Music, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and Performing Songwriter. Their songs have received awards and have been featured in the show “Army Wives” and made-for-TV movies on Lifetime and CBS. The duo’s band name comes from a Bible story about Martha and Mary, one that they say is a reminder to stop and smell the roses and to keep an eye on the bigger picture and the important things in life. In late 2015, Martha’s Trouble offered some new additions to their holiday repertoire with two digital singles, “River” and “White Christmas,” which followed on the success of two independent holiday albums, Christmas Lights (2002) and This Christmas (2008). Prior to that, they also released: Jen Coates’ Seed Sessions (2014), A Little Heart Like You (2012), Anchor Tattoo (2011), EP (2008), Forget October (2006), Still (2003), Sleeping Dogs (2002), and The Road Ahead (2000).
www.marthastrouble.com
www.facebook.com/marthastrouble
@marthastrouble

About The Sound Wall:
In 2016, Martha’s Trouble purchased an historical Victorian house, originally built in 1907, in downtown Opelika, Alabama, and they rehabbed the abode into a creative studio space over the course of a year, opening the doors to the public in March of 2017. Since that time, the studio has hosted recording sessions, a monthly supper club, special events, and acoustic concerts, and has been featured in Alabama Magazine.  Located at 605 Avenue B in Opelika, The Sound Wall entices artists from near and far who are seeking a small-town recording experience in a premiere space, and it has become very special addition to the already existing and expanding arts community in town.
www.thesoundwallopelika.com

Krief to release new single in March, new album coming in June

For Immediate Release

March 20, 2019

 

Krief to release new single in March, new album coming in June

Indie singer-songwriter Krief (full name Patrick Krief) is set to release the first single, “Take The Night,” from his new album, on March 22, 2019 via Rock Ridge Music in the U.S.  “Take The Night” appears on Krief’s forthcoming album, Dovetale, which is set for simultaneous U.S. (Rock Ridge Music) and Canadian (Indica) release on June 7, 2019.  The video for the track premieres today at Exclaim! (http://exclaim.ca/music/article/krief_premieres_take_the_night_video). For fans looking for another sneak peek at Dovetale, there will be a second single, “Tonight,” which will be released on May 3, 2019.

A truly solo endeavor — Krief plays all the instruments on Dovetale — the album was recorded and mixed between Krief’s home studio and Mixart in his home base of Montreal. It echoes dream pop and shoegaze as well as the classic pop, rock, and folk that have always been Krief’s songwriting foundation as the former co-writer and guitarist with Montreal “orchestral pop noir” band the Dears, a position he filled for over a decade.

Says Krief about the new music, “Dovetale is a collection of love songs unencumbered by other-thinking, or over-production. I really allowed myself to be vulnerable with this album. While the album as a whole has more of a positive and lighthearted theme, songs like “Take The Night” and “Dovetale” call back some sentiments of betrayal, anger, and bring them into a new context, one in which darkness is confronted head-on.”

On Dovetale, Krief presents a triumphant union of contemporary pop and rock sounds that emerged from the literal honeymoon phase of his marriage. While domestic bliss doesn’t typically inspire the kind of open-heart poetry and high-octane pop sound that Krief is known for — and his previous release Automanic was an epic double album fueled by heartbreak and self-destruction — the conception of Dovetale found him at the peak of his game artistically as well as personally.

“It really is a way more positive record,” Krief says. “A lot of the songs still reflect on that darker period, but there’s a feeling of optimism and gratitude for how things have turned out.”  The album explores the wonderment that comes with the first blush of new love (without being too maudlin about it) as well as some of the insecurities that come with blossoming relationships. Musically, Krief indulges in lush strings and layers of melodic guitars, yet he also scaled back the dense arrangements that he feels he’s been hiding behind, highlighting an impressive vocal range — from a masterful falsetto to a half-sung baritone reminiscent of Leonard Cohen.

“The album was mixed to feature the vocals and make sure the songs stood out and didn’t get lost in big fat walls of sound,” Krief says. “I really wanted to focus on the melody, the basic songwriting, and on making the songs more vulnerable.”

Brooklyn Vegan has praised his “anthemic, widescreen sound,” while Clash Music has lauded his “confident, mature songwriting.”  The Waterloo Record said of his last album, Automanic, “Krief’s music is dark, intelligent, and sonically opulent. His deep voice is a like a hypnotic instrument as he takes the listener through an aural opus of intertwining emotional scenarios.” Exclaim! dubbed his last record an “honest musical take on life.” Jam Magazine called his music “a gorgeous listening experience.”

Post-Dears, Krief’s “solo” career has evolved from side-project band (Black Diamond Bay) to more of a one-man effort with a succession of guests, which segued to the he-does-it-all Dovetale. A tour is planned in support of the new record (dates to be announced soon).

www.krief.ca

Singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill to hit the road on “Himalayas” Tour Part Two — tour kicks off with Mulvahill’s debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry on March 22nd

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2019

Singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill to hit the road on Himalayas Tour Part Two – tour kicks off
with Mulvahill’s debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry on March 22nd

“Everybody needs to hear Scott Mulvahill.” – No Depression

Singer-songwriter and upright bass player Scott Mulvahill is set to hit the road later in March for part two of his Himalayas Tour, in support of his album by the same name. As a kick-off to the tour, Mulvahill will make his debut on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage on March 22, 2019.  Next, he’ll head out to the West Coast for a few California shows, then the tour will then criss-cross the country, allowing fans in many markets to have the opportunity to enjoy his brand of live music magic in-person. He is also already confirmed for multiple high-profile shows and festivals including Mountain Stage, Rhythm and Blooms, Blue Plums, Winnetka Music Festival, and more to come. (See below for complete list of confirmed dates; more will be added and announced soon.) “The first leg of the Himalayas tour was so fun and rich – hearing people sing my songs back to me is a new and humbling experience,” says Mulvahill.  “Having that kind of a first tour is like a big thumbs-up from the universe that, yes, I’m on the right path.  I can’t wait for the second part and to play in a lot of new places!”

Mulvahill kicked off 2019 with part one of his Himalayas headliner tour in January (with six of the shows selling out), and he just wrapped a second leg of dates opening for recent multi-Grammy winner Lauren Daigle on her sold-out “Look Up Child” tour. While on tour, Mulvahill stopped by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts “studio” in January where he recorded a performance that premiered last month (https://www.npr.org/2019/02/14/694700614/scott-mulvahill-tiny-desk-concert). His also latest single from Himalayas, “Gold Plated Lie,” went to radio in February.

2018 was a pivotal year in the growth of Nashville-based Mulvahill’s career.  He hit the road, this time as an opener and no longer a sideman, on tour runs with Lauren Daigle, Robert Cray, Matt Wertz, John McLaughlin, Sierra Hull, Andrew Peterson, and Ricky Skaggs. Mulvahill released his first full-length album, Himalayas, in the fall of 2018, with the backing of a successful Kickstarter campaign that rallied his fans in their belief of him and his music.

One of the most acclaimed bassists in Nashville, Mulvahill originally hails from Houston, Texas.  He moved to Nashville post-college, where his life changed after meeting American music icon Ricky Skaggs and joining his Grammy-winning band, Kentucky Thunder.  He toured with Skaggs for over five years, and in that time, first started writing songs on his upright bass.  With his upright bass providing complete harmony and rhythm arrangements woven in among his vocals, Mulvahill is unique among a sea of too-similar singer-songwriters.  A musician equally at home in a plethora of genres – Americana, rock, pop, country, jazz, gospel, even chamber music – Mulvahill displays an astonishing range and versatility, all of which is evident on Himalayas. The album was produced by Mulvahill, Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, The Lone Bellow) Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Sarah Jarosz), and Shani Ghandi (Sarah Jarosz).

Mulvahill’s songs have received honors or been featured in the International Songwriting Competition, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and American Songwriter Magazine’s 30th Anniversary Contest, and he has had numerous cuts on other artists’ albums, most recently with GRAMMY-winning R&B phenom H.E.R. Mulvahill was a showcase performer at 2018 Americana Music Festival, and he has been featured on Lightning 100 radio’s Nashville Sunday Night series. He has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists of modern music, such as: Alison Krauss, Barry Gibb of the BeeGees, Bruce Hornsby, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Steven Curtis Chapman, Emmylou Harris, Dave Barnes, Ben Rector, and many more.

Some praise for Scott Mulvahill:

“This is a perfect introduction to an artist with enormous talent and an artist seeking to stretch his musical world.” – Bob Boilen, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts

“Scott is a masterful performer, taking upright bass to a totally new level.  You’re tricked into thinking most of the songs are an ensemble but with just Scott you get the rhythm, melody, percussion, and vocals… all layered perfectly together. He’s the modern day ‘One Man Band.’” – Eric Marcum, WSM Radio, Nashville

“…inventive… musical genius… Everybody needs to hear Scott Mulvahill.” – Henry Carrigan, No Depression

“Double-bassist and singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill stunned us with ‘Begin Againers,’ a song that muses on and celebrates all the possibilities afforded by starting over with a clean slate. It’s a theme that the Nashville musician’s spare phrasing and impeccable bass tone – inviting as a fresh notebook page – illustrate beautifully.” – Rachel Horn, NPR, “All Songs Considered”

“His voice, songs, and unparalleled musicianship, combined with his quirky sense of humor, kept the audience spellbound and nodding to each other as if to say, ‘we are experiencing something special.’” – Gary Kraen, Lightning 100 Nashville

“…fabulous, unique, engaging, moving… this is completely fantastic music.  It’s time for this guy to make his stand.” – Bruce Hornsby

“What terrific music, it brings about the true beauty of his voice in a way that is, honestly, refreshing.” – Kenneth Pattengale, The Milk Carton Kids
Scott Mulvahill Tour Schedule
March 22nd – Nashville, TN / Grand Ole Opry
March 28th – Napa, CA / Blue Note Napa (6:30 and 8:30 p.m. shows)
March 29th – Sacramento, CA / Momo Sacramento
March 30th – Santa Monica, CA / McCabe’s Guitar Shop
March 31st – Bonita, CA / AMSD Concerts
April 6th – Roanoke, VA / House Concert
April 7th – Athens, OH / Mountain Stage Radio @ Ohio University
April 9th – Port Clinton, OH / The Listening Room
April 10th – Cleveland Heights, OH / Nighttown
April 11th – Columbia, MD / The Soundry
April 12th – Philadelphia, PA / Philadelphia Folk Song Society
April 13th – Northampton, MA / Parlor Room
April 14th – New York, NY / Rockwood Music Hall
April 24th – Albuquerque, NM / The Cooperage
April 25th – Santa Fe, NM / Gigi Performance
April 27th – Aspen, CO / Private Show
April 28th – Denver, CO / Soiled Dove
May 9th – Birmingham, AL / The Nick
May 10th – Columbus, GA / The Loft
May 11th – Charlotte, NC / Evening Muse
May 18th – Raleigh, NC / Artsplosion Festival
May 19th – Knoxville, TN / Rhythm & Blooms Festival
June 4th – Crossville, TN / Cumberland County Playhouse
June 8th – Johnson City, TN / Founders Park
June 19th – Pittsburgh, PA / Club Cafe
June 22nd – Winnetka, IL / Winnetka Music Festival
June 23rd – Indianapolis, IN / LoFi
August 15th – Minneapolis, MN / Dakota Jazz Club
August 17th – Kansas City, MO / RecordBar
August 21st – Wawautosa, WI / Tosa Tonight
August 23rd – Evanston, IL / SPACE
August 24th – St. Louis, MO / Blueberry Hill
…more tour dates to be announced soon!

www.scottmulvahill.com

Singer-songwriter Michelle LeBlanc to release new single, “A Good Man,” in April

For Immediate Release
March 4, 2019

Singer-songwriter Michelle LeBlanc to release
new single, “A Good Man,” in April

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Michelle LeBlanc is set to release a new single, “A Good Man,” on April 5, 2019.  “It’s a love song,” says LeBlanc. “It’s about how timing is divine, how the right one comes at the right time, and the beauty and protection in all of that.” Before recording the song, she wasn’t planning on getting back into the studio so quickly, but the song wanted to be born. She met Josh Kaler (Frances Cone, Matthew Perryman Jones, Dar Williams), who produced and performed all of the instrumentation on the track and added his own magic and cosmic vibes to it.

About the inspiration for the song, LeBlanc says, “There was this guy in my life, and I think he’s the one. I think maybe I messed it up really good. I don’t think he understood how much I loved him. Unfortunately, the past builds up and gets complicated and sometimes affects what we see right in front of us.  I’m hoping it will come back around, and that this song is fortuitous. Time will tell, I guess. He really is such a good man.”

“A Good Man” is the follow-up to LeBlanc’s 2018 debut EP release, A Man Like You. The EP, about a self-fulfilling heartbreak, translated well in her first attempt at speaking from her authenticity through her music. It was a collection of songs about the time in her life when she took a leap of faith to move to a new city (Nashville), while having left behind someone she felt deeply for but with whom she could never talk about those feelings out loud.  “This was sort of a confessional collection of songs where I’m exploring all of my unresolved feelings for someone and sifting through how to move forward having made my own decisions,” she says. As Three Chords And The Truth said about the EP, “With an intensity of rawness and passion, Michelle LeBlanc announces her arrival as a recording artist in cracking style. … it smartly represents all that is vibrant about modern Nashville.” The Daily Country praised her “airy, emotive vocals” and called her music “heartfelt, accessible.” Entertaining Options lauded her “sweet, silken voice… just the tiniest bit worn around the edges. She’s lived it. All of it.”

For LeBlanc – born in Columbia, South Carolina to a local singer/songwriter – music has always been the constant thread in her life. Surprisingly enough, it was acting that led her early on to attend an arts boarding high school, then Dallas for college, and eventually New York City to pursue that dream. All the while, she quietly taught herself how to play the guitar and write songs. “I really loved digging into the characters and their stories and all of the collaboration that came along with acting,” LeBlanc says. “It was safer to tell other people’s stories. I took comfort in the escape of being someone else for a few minutes. Writing songs was always so personal and being exposed in that way was scarier.”

About halfway into her 10-year stay in the Big Apple, LeBlanc found herself at a crossroads, both at a job and in a relationship. Bravely, she walked away from both. “All I had left was a little nudge inside telling me to pick up my guitar and start writing down some lyrics,” LeBlanc recalls. She saw a tarot reader while trying to sort out her next steps who told her she was going to move to Nashville and that she needed to pursue her music. At that point, Nashville was nowhere on her radar, but something about it felt very right. She made her first trip there a couple months later and ultimately moved there a few years ago.

www.michelleleblancmusic.com

Martha’s Trouble invites fans to join them for their first concert cruise

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2019

Martha’s Trouble invites fans to join them for their first concert cruise

Alabama-based husband-and-wife folk/rock duo Martha’s Trouble (aka Rob and Jen Slocumb) will be setting sail October 6 through October 13, 2019 on their first-ever concert cruise.  Fans of the pair’s music are encouraged to purchase a cabin and join them for a very special, exclusive music experience on the high seas on board the Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. Fans must purchase a cabin through the duo’s site on Fan Club Cruises (https://fanclubcruises.com/event/mathas-trouble-concert-cruise) in order to partake in three Martha’s Trouble concerts, a meet-and-greet, and a very special Q&A storytelling session during the course of the cruise.  The fan club offering is limited to 50 cabins, so the shows and special Martha’s Trouble events on-board the ship will be intimate and personal for fans who join the fun. Departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, the cruise will visit Labadee in Haiti, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Phillipsburg in St. Maarten, before returning to Florida.

Said Rob and Jen about the upcoming cruise: “We are so excited to have discovered Fan Club Cruises.  What a killer concept – artist and fan together on a cruise ship!  It’s a great opportunity for our fans and friends from all across the US and Canada to join us for a seven-night cruise filled with concerts, storytelling, and Q&A sessions.  Plus, they also get to enjoy all that the ship has to offer.  It’s going to be amazing – we can’t wait!  Our hope is to make it an annual event.”

Martha’s Trouble, called “a hidden gem” by Billboard Magazine, is known for its signature sound of folk and Americana, which has been praised by some of the most influential and well-respected music critics of our time. Martha’s Trouble has been listed and featured in the aforementioned Billboard Magazine, as well as USA Today, AOL Music, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and Performing Songwriter. Their songs have received awards and have been featured in the show “Army Wives” and made-for-TV movies on Lifetime and CBS. The duo’s band name comes from a Bible story about Martha and Mary, one that they say is a reminder to stop and smell the roses and to keep an eye on the bigger picture and the important things in life.

In late 2015, Martha’s Trouble offered some new additions to their holiday repertoire with two digital singles, “River” and “White Christmas,” which followed on the success of two independent holiday albums, Christmas Lights (2002) and This Christmas (2008). Prior to that, they also released: Jen Coates’ Seed Sessions (2014), A Little Heart Like You (2012), Anchor Tattoo (2011), EP (2008), Forget October (2006), Still (2003), Sleeping Dogs (2002), and The Road Ahead (2000).

In 2016, Martha’s Trouble purchased an historical Victorian house, originally built in 1907, in downtown Opelika, Alabama, and they rehabbed the abode into a creative studio space over the course of a year, opening the doors to the public in March of 2017. Since that time, the studio has hosted recording sessions, a monthly supper club, special events, and acoustic concerts, and has been featured in Alabama Magazine.  Located at 605 Avenue B in Opelika, The Sound Wall entices artists from near and far who are seeking a small-town recording experience in a premiere space, and it has become very special addition to the already existing and expanding arts community in town.

www.marthastrouble.com
www.facebook.com/marthastrouble
@marthastrouble
www.thesoundwallopelika.com

Singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill wows listeners with his NPR Tiny Desk Concerts performance

For Immediate Release
February 18, 2019

Singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill wows listeners with his NPR Tiny Desk Concerts performance

“This is a perfect introduction to an artist with enormous talent and an artist seeking to stretch his musical world.” – Bob Boilen, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts

Mulvahill currently on tour with recent Grammy-winner Lauren Daigle, plans headlining shows to be announced soon

“Everybody needs to hear Scott Mulvahill.” – No Depression

Singer-songwriter and upright bass player Scott Mulvahill stopped by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts “studio” in January where he recorded a performance that premiered today via NPR – fans can check it out here: https://www.npr.org/2019/02/14/694700614/scott-mulvahill-tiny-desk-concert.  For the high-profile segment, Mulvahill performed solo and with his band on the songs “Begin Againers,” “Gold Plated Lie,” and “Himalayas.” Says Mulvahill about the opportunity to perform a Tiny Desk Concert: “The cool thing about playing behind the desk is that it’s unusual enough to push you out of your realm of comfort, and I think you can sense that in a lot of Tiny Desk performances. You can’t lean on a loud sound system, show lighting, etc. It’s very exposed, and that puts you on the edge of your abilities, and I think that’s why they get so many great performances on their show. It was a dream to play it, and kind of trippy to see photos of myself standing in that spot.” Tiny Desk Concerts host Bob Boilen praised Mulvahill, writing: “This is a perfect introduction to an artist with enormous talent and an artist seeking to stretch his musical world.”

2018 was a pivotal year in the growth of Nashville-based Mulvahill’s career.  He hit the road, this time as an opener and no longer a sideman, on tour runs with Lauren Daigle, Robert Cray, Matt Wertz, John McLaughlin, Sierra Hull, Andrew Peterson, and Ricky Skaggs. Mulvahill released his first full-length album, Himalayas, in the fall of 2018, with the backing of a successful Kickstarter campaign that rallied his fans in their belief of him and his music.

Already in 2019, Mulvahill has embarked as the headliner on part one of his Himalayas Tour, with six of the shows selling out.  This week, he joins Daigle again on her sold-out “Look Up Child” Spring Tour. Mulvahill is in the planning stages of part two of his Himalayas tour, with tour dates to be announced soon, and he is already confirmed for multiple high-profile shows and festivals including Mountain Stage, Rhythm and Blooms, Blue Plums, Winnetka Music Festival, and more to come.

To tie in with the timing of the Tiny Desk Concerts appearance, Mulvahill’s latest single from Himalayas, “Gold Plated Lie,” is being serviced to radio on February 18th to the Americana and Triple A radio formats.  Fans can also experience an acoustic version of the song as part of his Tiny Desk Concerts performance.

One of the most acclaimed bassists in Nashville, Mulvahill originally hails from Houston, Texas.  He moved to Nashville post-college, where his life changed after meeting American music icon Ricky Skaggs and joining his Grammy-winning band, Kentucky Thunder.  He toured with Skaggs for over five years, and in that time, first started writing songs on his upright bass.  With his upright bass providing complete harmony and rhythm arrangements woven in among his vocals, Mulvahill is unique among a sea of too-similar singer-songwriters.  A musician equally at home in a plethora of genres – Americana, rock, pop, country, jazz, gospel, even chamber music – Mulvahill displays an astonishing range and versatility, all of which is evident on Himalayas.  The album was produced by Mulvahill, Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, The Lone Bellow) Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Sarah Jarosz), and Shani Ghandi (Sarah Jarosz).

Mulvahill’s songs have received honors or been featured in the International Songwriting Competition, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and American Songwriter Magazine’s 30th Anniversary Contest, and he has had numerous cuts on other artists’ albums, most recently with GRAMMY-winning R&B phenom H.E.R. Mulvahill was a showcase performer at 2018 Americana Music Festival, and he has been featured on Lightning 100 radio’s Nashville Sunday Night series. He has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists of modern music, such as: Alison Krauss, Barry Gibb of the BeeGees, Bruce Hornsby, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Steven Curtis Chapman, Emmylou Harris, Dave Barnes, Ben Rector, and many more.

Some praise for Scott Mulvahill:

“Scott is a masterful performer, taking upright bass to a totally new level.  You’re tricked into thinking most of the songs are an ensemble but with just Scott you get the rhythm, melody, percussion, and vocals… all layered perfectly together. He’s the modern day ‘One Man Band.’” – Eric Marcum, WSM Radio, Nashville

“…inventive… musical genius… Everybody needs to hear Scott Mulvahill.” – Henry Carrigan, No Depression

“Double-bassist and singer-songwriter Scott Mulvahill stunned us with ‘Begin Againers,’ a song that muses on and celebrates all the possibilities afforded by starting over with a clean slate. It’s a theme that the Nashville musician’s spare phrasing and impeccable bass tone – inviting as a fresh notebook page – illustrate beautifully.” – Rachel Horn, NPR, “All Songs Considered”

“His voice, songs, and unparalleled musicianship, combined with his quirky sense of humor, kept the audience spellbound and nodding to each other as if to say, ‘we are experiencing something special.’” – Gary Kraen, Lightning 100 Nashville

“…fabulous, unique, engaging, moving… this is completely fantastic music.  It’s time for this guy to make his stand.” – Bruce Hornsby

“What terrific music, it brings about the true beauty of his voice in a way that is, honestly, refreshing.” – Kenneth Pattengale, The Milk Carton Kids

Scott Mulvahill Tour Schedule
February 21st – Sacramento, CA / Bayside Adventure (w/Lauren Daigle)
February 22nd – San Francisco, CA / The Warfield (w/Lauren Daigle)
February 23rd – San Diego, CA / Balboa Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
February 24th – Los Angeles, CA / Orpheum Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
February 26th – Albuquerque, NM / Kiva Auditorium (w/Lauren Daigle)
February 28th – Wichita, KS / Orpheum Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 1st – Kansas City, MO / Arvest Bank Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 2nd – Minneapolis, MN / Orpheum Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 3rd – St. Louis, MO / Stifel Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 7th – Indianapolis, IN / Murat Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 8th – Rochester, NY / Kodak Center (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 9th – Boston, MA / Orpheum Theatre (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 10th – Pittsburgh, PA / Benedum Center (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 14th – Knoxville, TN / Knoxville Civic Center (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 15th – Raleigh, NC / Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 16th – Charlotte, NC / Ovens Auditorium (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 17th – Nashville, TN / Ryman Auditorium (w/Lauren Daigle)
March 28th – Napa, CA / Blue Note Napa (6:30 and 8:30 p.m. shows)
March 29th – Sacramento, CA / Momo Sacramento
March 30th – Santa Monica, CA / McCabe’s Guitar Shop
March 31st – Bonita, CA / AMSD Concerts
April 7th – Athens, OH / Mountain Stage Radio @ Ohio State University
…more tour dates to be announced soon!

www.scottmulvahill.com