FOLK SOUL REVIVAL

A modern band rooted in old-school southern sounds, Folk Soul Revival whips up its own version of amplified Americana on the band's self-titled fourth record.

The name says it all. Folk Soul Revival, like the band that created it, is an album that celebrates the sounds, stories, and small-town values of an earlier era, modernizing their approach with sharp songwriting and electrifying instrumental work. There's country twang, bluegrass bounce, hillbilly hell-raising, chicken-pickin' guitar, and roadhouse roots-rock, all sandwiched into a tracklist that mixes heartbreak, honesty, and humor in equal doses. Recorded in Nashville and road-tested on stages across the country, this is Folk Soul Revival's finest work — an album that nods to the glory days of the past while still pushing the band forward.

Formed in southwestern Virginia in 2008, Folk Soul Revival has spent a decade growing a wide audience both at home (where they've become a regular presence at local institutions like the Carter Family Fold, FloydFest, and Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion) and on the road (where they've shared shows with Dr. Ralph Stanley, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jason Isbell, Eric Church, and others). They're road warriors, logging roughly 100 performances a year. For Folk Soul Revival, though, those tours always lead back to Bristol: the group's birthplace, home, and muse. Many of the life lessons that lurk inside Folk Soul Revival's 12 tracks can be traced back to that place.

"These are stories of home," says frontman and chief songwriter Daniel Davis, who shares the band's lineup with Justin Venable (baritone guitar, vocals, occasional songwriting duties), Brandon Sturgill (upright bass, bass guitar), Chad Light (guitar, pedal steel, banjo), and Justin Louthian (drums, vocals). "We're all backwoods country people who grew up in this area," he adds, "listening to bluegrass and country. That's where we come from, and that's where this album comes from, too."

With songs about blue-collar jobs, long workweeks, wise-ass bartenders, messy breakups, and richly-deserved weekends, Folk Soul Revival sources its material from the everyday lives of rural Americans. This is biographical music, and while the stories may be specific to Folk Soul Revival, they'll sound familiar to anyone who hails from the country's forgotten pockets . On songs like "Small Town," Davis sings about front porches, back roads, and Friday night football games, sketching a picture that's quintessentially Southern. In the background, the rest of the band chimes in with banjo, slide guitar, and vocal harmonies. The result is both fresh and familiar — a new take on a classic idea.

Elsewhere, the guys duet with folksinger Leah Blevins on "Dance with Me," wink their way through the double entendres of the country two-step highlight "Horrible Girl," ride a rowdy groove with the kickoff track "Other Side," pay homage to Little Feat with a cover of "Willin'," and even make room for swooning strings and thick harmonies (the latter provided by the McCrary Sisters) on their most layered song to date, "Broken." Produced by Grammy Award winner Chad Brown (Ryan Adams, Hayes Carll, Patty Griffin) with additional production by Grammy Award winner Barry Bales (a longtime member of Alison Krauss and Union Station, as well as the producer of Folk Soul Revival's previous album, Out of the Box), these songs shine a light on the band's strongest lineup to date.  Crucial to the group's soaring progress are two new members — Justin Louthian, a versatile percussionist capable of train beats, rock patterns, and everything in between; and Chad Light, whose electric guitar riffs take centerstage on multiple tracks — whose talents help Folk Soul Revival bridge the gap between the organic punch of a string band and the electrified stomp of a country-rock act.

Released years after the band's third release, Prompting the Dapperness, rose to Number 12 on iTunes' country chart and Number 10 on Billboard Magazine's Heatseekers chart (South Atlantic Division), Folk Soul Revival takes the band to new heights, merging the band's classic influences and timeless twang with a modern, musical approach. Bring on the revival.

CARSON PETERS

& THE IRON MOUNTAIN BAND

Carson Peters started playing the fiddle at the ripe old age of 3 when his parents bought him a 1/8 size fiddle.  By age 4, he was playing in fiddle competitions and jamming at musical festivals.  Carson has continued to hone the fiddling and singing talents that God has so graciously blessed him with and has won many competitions along the way.  At 12 years old, Carson is a seasoned performer playing numerous venues with his band throughout the region; Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Dollywood’s Bluegrass and BBQ, Asheville’s Bluegrass First Class, Song of the Mountains, Carter Family Fold and WDVX’s World Class Bluegrass concert series to name a few.  Carson has also had the honor of playing on national TV as a guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Little Big Shots with Steve Harvey, as well as play with Jimmy Fortune on the floor of the Tennessee State Senate.  On March 28, 2014, Carson’s dream of playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage was realized when he was invited by Ricky Skaggs to come perform with him and his band, Kentucky Thunder.  In May of the same year, Carson was asked to make a reappearance at the Opry, but this time with his own band.  On July 31, 2014, Carson made his Ryman Auditorium debut playing again with Ricky Skaggs during the 2014 Bluegrass Nights series.  Since these appearances, Carson and his band have performed numerous occasions on the Opry Show.

Carson says that winning trophies and getting your name in the paper is “really cool” but that is not the main reason he works so hard at his music.  “It’s all about using the talent God gave me to make people smile!”  Carson truly loves entertaining people!

He lives in Piney Flats, Tennessee with his parents, Jamie and Robin.  When he is not “fiddlin’ around,” he is just an ordinary country boy who enjoys baseball, basketball, golf, hunting, riding his four wheeler and going to church.