The second night in a very special two-night run!
Doors at 8. Music at 9. 21+.
$15 in advance, $18 at the door. $24 for a two-night pass!
Tickets on sale at Cactus Records and online by following the link.
The Lil' Smokies:
With their roots submerged in the thick buttery mud of traditional bluegrass, The Lil’ Smokies have sonically blossomed into a leading player in the progressive acoustic sphere, creating a new and wholly unique, melody driven sound of their own. The quintet, from Missoula, MT, has been hard at work, writing, touring and playing to an ever-growing fan base for the past 6 years. The fruits of their labor recently culminating with their win this year at the 2015 Telluride Bluegrass festival band competition. In October 2014, they were nominated by the Internal Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for Momentum Band of the Year and in 2013 they won The Northwest String Summit Band Competition. With a unique blend of traditional bluegrass, newgrass, innumerable unique originals, sheer raw energy, and exquisite musicianship, The Lil’ Smokies weave seamlessly through genres, leaving behind melodies you’ll be singing to yourself for days and a jaw you’ll have to pick up off the floor.
The Lil’ Smokies have no problem captivating large audiences. Sharing the stage with heavyweights like Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Keller Williams, Greensky Bluegrass, The Emmit-Nershi Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Travellin’ McCourys, Sam Bush Band, Fruition, Infamous Stringdusters, Bradford Lee Folk and The Bluegrass Playboys, and dozens of others. The Lil’ Smokies have become festival favorites with highlights including Delfest (MD), Pagosa Folk N’ Bluegrass (CO), ROMP Fest (KY), Hangtown Halloween (CA), Telluride Bluegrass Festival (CO), Roseberry Music Festival (ID), Northwest String Summit (OR), Targhee Bluegrass Festival (WY), River City Roots (MT) and more! This five-piece bluegrass ensemble features Andy Dunnigan (dobro), Scott Parker (upright bass), Matt Cornette (banjo), Jake Simpson (fiddle) and Matt Rieger (guitar).
Honeyhoney:
Honeyhoney is the jazzy, twangy, rollicking collaboration between vocalist Suzanne Santo and guitarist Ben Jaffe. Prior to joining the duo, Jaffe recorded music for TV and film; he then met Santo (an actress whose résumé included stints on Law & Order and Blind Justice) through a mutual friend, who took Jaffe to see one of Santo's solo gigs. The two began holding informal songwriting sessions and soon discovered a musical partnership. Adopting the name honeyhoney, they also discovered an early supporter in Kiefer Sutherland, who signed the band to Ironworks Music, a label he co-owned with musician Jude Cole.
Honeyhoney made their studio debut by issuing the Loose Boots EP in early 2008; the musicians then hit the road with Lifehouse (another band on the Ironworks roster) while finding time to work on their debut album. First Rodeo was released later that year, featuring varied influences that ranged from crossover jazz to neo-soul to engaging alt-country. Raymond Richards of Local Natives produced Honeyhoney's sophomore effort, Billy Jack, which arrived in October 2011 on the group's own honeyhoney imprint, distributed by Lost Highway. The duo next signed a recording contract with the esteemed roots music label Rounder Records, and their third album, produced by Dave Cobb and simply titled 3, appeared in April 2015.