Category: MUSIC

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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Playing upwards of 170 shows a year both headlining and sharing stages with such superstars as Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, Railroad Earth, Marty Stuart, Allison Krauss, Leon Russell, Jim Lauderdale, Leftover Salmon, Amos Lee, The Lumineers and many more… eventually surpassing 1,000 shows, half a million miles and performances in nearly every state.

With 11 studio albums, landing them on the Recording Academy Grammy ballot FOUR times, garnering nods from the Americana Music Association placing top five on both Radio and Records and the AMA album charts… Garnering airplay on Sirius XM, iTunes, Pandora, and streamed millions of times on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon… Featured artist on CNN, CMT, and Rolling Stone… with a populist cult following of diehard devotees, popularly known as “the Yarmy.”

Originally formed in Brooklyn NC but for many years now have called North Carolina home… Help us welcome the return of Yarn to Earth Day Jam 2024 – A Benefit for Happy Roots!

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With a passion for creating captivating melodies and weaving heartfelt lyrics sure to pull on your heartstrings @carolinadetour transcends genres blending elements of folk, gospel, country, bluegrass and rock. Hailing from North Carolina, performing at legendary venues and festivals including Floydfest, Shakori Hills, The Caverns and Merlefest. Their music reflects the diverse landscapes and experiences that have shaped their artistic journey. From soulful ballads to foot-stomping anthems, with each performance they prove that age is no barrier to creating soul-stirring music that resonates with listeners worldwide. Keep an eye on Carolina Detour as they continue to chart their own path in the ever-evolving world of music!

This convoy consists of fiddler & vocalist Lake Carver from Wilkes County, NC, guitarist & mandolin player Tae Childress from Statesville, NC, guitarist & vocalist Lyla Cherry from Mooresville, NC, banjo & vocalist Malachi Bulman from Pinnacle, NC, and their newest voyager, mandolin player & vocalist Cooper Eades from Catawba, NC.

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Gypsy blues out of Salisbury NC

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An all original Acoustic based Alternative/Folk Artist who knows how to pull a crowd in close with guitar virtuosity, powerful lyrics, and ethereal sounding organ.  Born an Artist of many types, a story teller, a writer, a poet, a builder, a painter, he has amassed a large collection of “Guitar Art” which he offers for sale at his shows.  

With two new albums under his belt “Azalea” and “Clementine” and 3 compilation CD’s you can find his work on all streaming platforms and video sites.

Also a digital Artist CJ has a worldwide fanbase that watches his shows from his artistic laden LIVE streams which broadcast on several platforms simultaneously from every show he does.  This builds brand recognition for the venues that book him and gives his fans a unique insight into his legacy.

Available alone or with his “Sunshine Band” CJ makes it his mission to excite the crowd and keep them interested and yelling for more.  A Singer/Songwriter for most of his life he has the flexibility to change his lyrics to include the people in the crowd and the names of the venues he is playing at.  On the spot CJ likes to write to fit the needs of the crowd he is performing for in real time.  

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Courtney Puckett is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, from Salisbury, North Carolina. She started out playing clarinet in band class and taking private guitar lessons at the age of 12. She then moved on to high school marching band playing the clarinet, the mellophone, and the tuba. She enjoyed writing music with her friends but was always nervous to sing in public. She always dreamed of being a singer but didn’t know where to start since she never had real vocal training.
At East Carolina University, she decided to go out on a whim and audition for the women’s choir and she got in! Having an ear for music as an instrumentalist, she was able to learn how to create beautiful harmonies. Later, she decided to take private vocal and guitar lessons and her mentor encouraged her to try some open mics. Something sparked at that first open mic. She began diligently working on her craft and progressing to better and better gigs. She met her now husband, David Myers (of the band Big Break) who gave her even more insight with the music business and the creative process. In the fall of 2015, she formed the band Paper Wasps, an indie rock jazz group who has performed all around North Carolina. She continues to work with her musical projects but also wanted to embark on a new journey.
She decided to become a full time professional musician and with that has been performing solo gigs under her name. With this act, she has also hired musicians to work with her. She is now releasing an EP entitled “Out of the grey” that she wrote the songs for, produced, sang, played guitar, and layered vocal harmonies on. Joining her on the album is Carrie Webster on the violin, Eric Webster on upright bass, Louis Bodak on percussion, Alan Erickson on keys, Daniel Seriff on lead guitar, and Atticus Lane contributed a rap verse to a song.

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Big Break is a four piece band based out of China Grove North Carolina, delivering lyric driven music that incorporates a healthy spectrum of rock and roll, funk, ska, soul, reggae and americana. Songs of reassurance and comfort, stories told and connections made, always honest and always with the right musical backing. After touring the Carolinas and building sounds that pull from all the far corners of their state, BIG BREAK has released their first full length album and third overall release, HEADFUL OF MELODIES.

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