Post Newport Folk Fest w/ The Apache Relay

“They've got kind of an Arcade Fire meets boys raised on gospel and Bruce Springsteen approach to what they do, and they're called The Apache Relay. They're a fantastic live band.” -­ Huffington Post

For both the familiar and unfamiliar folk/rock fans, The Apache Relay are more than worth hearing and hearing again.
Formed around 2009 by two Nashville college dorm mates, Michael Ford Jr. [vocals + bass] and Mike Harris [guitar + vocals], started out when Ford Jr. hired Harris' new three piece group [The Apache Relay] as a backing band for one of his live shows.
What seemed like an instant creative connection between Ford Jr. and the trio didn't take long to evolve the group into a four piece.
Their debut LP "1988", released the same year, was produced by Doug Williams who had previously seen great critical love for his work with the Avett Brothers.
The album pinned as one of “The Eight Most Auspicious Musical Debuts of 2009” by Paste Magazine was a successful first attempt by the folk/rock four.
In April, 2011 the guys released their sophomore attempt with American Nomad and picked up fifth member Ben Ford, Michael's brother, as rhythm guitarist and vocalist.
Adding more live shows and feeling the need for a fuller sound brought the addition of Aaron Early on drums and the current line up for the band.

This past Saturday the guys helped kick off The Newport Folk Festival as a now Paste Mag. favorite who included them in their "10 Great Non-Headlining Acts at Newport Folk Festival 2012" write-up on Friday.
Next month the guys have four opening spots with Mumford & Sons' - Gentlemen of the Road Stopover tour.
Check out a stylish look by The Apache Relay performing "American Nomad" back in April
for MR. PORTER...

Six Year Project for Son of Mumford - Communion Nashville Launch

Billed as the "UK's most credible source for breaking artists", Communion is launching their most recent U.S. expansion in Nashville tomorrow night (6/7) live at The Basement.

This will be the start of many first Thursdays of each month featuring "emerging, developing and established acts" each month.                                Communion developed as an artist forward and artist operated organization that deals in many facets of the music industry including live promotion, publishing, recording and production to offer artist and songwriters a full service approach to their business needs. Formed in 2006 by fellow musicians Ben Lovett (Mumford and Sons) and Kevin Jones (Cherbourg) along with producer Ian Grimble (Manic Street Preachers, Travis, Beautiful South) at the Notting Hill Arts Club in London. Artists like Michael Kiwanuka, Anna Calvi, The Vaccines and Ben Howard performed during the early days of the artist coalition.

This should be a cool addition to some of the other regular shows around town and I look forward to seeing the type of acts they bring in each month and how many new favorites they can help launch for Nashville.