Catch the Lone Bellow at the Four Corners Folk Festival, Sunday, September 1 at 5 PM.
The Lone Bellow's self-titled album debut has been called one of the best albums of the year by People Magazine and the band garnered raves from everyone from USA Today, The New York Times, The Associated Press, Paste, Forbes and Filter. NPR's Bob Boilen simply stated, "The world of acoustic music is about to get a new household name. The music of The Lone Bellow is born from tragedy and told with heart and simplicity."
Critically-acclaimed "Brooklyn Country" band The Lone Bellow (Descendant Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment) continue their trek across the country, making more fans as they go. The band is announcing tour dates throughout the summer. The dates will take them coast-to-coast and see them playing with everyone from Brandi Carlile to Robert Plant; from Newport Folk to Outside Lands and, as always, back in Brooklyn as headliners as part of Celebrate Brooklyn.
The Lone Bellow is lead singer and principal songwriter Zach Williams; singer and mandolin player Kanene Pipkin, and singer-guitarist Brian Elmquist. Initially, they made a name for themselves with their acclaimed live shows in New York and across the country during their stint opening for The Civil Wars. Of the band's opening slot for the Grammy Winners, The Orlando Sentinel says, "the main attraction had some competition in the harmony realm from The Lone Bellow, a Brooklyn-based trio cut from the same rootsy fabric. Between songs, Williams also had a deft comedic touch, a nice fit on a night when sadness still offered reason to smile."
Georgia-born Williams began songwriting in 2005, during a prolonged stay at Atlanta's Shepherd Center after his wife was thrown from a horse and paralyzed from the neck down. With a dire diagnosis of quadriplegia, there was nothing to do but sit vigil with his group of friends - also artists. While they waited for healing, Zach picked up a guitar and taught himself to play, putting melody to a journal entry that would become his first song, "Hospital." His wife eventually recovered (her spinal cord, initially thought severed, was terribly bruised) and the couple and their group of friends moved to Brooklyn shortly thereafter.
Williams and the band's music evolved to reflect his Southern roots, incorporating elements of rock, gospel, country and blues that result in a unique and soul-searing blend of can't-get-them-out-of-your-head lyrics that spring from a deep emotional reservoir.
KSUT will play 'The Lone Bellow' in its entirety, Friday, August 29 at noon.