Author: Christopher Crowell

Austin McNeill is an independent artist born and raised in Salisbury, Rowan County, NC. He graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2018 and has been chasing music since first finding his passion in a small Southern Baptist church choir at the age of 5.

He infuses country and rock with a contemporary, yet nostalgic flair.

Since releasing his debut EP “Carolina”, Austin has been on a fast track to success in the country music industry. Austin’s breakout single “Ridin’ Highways” was featured during the 2023 CMT awards. He was chosen to be a Tractor Supply Emerging Artist in 2023 and is actively mentored by Dustin Lynch.

Austin has since shared the stage with country superstars Lainey Wilson, Dustin Lynch, Lauren Alaina, Kip Moore, and Maddie & Tae, among others.

He performed at the Grand Ole Opry with Lainey Wilson in October of 2023. In 2024, Austin made his debut performances at Bridgestone Arena and AT&T Stadium.

Back by popular demand, we’re excited to have Austin back for Earth Day Jam! Thanks for supporting Happy Roots, Austin

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Folk…Country…Blues…Rock n’ Roll

Sugar, vinegar, or spice! When Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam show up, it’s all on the table!
An Army veteran who traded in his rifle for a banjo and guitar, Cutler is a Greensboro-based poet, teacher, and songwriter who grew up Pentecostal in a military family with #NorthCarolina and Pennsylvania roots. He pulls on the varied threads of life and literature, as well as the blues, country, gospel, oldtime, and rock music he grew up with to weave what No Depression has described as a “magnificent tapestry of roots music.”

Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam’s music stretches across the American roots music world, from acoustic oldtime and alt country to electric blues and rock n’ roll, with touches of bluegrass and jam band energy.

The last couple years have seen them playing Merlefest, Shakori Hills, the North Carolina Folk Festival, the Susquehanna Folk Festival (2022 Emerging Artist Winner!), Antlers & Acorns Songwriters Festival, and more. ‘Tarwater’, their first release as a band, reached the Top 20 in both Folk and Alternative Country radio charts on its release.

He’s currently traveling and fixin’ to get his spring garden ready. Yes, he makes his own hot pepper jam with his homegrown peppers! We’re excited to have Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam joining us this year for ‘Earth Day Jam’ – A Benefit for Happy Roots – Saturday, April 12th at Bell Tower Green in Downtown Salisbury, NC.

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SUPER excited to have Issac Hadden joining us this year! A genre-smashing guitar phenom, vocalist and bandleader…. Originally from Southwest, VA, currently based in Asheville, NC, who started the ‘Isaac Hadden Project’ when he was just 15 years old! His primary touring unit (billed simply as ‘Isaac Hadden’) is a heavy-hitting funk-rock quartet rapidly gaining notoriety on the music fest circuit and the east coast jam band scene with high energy performances and tight, dynamic improvisation.

From a young age, Isaac has had the privilege of joining some of the hottest acts on the national circuit, including Keller Williams, Leftover Salmon, Ron Holloway, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Roosevelt Collier, Jeff Sipe Trio, Big Something, Kanika Moore, Dogs In A Pile, Big Daddy Love, Larry Keel, SUSTO, and numerous others! Voted 2022’s ‘Best Of The Blue Ridge’ Artists/Musicians, Isaac’s musicianship, dedication, work ethic, versatility and high-energy performances is immersing the scene, routinely bending brainwaves, and keeping listeners coming back for more.

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We’re thrilled to welcome Grammy-nominated Devon Gilfillian to Earth Day Jam 2024 – A Benefit for Happy Roots!

VIP TICKETS: While Earth Day Jam is a free event, this ticket gives you access to the Earth Day Jam VIP tent with complimentary Chef-prepared tastings created from locally sourced farm foods carefully paired with craft brews from Salisbury’s own New Sarum Brewing Company. Also included with the entree is a wine pairing from Earth Day Jam’s Official winery, Childress Vineyards.

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Steven Hall (Swim In the Wild) and Micah Cottingham (MICVH) began co-writing music in the fall of 2020. After an unexpected quarantine allowed for a boost in creativity, the two decided their side project should go full-time, coming together to form the band falllift.

The combination blends authenticity and refreshing honesty into a modern sound. Drawing inspiration from the experiences in life that connect each and every one of us, falllift aims to leave their audience with an air of community, comfort, and hope. The group has plans to release new music this year and will be touring regionally as a full band!

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Born and raised in Salisbury and graduated from Carson High School… Austin’s musical roots began at the early age of 5 singing in his hometown Southern Baptist church choir. He grew up in a musical family that heavily influenced his taste for country, blues, rocknroll, motown. At the age of 15, he received his first guitar and taught himself to play without ever taking a lesson. When he moved to Charlotte in 2014 to attend UNC Charlotte he began playing in venues and bars all across the state honing his craft and cutting his teeth. In 2019 he formed his first band Seven Day Haze.

For Austin, now 27, with country music at his core, a solo country album has always been in the cards. His debut single and EP title track “Carolina” share with listeners his love for southern nostalgia, where he’s from, and how he was raised. Austin was chosen to be one of Tractor Supply’s Emerging Artists in 2023 and had his breakout debut single “Ridin’ Highways” featured during the 2023 CMT awards. He made his debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry in October 2023 with Lainey Wilson.

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Back promoting their brand new studio album ‘Glowing’ set to release this Summer.

Produced by @david_a_schools of Widespread Panic featuring Adam MacDougall (Circles Around the Sun, Chris Robinson Brotherhood) on keys and John Kimock (Mike Gordon Band, Otiel Burbridge & Friends) on drums.

A music minister’s daughter turned fierce frontwoman, Abby Bryant has cemented her presence as a standout in Americana and soul with her band’s debut album Not Your Little Girl. The 13-track LP features Bryant’s raw vocal talent supported by the confident and dynamic backing group The Echoes and establishes a strong foundation for the band in the world of vintage-inspired Americana and soul rock.

Playing for church services under her father’s direction, Bryant recalls early memories of singing a solo as an angel in a nativity play and backing up the church band in her small-town community near Charlotte, North Carolina. It wasn’t until she attended Appalachian State University that Bryant began to seriously consider a professional career in music. Forming the beginnings of the group with her friend from back home Bailey Faulkner, Bryant merged her love of the sound of soul and American roots music embodied by artists like Etta James and Bonnie Raitt with Faulkner’s similar passion for American blues and Faces-style rock. With these inspirations, Bryant and Faulkner began co-writing songs that would eventually appear on Not Your Little Girl.

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A dynamic BrassFunkRock band hailing from Asheville, North Carolina… Empire Strikes Brass started as a group of friends who loved playing New Orleans inspired secondline and funk tunes infused with elements of rock and jam with rich vocals, thumping rhythm, and robust horns featuring harmonious saxophone of Recording Academy grammy award winning artist Debrissa McKinney. Since their inception, Empire Strikes Brass has become a staple at various festivals across the USA, leaving a lasting impression with their infectious energy and electrifying performances. Their horn section has shared the stage with esteemed acts like Shpongle Live Band, Umphrey’s McGee, Papadosio, and many more iconic names in the funk and jam scene.

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