FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2014
MOONSVILLE COLLECTIVE SIGNS WITH ROCK RIDGE MUSIC
Reissued album out 11/18; new album coming in Spring 2015
Orange County/Los Angeles-based Americana string band Moonsville Collective, known for its traditional mix of old time, folk, country, bluegrass, and rhythm and blues, has signed a management and label deal with Rock Ridge Music (offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Newark, New Jersey). The band’s albums will see nationwide distribution via RRM’s distribution partner, ADA.
Says Moonsville Collective vocalist/guitarist/banjo player Ryan Welch about the deal: “Signing with Rock Ridge is an exciting move forward for the Moonsville family. It was a decision based on relational trust and mutual attraction. It’s Moonsville’s first step onto the proverbial music label bridge and the Rock Ridge bridge is a sturdy one. We’re greatly anticipating the re-issuing of our last record and the release of our new album, both under the push and guidance of Rock Ridge Music. The story begins!”
Says Rock Ridge Music CEO Tom Derr about Moonsville Collective: “I had an immediate connection with the band, both from a work ethic and music angle, and, of course, their love of Levon Helm!”
The initial Moonsville Collective release, scheduled for November 18th, is a reissue of the band’s 2013 album, Cradle to the Grave, paired with a live EP (originally known as the Salamander Sessions) which features covers. This will be followed by an as-yet-untitled new album still in the works, which will be released in Spring 2015. The band has been hard at work at Ear Witness Studios in Whittier, CA, to record the new self-produced album, with Sam Knaak engineering it. Already, the band has been playing a number of the songs on the album live, with fan favorites “Blue Money Grove,” “End of the Line,” and “Rollin’ Paradise” slated to be on the record.
“We’ve gotten into a deeper, more personal songwriting side of things on the new album,” double bass player Seth Richardson says. “The lyrics reflect a much more personal approach than any of our past songs have had.” As with any collective, the line-up sometimes shifts, but Richardson says the core band—including himself, Welch, Corey Adams (vocals/tenor banjo/guitar), Drew Martin (percussion), Matthew McQueen (mandolin), “Dobro Dan” Richardson (slide/resonator/dobro)—plus Sean Kibler on fiddle, are the ones working on the forthcoming album in the studio.
Moonsville Collective has become an integral part of both the California surf and motorcycle cultures. With their tag line “California Goodtime” a perfect pairing with many apparel and outdoor brands, the band has twice taken part in the Outdoor Retailer Convention hosted annually in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has collaborated with and played at parties/events for brands such as HippyTree, Jansport, Matix, Iron & Resin, and Sanuk.
Moonsville Collective formed in August of 2011 and hit the ground running, playing some 250 shows throughout California, Nevada, and Utah in the two years following. Their heavy schedule allowed for them to quickly refine their craft and solidify their family mentality, which has been essential to the success of the group. They are often spoken of as embracing the sensibilities of folk legends Levon Helm (of The Band) and Bob Dylan, the high energy of Old Crow Medicine Show, and clever lyrics like those of Hank Williams and Huddy “Ledbelly” Ledbetter. Their hard work has not gone unnoticed by the local industry, and Moonsville Collective has been awarded “2013 Best Country/Americana Band” by the OC Music Awards, “2012 Best Live Band” by OC Weekly, and named “Best Bluegrass/Americana Band in Orange County” by CBS Los Angeles.
Moonsville Collective has shared the stage with acts such as Willie Watson (Old Crow Medicine Show), Donavan Frankenreiter, The White Buffalo, Wanda Jackson, Frank Fairfield, Rose’s Pawn Shop, Sean & Zander, and The Dustbowl Revival. They have been asked to headline many of the large local festivals for the cities of Long Beach, Irvine and Costa Mesa. The band has dates scheduled for the remainder of 2014, with plans to tour heavily in 2015 in support of the forthcoming album as well. (See below for confirmed tour dates.)
MOONSVILLE COLLECTIVE TOUR SCHEDULE:
11/18 – Los Angeles, CA / Bootleg Theater (with Grace & Tony, Sam Outlaw)
11/19 – Long Beach, CA / Alex’s Bar (with Grace & Tony, Ruby Force)
11/21 – Santa Ana, CA / Constellation Room
11/22 – Pioneertown, CA / Pappy & Harriet’s (with Shadow Mountain Band)
11/29 – Hermosa Beach, CA / Saint Rocke (with The White Buffalo)
12/11 – Costa Mesa, CA / The Wayfarer (with Dustbowl Revival)
1/10 – Los Angeles, CA / Hotel Café (with Sean Watkins, Ruby Force)
http://www.moonsvillecollective.com/