THE LEAFLET
Canopy Awards – Bands announced
Now what’s a great party without a great soundtrack? Lucky for us, three local bands will be filling that void at the Canopy Awards this Arbor Day Eve. Listen to them all now below — then hear them live on April 23.
The Sweater Set
Soprano-Alto harmonies soar over multi-instrumental arrangements of ukulele, guitar, hand percussion, accordion, banjo, glockenspiel, flute and the occasional kazoo/mouth trumpet solo. Listeners are invited into Sara Curtin and Maureen Andary’s joyful friendship as their songs play out like musically elaborate gossip. BrightestYoungThings nominates them as “D.C.’s most endearing duo,” claiming their attraction to them in live performance was “instant and inescapable.” They were awarded the 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011 Washington Area Music Awards for Best Contemporary Folk Duo and the 2013 Washington Area Music Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording for their album ‘OH VISITOR’. They regularly perform at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Black Cat, Rock n’ Roll Hotel, 9:30 Club, and also the Strathmore Center for the Performing Arts where they served as Artists-in-Residence in 2011.
The Lawsuits
The Lawsuits formed after Brian Dale Allen Strouse met Vanessa Winters and Brendan Cunningham, when they both were attending Temple University. Shortly after the three started together, drummer Josh Friedman joined and the four released an acoustic ep, ‘Numbers’, in 2012. Guitarist Joe Bisirri joined during the making of the groups’ first full length, ‘Cool Cool Cool’, which was produced by Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man). The album’s first single, ‘Onion’, was chosen as #22 of Daytrotter’s 300 Best Songs of 2013. The album was received well critically and premiered with the likes of Rolling Stone, Spin, and Paste Magazine.
In 2014 the band released a new EP, ‘Tumbled’, on American Diamond Recordings.
Joy Classic
Joy Classic began as a modest bedroom project between Bob Elder (guitarist) and vocalist Justin Link (singer) while they were living back in Portland, Oregon a couple years ago. Upon moving back to Baltimore, the boys recruited Matthew Robinson (bassist) and Chrysta Ghent (drums) to round out the band. They quickly started playing shows around the north east and released the EP, “Youth Buzz.” After a brief time, the band parted ways with Chrysta and recruited Josh Davis in the drummer role and Denmark Luceriaga as an additional guitar player. With this line up fully intact, the band found its unique sound. Blending intricate, dreamy, reverb swashed guitars with a complex, lively rhythm section and commanding vocals, Joy Classic used its diverse line up to craft a sound all their own. Joy Classic is currently in the studio recording their debut LP with plans to release it in late summer 2015.
Rock out with these bands at the Canopy Awards this Arbor Day Eve — Thursday, April 23 — and be treated to so much more!
Details:
Thursday, April 23, 2015
6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
$50 advance/$60 at the door per person
Tickets are all inclusive