THE CURRYS
The Currys have been staking their claim within the indie music scene since 2013, when vocalist/guitarist Tommy Curry quit his teaching job and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, to join the harmony-based folk-rock outfit newly formed by brother Jimmy Curry (vocals, guitar) and cousin Galen Curry (vocals, bass). The band have since written and released four full-length albums: their studio debut Follow (2014), called “eye-opening, but warmly familiar” by Earmilk, and whose title track is “one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard” (Todd Moe of NCPR); sophomore effort West of Here (2016), with its “tight-as-a-rubber-band” harmonies and “infectious” songwriting (PopMatters); and the expansive, self-produced This Side of the Glass (2019).
During the pandemic, The Currys took the opportunity to explore different avenues of creativity. In 2020 the trio launched a podcast, This Side of the Mic, to showcase songs and share some laughs and insights. The band leveraged their down-time into writing and demoing dozens of new tracks, polishing their production chops and collaborating with fellow creators to expand their sound. The singles they released through 2021, such as pop/R&B track “Man On the Side” and Graceland-inspired “Last Night,” pushed the boundaries of their previous catalog.
In the spring of 2023 the three Currys were joined by Sebastian Green (drums), Sam Whedon (guitar), and Alex Rees (keys) to begin production on their fourth studio album. Keepers, released in October 2023, represents another step in the band’s evolution, pairing the lush, three-part harmony that marks any Currys project with a more guitar-driven, indie pop aesthetic. The album pays homage to the band’s influences, with tracks evoking Sgt. Pepper’s, Jason Isbell, even dreamy pop-punk. Keepers is an honest next step for a group with an appetite for exploration and a long road ahead.
"Stirring vocals...from a promising new band." - C-Ville Weekly
“...toothsome and satisfying…” - Popshifter on West of Here
"It’s is almost impossible not to be moved, physically and metaphorically, by the gorgeously composed tracks on this album." - Wordkrapht on Follow
CHELSEA SADDLER
Dubbed “The second coming of Joni Mitchell,” Chelsea Saddler has been hailed as the queen of women songwriters – past and present (Florida Times Union). Her lyrical content arises from a deep well of life experiences as a queer woman, adventure, and heartache. As Chelsea played a one hour set on NPR’s “Roots and Branches” in Tennessee, she described her greatest influences as Lightning Hopkins, Leonard Cohen, and Madeline Adams.
Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Chelsea has been performing in the southeast for the past two decades with three original albums under her belt. She has opened for national touring artists Chris Pureka, Melissa Ferrick, Shawn Mullins, Elephant Revival, Mount Moriah, David Onley, Cliff Eberhardt, and Susan Werner.
Winner of the city of St. Augustine’s and The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival Songwriting Competitions, Chelsea also placed first in Bokeh Bar’s Comedy Competition in 2017.
She has spent the majority of the past decade largely focusing her musical efforts on performing with Bad Dog Mama, her collaborative project with Lauren Gilliam, and writing new music. Chelsea’s long-awaited full-length original solo album The Offering is available now.
You may also like the following events from Heartwood Soundstage:
- This Friday, 13th June, 07:00 pm, Certainly So with Ricky Kendall @ Heartwood Soundstage | Gainesville, FL in Gainesville
- This Saturday, 14th June, 03:00 pm, Heartwood Music Fest IX @ Heartwood Soundstage | Gainesville, FL in Gainesville
- Next Thursday, 19th June, 07:00 pm, Kaleigh Baker with Hannah Harber in Gainesville
Also check out other
Music events in Gainesville,
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