Summer Salt
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYSUMMER SALT Campanita, the new record from trop-pop duo Summer Salt out May 19 on Wax Bodega, is a breezy, blissful, and intimate monument to love, family, and everything in between. Its 12 tracks meander through sun-soaked and rose-tinted memories, deep rooted relationships and loss. The album drifts across a palette of dreamy jazz, bedroom pop, beachy bossa nova, and desert-night indie rock. There are guitars, keys, and gorgeous, cloud-light harmonies, but there are strings, synths, horns, and harmonicas, too. Campanita takes its title from a nickname given to Terry’s sister, Madeleine, by their grandmother. When Maddie and Terry’s cousin, Angelina, passed away in January 2021, Terry was shaken to his core; it was the first time he’d experienced this kind of loss. He became determined to create something that would live on and celebrate the life of both his sister and cousin forever. The process of creating the record allowed Terry to stay close to the two of them, and the end result is a work that will not die: it will live on forever, drifting through the heavy, warm southwestern air. The band will celebrate Campanita, their fourth full-length release, with a full US headline tour beginning in May. The LP is a bold step forward in Summer Salt’s skyward career arc, which has built from auspicious Austin, Texas roots to count more than one million monthly listeners on Spotify and nods from both Live Nation’s Ones To Watch and American Songwriter. Throughout the record’s creation, drummer, percussionist, and keyboardist Eugene Chung experimented with new sonic elements, building a sound that’s fuller and more textured. “As we get older and write more songs, Matt and I are getting more interested in the production side of things and trying to make things sound a little different than what we’ve been doing,” says Chung. Terry and Chung composed the songs while living apart—Terry in Dallas, Chung in San Francisco. They self-recorded much of the material before meeting in Fort Collins, CO in December 2022 to finish at The Blasting Room. Chris Beeble produced and engineered, and Joe LaPorta mastered the record. Anthony Barnett and Winston Triolo contributed guitar, bass, and backing vocals, and will join Summer Salt on their headline tour this spring. More than any record before it, Terry and Chung are excited to put Campanita into the world. “It’s here forever,” says Chung. “Time can’t take this away from us.” THE RARE OCCASSIONSThe Rare Occasions are an LA-based, New England-bred indie rock band known for their explosive garage rock anthems with catchy vocal harmonies. The band has toured nationally, won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and released a vast catalog of music online. ADDISON GRACEAddison Grace has fast proven a phenomenon with their one-of-a-kind brand of intimate songcraft, a seemingly irresistible melding of mesmerizing bedroom pop, sharp humor, and an utterly individual online persona. The 21-year-old UT-based singer, songwriter, and social media star – who is non-binary and uses he/they pronouns – drew immediate attention with their breakthrough debut EP, IMMATURING, earning acclaim for their character-driven tales of unrequited love and teenage uncertainty, all etched with candor, wit, and originality.
DEHD
DEHD has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket goes to supporting organizations working for equity, access, and dignity for all. – ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYDEHDUpon arrival during the fraught summer of 2020, Flower of Devotion felt like Dehd’s necessary prescription for us all. That was, of course, a moment of unprecedented anxiety and uncertainty, when just contemplating the future could seem overly optimistic. But Dehd captured and shared the precarious balance between real life and real hope, a feat mirrored by instant pop melodies and infectious punk energy. The Chicago trio had the audacity to look ahead when many of us didn’t, to imagine improvement through mere existence. It was an album we needed. We need its follow-up, the triumphant Blue Skies, even more. Dehd’s fourth album (and first for Fat Possum) is also the band’s second consecutive breakthrough, loaded with the most compelling, compulsive, and expansive songs of their career. Blue Skies offers another jolt of timely hope, only with twice the power. These 13 hits feel like flashlights in the dark, acknowledging how difficult everything from love and sex to living and dying can be while supplying the inspiration of their own experiences. “There’s a hole in my window/I was wondering how the rain was getting in,” Emily Kempf sings during the magnetic “Window,” acknowledging the problem before jubilantly exclaiming she’s moving toward something new. “Blue skies!” The rapturous reception of Flower of Devotion gave Dehd access to more resources — budgets, studios, producers. Rather than seek something new, however, they invested in themselves, their process, and their deep belief in what they have always done. They booked the same studio where they had recorded Flower of Devotion but tripled their stay, giving themselves time to play with arrangements and delight in a wonderland of drum machines and synthesizers. Through Dehd’s career, Jason Balla has been building his chops as a producer, so this was a chance to indulge and explore. Eric McGrady, meanwhile, considered how much more he could deliver as a drummer, adding layers to the thump of his past. And Emily, who admits that the process of making records has always been emotionally draining, focused on harnessing her indomitable energy, funneling her power into these songs without being overpowered by them. Dehd gave themselves runway to make mistakes and the space to make a statement. These 33 minutes run like a series of interconnected singles, each song so hooky and strong that you’ll be hard-pressed to name a favorite. The triumphant “Bad Love” is a surge of self-liberation, Emily leading the charge through an anthem about admitting your faults, seeking forgiveness, and finding a way forward. “I got a heart full/I got a heart full of redemption,” she offers at the start, a moment that suggests Springsteen writing with The Go-Go’s. A Tom Verlaine quiver to his voice, Jason takes a nighttime walk in the city as anxiety closes in during the irrepressible “Stars,” calming himself with a concrete reminder he’s still here. And there’s Eric’s splendid “Hold,” a chiming wonder with elastic bass lines and cascading piano parts that interlock beneath his hypnotic voice. He affirms the impact of simple acts of love.ULNA
Dexter and the Moonrocks
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYDEXTER AND THE MOONROCKSHailing from Abilene, Texas, Dexter & The Moonrocks deliver a unique Southern Alternative fusion lovingly dubbed “Western Space Grunge” by their fans. The band released their first single “Couch” in August of 2021, taking the internet by storm. After massive success with the hit single, the band released their self-titled EP featuring a number of hits like “Where I Steer” or “Behave” and receiving overwhelmingly positive responses. Lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist James Tuffs, lead guitarist/vocal harmonizer Ryan Anderson, bassist Ty Anderson, and drummer/vocal harmonizer Fox, draw on their favorite elements of bands like Nirvana, Austin Meade, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Whiskey Myers in order to create the unique sound that can only be described as “Western Space Grunge.”POCKET STRANGEAsheville-based Pocket Strange explores the chaotic balance that lies between solace and jubilance. Their music will transport you somewhere between the tie-dyed side of southern rock and psych-rock indie… with a polite splash of spacy jamming that ties together the loose ends that exist outside the constructs of their songs. They’ve decided to be undecided on where they expect the music to land – and in that realm of the unknown, they are able to connect and float in the “Strange” space that leads the band’s exploration and development.
The National Parks
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- LIMITED NUMBER OF VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE (including: One general admission ticket, Early entry into the venue, Access to an intimate pre-show campfire performance, Special Q&A conversation with The National Parks, Official VIP laminate, Crowd Free Merchandise Shopping + 15% off at the merch table. THE NATIONAL PARKSYou know the feeling when the clouds part and the sun shines down on you, the rush you get when you run and jump into a lake at full speed, or the moment a gust of morning air brings new life as you step outside and look at the world around you? The National Parks translate these sensations into songs. The Provo, UT quartet—Brady Parks [vocals, guitar], Sydney Macfarlane [vocals, keys], Cam Brannelly [drums], and Megan Parks [violin]—breathe in inspiration from the world around them and exhale cinematic indie folk-pop powered by soaring harmonies, organic orchestration, and luminous electronics. Emerging in 2013, the musicians have consistently captivated audiences. They’ve generated over 150 million streams across Young [2013], Until I Live [2015], Places [2017], and Wildflower [2020]. As one of many highlights from the latter, “Time” amassed over 9.3 million Spotify streams as the album incited widespread critical applause. Parade raved, “Wildflower is chock full of adventure, wonder, freedom, and inspiration,” while The Line Of Best Fit attested, “it seems that the sky really is the limit for this quartet.” Mxdwn noted, “The National Parks have perfectly melded folk with catchy melodies, strong grunge chords and poetic lyrics in Wildflower.” The four-piece maintained this momentum with a sold-out headline tour and 2021’s A Mix for the End of the World pt.1. Now, the group expand their vision yet again on their fifth full-length offering, 8th Wonder.Zach SeabaughNashville-based rising indie-pop talent Zach Seabaugh lightheartedly calls his music ‘moody music’ – a cross between singer/songwriter and pop from the relatable perspective of a 24-year-old navigating with the complexities of young adulthood. Born in Marietta, GA, Seabaugh got his start singing in his local church choir before picking up the guitar. Growing up heavily influenced by the likes of Ben Rector, Jack Johnson and John Mayer, Seabaugh pursued a music business degree at Middle Tennessee State University, where he continued dedicating himself to his craft of songwriting. Playing shows and writing every chance he could throughout college, Seabaugh began to hone in on his distinct sound, blending elements of pop, rock, and folk music. With releasing new music in 2022 including, “Slingshot,” co-penned and produced by Chance Peña, “Maybe In The Morning” feat. Anna Hamilton, “Thoughts” feat. Jaxson Free, along with his latest single “Christmas Lights” out now – the indie singer/songwriter plans to continue releasing music and connecting with fans in 2023.
Wild Child: End of the World Tour
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYWILD CHILD After more than a decade of non-stop touring, acclaimed Austin songwriting duo, Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Beggins, quietly stopped touring as Wild Child — their accidental indie band conceived in the back seat of someone else’s tour van. Wilson joined the singer-songwriter super group, Glorietta, and debuted her genre-bending, Motown-influenced solo project, Sir Woman — Austin Music Awards’ Best New Act of 2020 that NPR critic Gini Moscorro called an effortless move into “a brave new R&B-infused, gospel-flecked world where her golden pipes ease you back into a fluffy pillow of serenity and bliss.” And Beggins unveiled his musical alter-ego, Coco Zani, with the release of his first solo album, “As Simple As A Dream” featuring the single, “Paradise,” which The Wild Honey Pie called “the perfect soundtrack for waltzing around your room.” Headed in different sonic directions, Wilson and Beggins didn’t know if they would ever make another Wild Child record. Then, well, what felt like the “end of the world” brought them back together. Pandemic lockdowns closed stages and drained bank accounts. In Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, local bands took their shows to the internet. Wild Child was no different. Wilson and Beggins got together to practice for a series of online performances for devout fans. And within in 30 minutes, they wrote the first single for what would accidentally become Wild Child’s fifth album, End of the World. The song, Photographs, is a bittersweet, ukulele-backed duet that Wilson calls “something familiar for Wild Child fans who have stuck with us over the years.” “It felt like our very first record, when the two of us wrote a bunch of songs while on tour for someone else. There wasn’t any aim to do anything with those songs at the beginning. For the first time since then, that’s how we started writing these songs. We didn’t know if we would make another record. It just came together,” Beggins said. Wild Child’s fifth album, “End of the World,” was mixed by Matt Pence (Jason Isbell, Elle King) and includes guitarist Charlie Wiles (Paul Cauthen, John Moreland, Orville Peck). PROXIMA PRADAPróxima Parada is an American band from San Luis Obispo, CA. A group of four with wild fantasies of promoting joy, human connection, and making introspection sexy again. It all started with the discovery of freedom way back when, and the invention of brass allowed them to fashion their unique sound.
Covet
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYCOVETCovet started in 2014 as a bedroom project by guitarist Yvette Young, who at the time, was balancing writing music part time with working as an art teacher. Over the years, the project has certainly grown beyond its “Bay Area garage band” roots and has been fortunate enough to reach people all over the world- enough so that Young eventually left her teaching job to pursue making music with a band full-time.With a background in visual art, art therapy/education, and classical piano/violin, Young aims to write emotive songs that capture colorful imagery, uplift, and tell stories. Their sound can be described as “instrumental progressive rock” but the music draws influence from many genres like Midwest emo and shoegaze and doesn’t try to adhere to one main sound. Young’s fluid and polyphonic fingerstyle approach to guitar is often described as very piano-like, and although her playing at surface level is technical and intricate, the music still aims to make people feel something and make people want to dance.The band has released an EP Currents, an acoustic EP, and 2 full length albums Effloresce and Technicolor. Over time the sound has really transformed from its twinkly mathrock origins to a more evolved, fuller, more melodically complex sound that incorporates a myriad of tones andtextures. There is currently one new album in the works, which the band will be playing songs from.SCARYPOOLPARTYAlejandro Aranda (born August 11, 1994), known by his stage name Scarypoolparty, is an American singer, musician, and reality television personality from Pomona, California, and runner-up on the seventeenth season of American Idol. His debut album Exit Form was released on November 22, 2019. His follow-up album length EP, Doom Hologram was released on September 4, 2020. L.A. was released 2021. The Act of Forgiveness/a double Album was released in 2021 also.ALTO PALO It was touch and go as to whether altopalo would come together to make another album again. Being best friends for over ten years has made them incredibly comfortable with each other, to the extent that their friendship has become more like a brotherhood, a familial kind of relationship with all the strains and hurt that entails. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in the summer of 2020, drummer Dillon Treacy decided that he needed to take a step back from the band as the only black member of a group otherwise made up of white people, at least until they could all take some time to reflect. This lasted a couple of weeks and wasn’t something that they publicly talked about on social media, but Dillon’s leave of absence led altopalo to realize how they needed to be with each other in order to make music and relate to each other.
PATIO: Okapi
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDOKAPIOkapi is an avant-rock songwriting duo that utilizes upright bass, cello, and voice. Their raw and intricate compositions are cathartic but inviting, carrying honest and satirical messages that aim to stimulate a universal confrontation with reality, while encouraging consciousness, healthy growth, and individual empowerment in the curious and attentive observer.
PATIO: Carpal Tullar
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDCARPAL TULLAR Carpal Tullar is the name of both the recording project of Asheville-based Chris Tullar, who has been recording his original music for over 20 years, and the band who plays Carpal Tullar tunes live (with some cover songs added to the mix). The music is infectious, lyrically witty, upbeat rock, and spattered with influences from the greats of the 1960s and 70s. The live band is comprised of Chris on vocals, keys and guitar, Dave Baker on harmony vocals, guitar, and keys, Rob Heyer on bass, and John McKinney on drums, and they have been playing together as Carpal Tullar since 2015. Carpal Tullar has been played on 98.1 The River, WNCW, Asheville FM, appeared on NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast, opened for Tiffany, and even made a musical appearance on the popular NPR radio show Car Talk. In 2022, Carpal Tullar’s song, TSA, was chosen by Holy Crap Records as a top ten song of 2021. The video for that song was chosen for the Crowd Favorite award at the 2022 Music Video Asheville awards.
PATIO: Lavender Blue
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDLAVENDER BLUE Lavender Blue is the vessel for the songwriting and guitar playing of Kayla Zuskin. Lavender Blue the band consists of Mike Henry Johnson on Pedal Steel and Synthesizers, Mary Steinbrecher on Electric Bass and Jack Victor on Drum Kit. They are in the process of recording and producing their second full length record. Their music can be best described as slow core and alternative indie with a dash of americana. Located in Asheville, NC, Lavender Blue musicians are also music teachers, engineers/producers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists.
PATIO: Lua Flora
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDLUA FLORA Lua Flora is the soundtrack of your favorite daydream. The Asheville, NC-based group’s sun-kissed melodies are rooted in the harmonies of Appalachia, rhythms of the West Indies, and lyricism of American folk. Live, the band allures listeners with gut-punching jams weaved between powerful lyrics. Lua Flora has supported Satsang, Franc Moody, Of Good Nature, Kendall Street Company, and more. Their recent debut album amassed over 150,000 streams in the first week. “The musical embodiment of Asheville’s creative spirit” -Face The Current “…easy and melodic — a light, laidback recluse from the grind.” -Top Shelf Music “Lua Flora shows folk & reggae mix.” -Grateful Web
