Young folks focuses on the best, fresh folk, acoustic, singer-songwriter indie folk & alt-country jams. Turn it up Folks!
Sean Tobin
‘Quiet Boy’
[americana/country]
Press Notes:
Born and raised on the New Jersey shore, Sean Tobin was influenced by folk-singing troubadours and high-energy rockers alike. His vivacious performances and rock n’ roll-tinged releases are due mostly in part to his upbringing in the Jersey shore bar scene. Tobin honed his craft playing countless shows in dives, clubs and basements, as well as during his time busking on the streets of Galway, Ireland throughout 2015 and 2017.
Tobin and his backing band, the Boardwalk Fire, are a tireless, high-powered rock group that blow the roof off of every venue they play. From hard-hitting drum fills and ambient fiddle riffs, to crunchy guitars and booming bass-lines, the band invites any crowd in for a show that will make them forget about life for a while. With two full-length albums, two EPs and dozens of shows under their belts, Sean Tobin & the Boardwalk Fire will be releasing their third studio album, Ghost of the Arcade, in June of 2022.
“This one was a long time coming,” said Tobin of the upcoming LP. “I’ve been so focused on wanting to be a part of the punk scene that I’ve been fighting my folk roots. Folk songs pour out of me– alt-country and whatnot. And that’s exactly what his record is: a folk album. Some of these (songs) were written three years ago; some were written in autumn. All of them belong on this album. All of them make for an amazing live show.”
Ghost of the Arcade features ten songs and one interlude that tell tales like a written collection of short stories. Tobin’s proficiency in prose and poetry draws parallels to the likes of Steinbeck and Hemingway. His affinity for Americana is almost as obvious as the ever-present Springsteen shadow. “The best and worst advice I ever received was to stop ‘writing cool.’,” said Tobin. “I took that and ran with it, and I think I’ve found the perfect middle ground. Somewhere between romance and reality.”
Sean Tobin and the Boardwalk Fire will continue to tour the US through the summer, with hopes of traveling to Europe in late 2022. As they make their way down the road, they’ll bring a little bit of New Jersey grit to every stage they haunt. Their album, Ghost of the Arcade, is out June 10, 2022.
Ned Moss
‘Fading Out’
[indie folk/pop]
Press Notes:
Ned Moss has been a prominent figure in the industry for many years, based out of London, his style is a combination of various genre influences including Country, Blues, and Pop. For Ned his music is about igniting a passionate feeling with his listeners and for that reason he has continued to create music of true essential meaning. A Purcell School of Music attendee Ned began writing at a young age quickly improving his music craft and songwriting skills, while taking heavy inspiration from the likes of legendary artists such as Hendrix, Coldplay and John Mayer. His music is distinct, unorthodox and instantly recognisable, collaborating with artist both big and small over the years he has continued to add many achievements to his ever expanding musical resume. With his next major project in the works, Ned looks to continue this impressive run with an upcoming EP, much to the anticipation of his listeners at home but more so than ever, abroad as well.
Said Sara
‘Sea’
[indie folk/alternative rock]
Press Notes:
David is the long-time drummer of old school death metal combatants Acephalix. You read that right.
There is a 2-way passage between the poppy, acoustic-rooted Said Sara and the aforementioned sonic extremity: Transition. David spent 15 years as guitarist/vocalist-turned vocalist of this genre-obscuring clique, whose sole full-length, 1994’s Spine, was released by Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn’s ultra-legendary SST Records.
Contemporary Adult
‘Driver’
[psych folk/dream pop]
Press Notes:
Contemporary Adult is the new musical alias of Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Zach Farr (formerly of Mani, Atria). Their sound is filled with intricate layers of rhythm and harmonic texture, delivering a haunting spirit of bright eyed melancholy wrapped in a joyfully hopeful container.
Their upcoming first full-length release “Terrestrial” was self-produced throughout 2020-2021, during the heart of the pandemic. Themes of isolation, togetherness, climate despair, the struggles of late-stage capitalism, and questions the individual’s roll in it all are delivered in a colorful, humorous, yet poignant package. The release is anticipated with a series of five singles from the record.
The Early Mays
‘The Ballad of Johnny Fall’
[bluegrass/acoustic/folk]
Press Notes:
The Early Mays have spent most of their professional lives as musicians. Gozion is a pianist for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and a Music Director at First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. In the world of old-time, she has made a name for herself as a ballad singer. This trajectory comes across on Prettiest Blue in the newly-composed “Ballad of Johnny Fall,” a dark tale of a man whose eyes were “once the prettiest blue.”
Pinkerton has lived a bit of a double life in music, dedicating two decades to Chilean folk song, including three years overseas and several collaborations with South American artists: “Even when I’m writing with my banjo, traditional singing from Chile creeps into my rhythm and rhyme. You can hear hints of this in ‘On a Dying Day’ where the lyrics roll back and forth like waves,” she explains.
The past ten years have been a steady search for musical and spiritual sustenance: for themselves and for their listeners. “Prettiest Blue is about keeping your eyes trained on something brighter, even in the midst of sadness,” reflects Pinkerton. A decade of friendship is palpable in the co-arranged songs, as well as the dedication to craft and the sustained pursuit of a rich acoustic aesthetic. You may find yourself comfortably swaying in that neo-traditional space–somewhere between old-time and songwriter sensibilities–getting a glimpse of how much these songs have been cared for.
Gareth Lewis
‘While the Devil Plays the Tune’
[alt americana/country/singer-songwriter]
Press Notes:
Gareth Lewis is a UK Americana artist from Swansea, Wales. He has a long career in the music industry as a songwriter, musician and singer.
Americana music is the perfect fit, as it combines Gareth’s influences of blues, country, rock, acoustic and gospel music. In recent years some of his main influences include Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams, Dawes and The Lone Bellow and he loves the honesty in the storytelling from Americana artists. In his debut EP ‘Start The Hurricane’ there is an element of Southern and classic rock as well.
Gareth was involved in music from a young age, he was taught to play guitar by his dad, which instilled a passionate interest and he formed his first band Squeezebox during his last year of school with his two best friends. He started writing songs and a series of bands followed, but it was when Gareth first bought his first Dobro resonator guitar that he developed his own voice as a songwriter. This was a catalyst for forming Dukes Of Hafod with songwriter Richard Fender. Together they wrote roots, earthy Americana and alternative country songs and released an album ‘All Roads Lead Here’. One of their earliest singles ‘Bloodwater’ made them artist of the week on BBC Wales.
Woodlock
‘Quick Hands’
[indie folk]
Press Notes:
New Zealand-born brothers Zech Walters (guitar/vocals) and Eze Walters (guitar/vocals) struck up a friendship with Bowen Purcell (drums) after moving to Australia. In search of adventure, the three traveled around the country busking, before eventually settling in Melbourne. Woodlock’s international profile kicked off with headline tours through the Philippines, China, and Canada off the back of standout single “Something Broke That Day.” Simultaneously, the title track of their Sirens EP reached iTunes Top 50 charts and Top 10 spots on Spotify’s viral charts globally. Now signed to Nettwerk Records, the trio has been recording new music over nine months in a variety of locations – from Bowen’s garage to Homesurgery Recordings in Melbourne – and working with producers Hayden Calnin (Didirri, Harrison Storm, and a solo artist in his own right) and Jackson Barclay (Vera Blue, Winterbourne, Timberwolf). The new music – a dynamic mix of organic, acoustic elements and electronic flourishes – is a breathtakingly candid collection of songs about heartbreak, trauma and hope.
El Rocko
‘Sun Farm’
[indie folk/indie pop]
Press Notes:
Chase Waller is the 26-year-old singer/songwriter behind the moniker El Rocko. A native of Savannah, Georgia, Waller relocated to Chattanooga after college, where he now works as a middle-school teacher. Though he has been writing songs for most of his life, Waller started creating music under the alias “El Rocko” back in 2019, when he released his first single on Yellow Racket, “Half the Day.”
Heavily influenced by 90s alt-rock and shoegaze, El Rocko’s music combines ragged guitars and mellow vocals with simple, honest lyrics to produce dreamy and wide-ranging songs, flitting between simple folk music and lush dream pop. Drawing inspiration from bands like Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Radiohead, and Duster, El Rocko’s songs are intimate, confessional, and always a little off-center.
Pranatricks
‘Between the World’
[indie folk/psych]
Press Notes:
‘Prana’ Sanskrit for life force. It is binding and built upon breath. We are immersed in the power of our being continuously. ‘Tricks are for kids’, but life’s playfulness is not always apparent. Perhaps there is a formula for living with ease, discovering truth, and reflecting upon it; in an attempt, ultimately, to find freedom and justice within the exterior world. Cherished is a collection of songs, some of which emerged from the ether as long as a decade ago, others appearing instantly in response to numerous reflective hours spent in contemplation of the inevitable changing landscape around us. This is a story in search of authenticity. Its simplicity is meant to remind us to sit with what is, to pause, and to remember our truth, whatever that may be and wherever that may lie.
Stone Cold Super Friends
‘Time and Some Colours’
[americana/soul]
Press Notes:
Stone Cold Super Friends are a band of brothers and sisters (other mothers) that play psychedelic percussive roots music.
Their music has been described (by themselves) as “a monkey locked in a South American studio with nothing but wine and ashtanga juice in the fridge , cheese in the cupboard, and a radio tuned to calypso fm”. Pretty bewildering, but then again, a review on Triple J Unearthed likened their sound to a “duck staring at bread” so maybe it is not far off the mark.
Stone Cold Super Friends have received the kind of praise from critics that is usually reserved for bands with the means to offer cash and cocaine or to threaten physical violence. Street Press Australia once stated their album contains “some of the best tracks we’ve heard from any Aussie artist this year”. Granted, this was a few years ago, back when street press still existed in Western Australia. Xpress Magazine stated they were “unlike any artist Australia (at least) has seen” and Global Thunda Network claimed they were “Australia’s best kept secret in music”.
Pretty impressive reviews for a band that only began it’s life in 2017.
They have been playing and recording music together for over 6 years however and were previously known as Simon Kelly & The Big Bamboo. The band started over 10 years ago as a solo project of Simon Kelly but has evolved into a much more collaborative collective and Simon wanted a new name to reflect this. For a couple of precarious weeks it looked like The Kokomo Liberation Army was the best they could come up with. Spice Thyme Continuum was considered, Uncle Billy’s Milking Table was ignored but in the end Stone Cold Super Friends got the nod.
[All Press Notes provided by the artists]
Compiled by: Christos Doukakis