While Wild Skies has carved out their own, unique sound at the intersection of folk, rock and Americana, the band members have come from all different musical backgrounds, each of them bringing a different perspective to the collaboration. That diversity, at its core, is what has helped Wild Skies forge their own path and distinctive sound.
The Chicago based foursome came together through a series of Craigslist ads posted by Ohio transplant and singer/songwriter Aaron Lechlak while searching for band members to help with studio work in early 2014. Teaming up with opera trained singer Kristine Sorum-Williams, jazz bassist Tommy Good, and folk drummer Andy Kearns, what began as a solo project evolved into a three-part harmonic melting pot of folk-rock.
TheyGuanUs
-A Mexican/American Fusion Reggae Band.
From Milwaukee Wi.
Buena Vibra/Musica.
Influences: Los cafres, Dread Mar I , Cultura Profetica, Bob Marley https://www.reverbnation.com/theyguanus
Equally rich in meaning and melody, Paladino delivers honest, heartfelt lyrics and soaring, stirring harmonies. Their songs blend genres (Americana Rock, Indie Folk, Progressive Bluegrass) with poetic imagery and novelistic detail, shot through with real emotion and dynamic musicality.
Founded in late 2014, long-term friends Mark Harrig (mandolin/vocals/guitar) and former band member Phil Wamser (concertina/keyboard) set out to start a bluegrass band. Having picked up a mandolin and concertina, they both joked about their miniature instruments and thought to start a bluegrass band. Yet, the addition of new friends Matt Webber (guitar/bass), Weston Grit (bass/guitar) and Chad Burgess (drums) brought new influences and instrumentation. Burgess frequently blames himself for derailing the band from its bluegrass trajectory and morphing into the Americana Rock/Folk band they are today. Their collection of songs display a wide array of stylistic diversity due to each member of the band contributing their personally written songs, lyrics and vocals.
Paladino’s name is a tribute to Wamser’s late childhood piano teacher (Diane Palladino) who inspired him to pursue music as not only a hobby but a passion; who pushed him musically and taught him to never give up his love to create. The band, inspired by Mrs. P’s devotion to music, decided to pay homage by naming the quintet after her.
After twelve years together, one thing has remained constant for Wisconsin rock & rollers the Family Business – it’s always been about the music. “Looking back to when we started out, most of us were still in High School, so a lot has changed for each one of us personally. Somehow we’ve all remained very close friends who still like making music together,” says bassist Garrett Wartenweiler. And they haven’t just made music, they’ve done so at a proli c rate, putting out four albums in the last six years alone.
The band released 2015’s Balls Pricey, a 13-song album that brings the heavy guitar riffage of the 60s and 70s back into the 21st century. Says Rick Tvedt or Local Sounds Magazine, “They strip away all the excess of classic rock, polish it up – but not too much – and then unleash it to audiences that may not have heard such raw power in some time.” “This is the way that great rock and roll and great blues should always sound,” adds Lou Lombardi of Blues Rock Review.
While the band’s chemistry and instrumental prowess is heavily reflected in their studio works, it is even more apparent in a live setting. Mixing in the occasional well-timed ballad amongst a plethora of high energy rockers, the foursome effortlessly guides their audience through the peaks and valleys of their extensive repertoire. Hailing from Madison, WI, the band’s talent has garnered them recognition both locally and beyond. In addition to securing opening slots for Rival Sons, Blues Traveler, J Roddy Walston and the Business, Cracker, SIMO, and Black Stone Cherry, the band has won a number of Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAs) and secured multiple nominations Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards (WAMIs). Never ones to slow down, the band plans to record their sixth studio album in 2018 while playing extensively throughout the Midwest.
For 15 years, Altered Five Blues Band has been winning audiences with a swaggering stomp of bruising, barrelhouse grit. According to Downbeat magazine, frontman Jeff Taylor “sings powerfully” and “Jeff Schroedl’s live-wire guitar reaches the high bar of mixed invention and fluidity.” Blues Bytes magazine declares the group features “the funkiest rhythm section outside of Memphis.”
For its fourth album, Charmed & Dangerous, the Milwaukee-based quintet joins forces with Blind Pig Records, one of the world’s premiere blues labels. Produced by multi-Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge, and featuring guests on harmonica and backing vocals, the 13 tracks of original, contemporary blues prove worthy of the recent groundswell of acclaim. The group’s third album, Cryin’ Mercy, reached #3 in the iTunes blues store, hit #1 on the Roots Music Report blues album chart, and won “Best Self-Released CD” at the 2015 International Blues Challenge. The band was also named “Blues Artist of the Year” at the 2014 WAMI Award Show, and was recently asked to contribute a track (“Tightrope”) to a Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute album being released in the fall of 2017.
Mile of Music Presents & Gibson Music Hall Present: Hayward Williams Record Release Concert!
Four-time Mile of Music alumnus Hayward Williams returns to Appleton for a special record release concert promoting his new album, Title. This listening-room experience features an exclusive full-band performance from Hayward Williams! You don’t want to miss this great Sunday showcase at Gibson Music Hall!
Tickets are FREE to 2018 Music-Makers before April 26 & $5 for Music-Makers AFTER April 26. Tickets are $10 to the public.
Event Information-
Who: Hayward Williams (Opening Act: Coyote Brother – duo)
What: Hayward Williams Record Release Concert
When: Sunday, April 29 at 5:00 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30 p.m.)
Where: Gibson Music Hall
Tickets: FREE to 2018 Music-Makers who register by April 26. After April 26, Music-Makers tickets are $5 online or at the door. Tickets are $10 to the public.
SHOW INFO:
WHO: Marah in the Mainsail AND FEATherWOLF
WHEN: Saturday, April 28 Show starts at 6:30p.m. (Doors open at 4:30 p.m.)
WHERE: Gibson Music Hall 211 W. College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911
TICKETS: $8 (+fees) Online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3391747
$10 at-the-door
OTHER: Must be 21+
Cinematic is the word most often used to describe Minneapolis based Marah in the Mainsail’s sound. Precise yet primitive jungle drums set the stage for the eclectic and powerful ensemble to sweep you away into their haunting world. Like oil and water, Durry’s gravel voice alongside Mercedes’s crystal clarity form a stirring, yet beautiful contrast. All being thrust forward by aggressive percussion, growling bass, and soaring brass. Their lyrics paint a thrilling picture of monsters and ghosts, murderers and thieves, love and guilt, and everything in between. Listen for free at marahinthemainsail.com
(Austin Durry, Mariah Mercedes, Austin Wilder, John Baumgartner, Kian Dziak)
FEATherWOLF: Shaun Marie and Sam Luna playing all original songs have a chemistry that can be seen and felt by everyone, no matter how big or small the room. Live shows are a mixture of solo original songs performed by both songwriters and duet songs allowing their audience to enjoy a variety of music in every set. http://www.featherwolfmusic.com
Americana/Folk rock trio out of Milwaukee, WI that has put their own twist on acoustic music. Stories of love and personal struggle are presented playfully and performed sincerely by singer-songwriter, Weston Mueller. He is complemented by crafty musicianship from mates Joshua Hester (Mandolin, Guitar, Bass) and Jacob Wood (piano, vocals); former California surf rock bassist and music education teacher, respectively.
Recently, they have been featured on NPR and also are repeat performers at Summerfest (headlined by Third Eye Blind, Michael Franti, Collective Soul and Pentatonix) and Mile of Music.
Small Forest is as original singer/songwriter progressive folk/pop band from Door County. Jeanne Kuhns and Marybeth Mattson on acoustic guitar and lead & harmony vox, w/ Patrick Palmer on bass/backup vox.
The Kal Bergendahl Project (KBP) is a six-piece instrumental jazz-funk band. The vibrant unit features some of SE Wisconsin’s most familiar jazz faces displaying extraordinary musicianship and technical precision. Blending free-flowing funk and memorable melodies; the ensemble is driven by a stellar horn section. Groove and melodic hooks are constantly weaved in their deeply focused musical landscape of Jazz-Funk, R&B and Soul. By exercising the vocabulary of popular music in the environment of jazz, KBP has a youthful, pop edge permeating their sound. “Melody, melody, melody.” says composer and bandleader Bergendahl. “For me in my writing and in the music I enjoy, I’m always focusing on the melody. Ultimately that’s what sticks in the listeners ear and what makes a tune memorable. Being a bass player, I love the groove but I try to always make it serve the melody.” The groups most recent release “Parallels Ch. 1” came out in 2016. Some notable performances include: Jazz at Five-Madison, Bastille Days-MKE, Bayview Jazz Fest-MKE, Lakefront Fest of Art-MKE, Chill on the Hill-MKE, Music Under Glass-MKE, Square Tunes-Glendale, Jeans Jazz Series-Racine, Party on the Pavement-Racine, Craft Beer Fest-Sheboygan, Jazz Crawl for the Arts-Plymouth, Fondue Fest-Fond Du Lac, Celebrate Jazz-Kenosha, UW Parkside-Kenosha, Carthage College-Kenosha, Twilight Jazz-Kenosha, Concerts in the Park-Lake Geneva.
