White Oak Splits
whiteoaksplits.com
The Splits call Madison County home, and it’s from this lush high-country that they draw much of their inspiration; the craggy peaks, dark hollers, roaring rivers, and quiet meadows all serving as backdrops for their ever evolving soundscapes.
Each member boasts a musical interest unique from their bandmates, which lends itself to sonic collaboration and psychedelic experimentation ranging in styles from surf to country, blues to thrash, sludge to jazz, all of it swirling together into a style they refer to as Holler Boogie. No matter the set, bring your dancing shoes. It’s fixing to get loud.
West King String Band
westkingstring.com
West King String Band is made up of mandolinist AJ Fox, bassist Jesse Harman, and guitarist Jack Studer. After playing music together for years they formed in 2014 in Saint Augustine Florida.
For a few years they wrote songs and produced demos until releasing Achin’ in 2016. Inspired by a large array of music transcending genres, such as Old and in the Way and Del McCoury, to the Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead, to Black Sabbath.
They incorporate their influences to diversify sounds of bluegrass, folk, country, and blues creating their own unique and original style. In the last several years they have spent the vast majority of their days touring, and have shown a lot of growth between their debut, which was recorded in the boys’ living room, and the newly released Staring at the Sun in 2017. This newest body of work features the accompaniment of fiddle, subtle percussion and ominous lap steel to give the listener a much fuller experience.
Always open to expanding and growing their sound, they have been traveling relentlessly and occasionally adding members to create a fuller live experince. The “Spooky” Fiddler as he is known and percussionist Kevin Ladd are currently jumping in on the tour. Stay tuned for a tour in your city and their relocation to Western NC in 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hIW-wLddIo
https://www.facebook.com/events/662305007466192/