Big Daddy Love
Having only been together since the Summer of 2009, Big Daddy Love-- founded by high school friends from the rural mountains of Sparta, NC-- was just playing a handful of North Carolina markets when they made their first trip to Floyd in 2010, where they won the prestigious "Under The Radar" contest for the best new artist at the large, Virginia festival. The fresh, vital sound and energized performance of this new band simply blew people away, and with the fan-voted award under their belts, Big Daddy Love returned home and began to build their grass roots following in earnest. Big Daddy Love is a five-piece band with a unique and natural blend of rock, roots and grass that they call ‘Appalachian Rock’. Above the mix, the lead vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment of their principal songwriter, Scott Moss, command the listener's attention and call for the harmonies that arise in response. Twin leads of Stratocaster riffs and soaring Allman-esque slide guitar on the one hand, and 5-string Scruggs / Fleck style banjo on the other-- like a typical Southern rock line-up, just replacing the second guitar with the banjo-- punctuate and emphasize what Moss delivers. These contrasting voices are anchored by a rhythm section that is equally at home in a groove or driving the bus with country, swing, funk or straight ahead rock. Big Daddy Love's high-energy performances, fueled by this combination of fiery vocals, striking instrumental dynamics that range from bombastic assaults to soothing grooves, have garnered them a strong, passionate following throughout their home region.
Having only been together since the Summer of 2009, Big Daddy Love-- founded by high school friends from the rural mountains of Sparta, NC-- was just playing a handful of North Carolina markets when they made their first trip to Floyd in 2010, where they won the prestigious "Under The Radar" contest for the best new artist at the large, Virginia festival. The fresh, vital sound and energized performance of this new band simply blew people away, and with the fan-voted award under their belts, Big Daddy Love returned home and began to build their grass roots following in earnest. Big Daddy Love is a five-piece band with a unique and natural blend of rock, roots and grass that they call ‘Appalachian Rock’. Above the mix, the lead vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment of their principal songwriter, Scott Moss, command the listener's attention and call for the harmonies that arise in response. Twin leads of Stratocaster riffs and soaring Allman-esque slide guitar on the one hand, and 5-string Scruggs / Fleck style banjo on the other-- like a typical Southern rock line-up, just replacing the second guitar with the banjo-- punctuate and emphasize what Moss delivers. These contrasting voices are anchored by a rhythm section that is equally at home in a groove or driving the bus with country, swing, funk or straight ahead rock. Big Daddy Love's high-energy performances, fueled by this combination of fiery vocals, striking instrumental dynamics that range from bombastic assaults to soothing grooves, have garnered them a strong, passionate following throughout their home region.
Green Earrings The Steely Dan Experience
The ten members of Green Earrings bring a myriad of experiences and influences together in a quest to accurately replicate the sounds of Steely Dan. Looking at this as one of the penultimate challenges in the world of the jazz/rock ensemble, these experienced musicians spent over a year in rehearsal, perfecting their sound. The result is “the closest thing to being there” you’re likely to encounter, unless you are sitting in the audience at a Steely Dan show.
The ten members of Green Earrings bring a myriad of experiences and influences together in a quest to accurately replicate the sounds of Steely Dan. Looking at this as one of the penultimate challenges in the world of the jazz/rock ensemble, these experienced musicians spent over a year in rehearsal, perfecting their sound. The result is “the closest thing to being there” you’re likely to encounter, unless you are sitting in the audience at a Steely Dan show.
Grammy nominees Eric Brace & Peter Cooper have created a body of work that reflects their journalistic sensibilities, a love of harmony and wry humor, and their deep respect for the masters they've played with. 2013 was a big year for Brace & Cooper. April marked the release of their third duo record, The Comeback Album, a sparkling collection that features the pair's splendid harmonies and deft storytelling. In addition to The Comeback Album, Brace and Cooper each released solo projects. Peter Cooper’s Opening Day was heralded as “reflecting his witty, literate world views.” Eric Brace's “folk opera” set in the California gold rush, Hangtown Dancehall, premiered to a packed house at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville, TN in November 2013.
Prior to these hallmark releases, the duo forayed into the world of children's music with the Grammy-nominated I Love: Tom T. Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow. The album was featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “Weekend Edition,” in USA Today and the Chicago Sun-Times, and was named a Top 5 Americana album by Rich Kienzle in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Produced by Brace and Cooper, the album features performances by Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Bobby Bare, Duane Eddy, Jim Lauderdale, Elizabeth Cook, as well as Brace, Cooper, and others.
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper’s previous collaborations include two other duo releases. On Master Sessions the pair fronted a band that featured pedal steel guitar legend Lloyd Green and dobro master Mike Auldridge, and the album made numerous critics’ Best-of 2010 lists. Their first record together, You Don’t Have To Like Them Both, was a Top Ten album on the Roots, Americana, and Folk charts.
Brace and Cooper have acclaimed music careers outside their work as a duo. Brace, a former music journalist for the Washington Post, leads the renowned roots rock band Last Train Home. Cooper, senior music writer for The Tennessean and professor of country music at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, has released three critically praised solo albums on Brace’s Red Beet Records label.
Prior to these hallmark releases, the duo forayed into the world of children's music with the Grammy-nominated I Love: Tom T. Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow. The album was featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “Weekend Edition,” in USA Today and the Chicago Sun-Times, and was named a Top 5 Americana album by Rich Kienzle in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Produced by Brace and Cooper, the album features performances by Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Bobby Bare, Duane Eddy, Jim Lauderdale, Elizabeth Cook, as well as Brace, Cooper, and others.
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper’s previous collaborations include two other duo releases. On Master Sessions the pair fronted a band that featured pedal steel guitar legend Lloyd Green and dobro master Mike Auldridge, and the album made numerous critics’ Best-of 2010 lists. Their first record together, You Don’t Have To Like Them Both, was a Top Ten album on the Roots, Americana, and Folk charts.
Brace and Cooper have acclaimed music careers outside their work as a duo. Brace, a former music journalist for the Washington Post, leads the renowned roots rock band Last Train Home. Cooper, senior music writer for The Tennessean and professor of country music at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, has released three critically praised solo albums on Brace’s Red Beet Records label.
The Fritz is a five piece rock band that likes to get funky. This band takes it's songwriting very seriously, but takes it's improvisation just as seriously: carefully weaving into each composition the personality of the band and the crowd. While their music may range from hard driving soul to progressive rock, there is always a common thread of passionate energy. Whether live or in the studio, The Fritz continues to create an energetic dance party every time.
In March of 2013, The Fritz released their second studio effort "Bootstrap". The album is a collection of songs the band wrote over the past 4 years while traveling the Southeast, steadily building a reputation as a live act not to be missed. As they enter 2014, the band begins pre-production for their next studio album to be recorded in their hometown of Asheville, NC. If fans can't wait for the next studio release they can have their pick of several recent live shows available for free download on their website. Come see The Fritz on Friday night at NoahFest3!
In March of 2013, The Fritz released their second studio effort "Bootstrap". The album is a collection of songs the band wrote over the past 4 years while traveling the Southeast, steadily building a reputation as a live act not to be missed. As they enter 2014, the band begins pre-production for their next studio album to be recorded in their hometown of Asheville, NC. If fans can't wait for the next studio release they can have their pick of several recent live shows available for free download on their website. Come see The Fritz on Friday night at NoahFest3!
Moosetrap Formed by four friends who have been playing together since high school, Moosetrap is a new self-described "Indie rock Americana/Alt-Country band" hailing from King William, Virginia. Having previously played together in bands of varying genres including the classic rock infused The Lost Vagabonds, folk and bluegrass bands The War of 1812 and The Kane Brothers, and a one off black metal/breakfast themed project simply called French Toast, Chip Hale (bass), Nate Hubbard (lead guitar), Eli Hubbard (mandolin, banjo, anything and everything), and Daniel Blanchard (guitar, harmonica) have been working hard the past year writing original music and recording home demos and are excited to start playing live again.Influenced by the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Ryan Adams, Wilco, and others, Moosetrap brings energy and excitement to their shows. With a string of new originals and covers ranging from the Replacements to gospel hymns, Moosetrap is looking forward to getting on the stage at Noahfest this year and hopefully becoming one of your favorite Moose-related bands.
Shenandoah Alley Self described as raging off the rails bluegrass for you and the wolfman. Drawing from their unique and mutual experiences growing up together in the beautiful Rockingham County, Virginia, the boys write and play songs about nature, ugly-women, working, graffiti and the end-times. Shenandoah Alley will give you that traditional rootsy bluegrass sound that won't let you stay seated. Wear your cow pie stomping boots for these boys.
TipToe Disco 2012 did not bring about the foretold apocalypse. However, 2012 did bring forth the demise of two very promising Northern Virginia bands: Carry the One and Daughter of Stars. It wasn't long until Devon and Jon (Daughter of Stars) teamed up with Peter and Andy (Carry the One) to create a project both fun and organic with no intentional musical direction. Pulling from their eclectic musical backgrounds, TIPTOE DISCO decided to simply make music without imposing limitations on themselves regarding genre. The result? A little something for everyone. From rock to reggae to funk to R&B to hip-hop to jazz...TIPTOE DISCO boasts a plethora of musical influences which permeate through their unique, multifaceted sound. TIPTOE DISCO intends for you to have fun, shake that booty, and end your night with...well you get the idea. Cheers!
Hot Like Cajun We are Hot Like Cajun! "Blues Rooted Jam Rock" from Lynchburg, Virginia. We blend harmonies with blues rooted rock, fused with funk, jam, and soul elements. We love to jam it out and get down. We love to play our originals, and we work hard at it! But we also enjoy throwin' down on some choice covers and make them our own.
Eleven South Coming from established local bands such as TORQUE, Dirt Road Travelers, and Dynaflow, comes a talented band known as Eleven South. Our group covers popular hits from country, rock, and dance tunes new and old. We love to play music people love to hear and see them have a good time as well as ourselves. We also write our own music and plan to record a new EP soon, bringing a new Alternative Rock/Country sound to you shortly stay in contact and come out and enjoy a good time with us.
Murph & Slick Got fiddle? Come and here the acoustic duo from Lynchburg VA, made up of Jim Murphy on Acoustic Guitar & Daniel Kepel-Young on Fiddle. They put their own spin on covers of your favorite rock, pop & country songs with acoustic rhythms & the fiddle cranking out the leads . You'll be tapping your toes & singing along before you know it! Noahfest3 has a little something for everyone's taste!