From Baily Jones: It has been a while since we featured a bluegrass group at Sundilla, but that all changes this Friday when Act of Congress takes the stage. Showtime is 7:30, and admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. You can also buy $8 tickets at The Gnu’s Room until the afternoon of the show.

Hearing Act of Congress, you know that the future of bluegrass music is in good hands. Reminiscent of Nickel Creek, Act Of Congress combines hook laden melodies, compelling songwriting, and intelligent acoustic instrumentation that’s rapidly gathering attention throughout the country. Act Of Congress’ sound is grounded, approachable and technically masterful. In a few short years, the band has been recognized by the likes of Paste Online, SXSW, Disney, NACA, APCA (finalist for APCA 2010 Best Band ) and Billboard (winning the 2008 Disc Makers IMWS Award.) A featured artist on the nationally syndicated Woodsongs Old Time Radio show, AOC has also worked with Live Nation, opened for artists such as John Mayer, Edwin McCain, Toby Keith and Alan Jackson, and recently taped a live broadcast for XM radio.
With lush harmony, articulate instrumentation and a live show that will leave you speechless, Act of Congress’ musical vistas sweep from the ground breaking sounds of the aforementioned Nickel Creek as well as Mute Math and John Mayer to the weaving soundscapes one might find sprinkled throughout Matthew Perryman Jones or Radiohead. Timeless compositions of masterful lyrics and musicianship abound throughout each song, combining vintage acoustic instrumentation with sweeping layers of varied musical roots to create a truly magical experience. (more…)

The up and coming Indie/alternative band To Light A Fire is scheduled to make their debut appearance in Auburn with a May 20th performance at 8th and Rail.

Hailing from Birmingham, AL, the five piece group has been touring throughout the southeast for the last year and is beginning to make believers out of a region of the country that is often better known for its football and country music than any type of indie rock.

Keith Harrelson, owner of the popular Birmingham venue Moonlight on the Mountain, describes To Light A Fire as such: “To Light A Fire is a collective of five very committed musicians, drawing their rhythms, melodies, and power from a curious common Muse that seems to speak in unison to them all. Equally strong in all departments– guitar, vocals, percussion– TLAF impresses listeners of any age with their imagination and consistency.”

Through consistent performances, To Light A Fire has carved out a loyal following in places such as Atlanta and Nashville, however, the band has not yet been to the Auburn/Opelika area and is excited about the opportunity to begin building a relationship here.

Although they have begun to garner interest from industry insiders, the group remains firm believers in building a fan base the old fashioned way: by playing constantly anywhere and everywhere possible.

“We’re not interested in being an overnight success,” explains drummer Alison Smolin. “Bands that are built on the hype of a single or a couple weeks in the spotlight often have no real foundation and can’t really stand the test of time. It’s the groups who have built a foundation for themselves over years of playing the club circuits that really are able to eventually build on that to achieve real longevity”

For more information on the group you can go to their website: www.tolightafire.com – To Light A Fire is scheduled to perform at 8th and Rail on Thursday, August 25th at 9:00PM

Busy Music Week for Eighth & Rail…

Thursday “To Light A Fire” from Birmingham at 8PM, Tickets $5

Friday “Gareth Asher & The Earthlings” from Atlanta & Emily Kate Boyd from Chattanooga, at 8PM Tickets $5

Saturday “Banditos” from Birmingham at 8PM, Tickets $5

Must be 21 to enter! (Shows August 25th-27th)

Atlanta-based indie folk singer Rebecca Loebe, who recently made her national television debut on NBC’s new hit show “The Voice,” will be appearing in Opelika at 8th and Rail on Thursday Night, August 18th. Tickets for the 21 and up show cost $5 at the door.

For the past three years Loebe has been touring the country full-time in her station wagon, performing nearly 200 shows per year at coffeehouses, colleges and festivals in over 35 states. This summer Loebe is slated to perform at festivals and intimate acoustic listening rooms across the US.

On the premier episode of ‘The Voice’ Loebe performed Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” as the celebrity coaches listened with their backs turned to her. During her performance, Christina Aguilera and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine both turned around to show their support. She decided to join Adam’s team, saying that she feels his career more closely resembles the goals she is working towards as a singer/songwriter.

Within 24 hours of the show’s debut, Loebe’s version of “Come As You Are” climbed into the Top 10 of the iTunes Alternative chart, ultimately reaching number seven.

In 2010, Rebecca’s fan-funded independent full length release “Mystery Prize,” spent two months in the Top 40 of the Americana Charts in both the United States and Europe, and was honored by the Americana Music Association as one of the Top 100 Albums of 2010.

Loebe (27) graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in music production and engineering and briefly worked as an audio engineer at a Boston recording studio before she decided to pursue music full-time. In May 2009, she was honored as a winner at the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition, whose previous participants include Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen. Texas music critic Jeanna Goodrich said, “Her voice instantly took my breath away. I could tell right from the start: Rebecca Loebe was born for this.”

Saturday, August 13th at 9:30PM It’s Woody Pines! The band; comprised of Woody on guitar, banjo, harmonica and lead vocals, Zack Pozebanchuk on upright bass, and a shapeshifting band of Drums and Fiddle; epitomizes the swinging ragtime and country sound and embraces a simpler time. Pines, who comes from a musical family and has been playing music since he can remember, describes the band’s sound as a ragtime rhythm and a swinging good time, and his songs reflect that belief.Doors open at 8pm, must be 21 to attend. Tickets: $7 at the door.

Woody Pines – I Satisfy from Live & Breathing on Vimeo.

Thursday August 11th at 9:30PM – Garrett Thornton is a singer/songwriter based in south Mississippi. He has performed throughout the southeast as a member of the folk rock band Hamelin. His debut solo release is titled “Salt of the Earth”, a reference to the people and the stories of his birthplace. It is stylistically a folk album featuring instrumentation including guitars, mandolins, harmonicas, pianos, ect. Doors open at 8pm, must be 21 to attend. Tickets: $5 at the door.