Get to Know the New Members of the LOCKN’ Family
Ace of Cups
San Francisco’s first all-female rock band burst onto the scene in 1967. Despite making a big impact as a live act, and sharing billing with everyone from Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, and the Grateful Dead, the band stopped playing without ever recording an album of their own. 50 years later, they are finally releasing their debut studio album long overdue. Their songs lay buried in old scrapbooks, on unmarked home tape reels, and in the collective memories of those involved. It’s a stunning collection that reflects their unique origins and deep life stories.
Berry Oakley Jr.
Berry is the son of the founding bass player of The Allman Brothers Band, Berry Oakley. Oakley is a vintage styled bassist who has worked with countless musicians, producers and songwriters over the years. He’s toured with several bands and artists, including his godfather, Robby Krieger (of the Doors), Bloodline, and currently The Allman Betts Band. At LOCKN’ this year, he’s joining his band mates Devon Allman, Duane Betts, and many others in The Chain Gang playing the classic Fleetwood Mac album Rumours and more.
Black Pumas
Black Pumas are a heavy-grooving soul-rock band from Austin that came together around the collaboration of big-hearted singer Eric Burton and Grammy-winning guitarist and producer Adrian Quesada. On September 20, 2019, the band played a sold out show at Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, New York. The group received its first Grammy Award nomination in 2020 for Best New Artist at the 62nd awards. Throwing it back to Brooklyn Bowl with this video on Black Pumas’ instagram!
BoomBox
Since first emerging in 2004, founder, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Zion Rock Godchaux has been quietly seasoning and simmering this recipe to perfection. However, it reaches a boiling point on his 2018 album, Western Voodoo. Over the course of five albums, the group has become a streaming favorite with numerous tracks cracking a million plays on Spotify. In an article published by New York Events about a past performance at Brooklyn Bowl, they said “BoomBox kept everyone grooving and swaying all night. The party went into early Sunday and the guests were locked in and connected with the band.” Moreover, they’ve made audiences groove from festival to festival, and are coming down to the farm this year at LOCKN’ to do the same!
Brandon “Taz” Niederauer
Sixteen-year-old Brandon Niederauer, nicknamed “Taz” for his ferocious guitar playing, is living proof that dreams really do come true. Having performed in some of the most legendary venues in America with many of the most prominent musicians of our time, the young guitarist, singer, and songwriter has already earned himself quite the reputation. Watch Taz play “Free Bird” at The Capitol Theare in Port Chester, New York with LOCKN’ alumni Twiddle during Twiddle’s Frendsgiving run last year.
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
Grammy Award Winner, creative insatiable pianist and singer-songwriter from Williamsburg, Virginia, Bruce Hornsby has always succeeded on his exceptional gifts, his training, and his work ethic. In addition to his time with the Grateful Dead, he became a global name in music by reimagining American roots forms as songs that moved with the atmospheric grace of jazz.
David Crosby
As a founding member of the pioneering American groups the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, he helped create and popularize the highly influential folk-rock sound, forging the richly harmonic, radiantly acoustic approach that defined the West Coast music scene for years to follow. David Crosby’s free spirit and legendary voice are coming to uplift us at LOCKN’ this year. Here’s a great video and review from 2018, when Crosby led his Lighthouse Band in a tour-closing show in support of his album, Here If You Listen, at The Capitol Theatre, provided by Relix!
David Gans
American musician, songwriter, and music journalist David Gans is known for incisive, literate songwriting. He is the co-author of the book Playing in the Band: An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead, and host of the weekly syndicated radio show The Grateful Dead Hour. He currently co-hosts a radio show on Sirius XM’s The Grateful Dead Channel called Tales from the Golden Road, a call-in show about the Grateful Dead.
Dark Star Orchestra
Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience by seeking out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations. Their shows are built off the Dead’s extensive catalog and, on any given night, the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. Dark Star Orchestra offers much more than the sound of the Grateful Dead, they truly encapsulate the energy and the experience. It’s about a sense of familiarity. It’s about a feeling that grabs listeners and takes over. It’s about that contagious energy!
Devon Allman
Devon Allman, son of Gregg Allman, is the next generation of Allman music! Allman grew up on classic, blues-inspired rock music, and has specifically mentioned Santana, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and the Allman Brothers Band as influences. Today he carries on his fathers’ legacy while also paving a new path.
Garcia Peoples
Though the “Garcia” in the name of New Jersey cosmic indie jamband Garcia Peoples isn’t an implicit reference, it’s clear that the band has spent some time listening to Jerry’s deeper catalog. Garcia Peoples’ music is very much a living entity. Since the release of their previous two albums, songs have started to expand, jam suites have grown, and successful experiments of live improvisation have been undertaken. Check out their Relix Session from 2018.
Ghost-Note
A highly inventive, percussion-rooted ensemble, Ghost-Note showcase the combined talents of Snarky Puppy bandmates drummers Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth. Working with a rotating group of collaborators, Ghost-Note makes a stylistically varied blend of groove-based funk, EDM, hip-hop, jazz, and rock. Live For Live Music described Ghost-Notes’ performance at Garcia’s from last winter as “one of their highlight stops on the band’s ongoing 2019 tour.” Check out the full throwback video!
Goose
Indie-groove band based out of Norwalk, Connecticut. The band’s music is both memorable and danceable; an organic and easy-to-love mix of funk and contemporary folk, with touches of reggae, jazz, blues, and rock. Last spring Goose performed three beautiful songs during a Relix Session!
Grateful Shred
Los Angeles-based Grateful Shred manages to channel that elusive Dead vibe: wide-open guitar tones, effortless three-part vocal harmonies, choogling beats, and yes, plenty of tripped out, shredded solos. The look, the sound, the atmosphere. It’s uncanny. Grateful Shred’s laissez faire vibe infuses the band with a gentle spirit, warmth, and authenticity. Read a review from NYSMusic of Grateful Shred’s November 2019 show at Brooklyn Bowl.
JM Kimock
John Morgan Kimock is a sought after drummer, composer, and arranger from Sonoma County California. His musical collaborations with friends and family have taken him around the world performing and producing wide ranges of music. Kimock’s most recent collaborations include performing with father Steve Kimock, Mike Gordon, and Oteil Burbridge.
Junior Mack
Grammy nominated guitarist and vocalist, Junior Mack, picked up a guitar and taught himself to play at the age of nine. His soulful style is deeply rooted in gospel and blues and he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame on September 25, 2011, as “Great Blues Artist from New York.” Junior is also a member of Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band and Heritage Blues Orchestra, and has sat in or worked with blues legends like the Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, The Marshall Tucker Band, Robert Randolph, and Dickey Betts.
Leon Bridges
Grammy Award Winner Leon Bridges’ first strides as an R&B artist prompted comparisons to legends like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, but the native Texan quickly came into his own as a Top Ten, Grammy Award winning, globally touring artist with the 2018 album Good Thing. He is sure to share his infectious groove and style down on the farm this year.
Luther & Cody Dickinson
Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson grew up listening to the music of their father, Memphis music legend Jim Dickinson. Luther (guitar and vocals) and Cody (drums and vocals) formed the North Mississippi Allstars and created their own blues infused rock ‘n’ roll. They continue to keep the Delta tradition alive!
Mapache
Blending expert harmonies with melodic folk-rock that harkens back to the late ’60s and early ’70s, Mapache is a California-based duo featuring vocalists and guitarists Sam Blasucci and Clay Finch. The duo looked to Neil Young, Flying Burrito Brothers, and other legends of rock-born Americana when crafting their self-titled 2017 debut.
MEUTE
MEUTE is a Techno Marching Band – eleven drummers and horn players from Hamburg Germany who fulfill the job of a DJ with their acoustic instruments. The archaic conglomerate of brass and drums creates a new genre by combining hypnotic driving techno and expressive brass band music.
Peter Rowan
Peter Rowan is considered one of the top bluegrass artists of his generation. He got his start with the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. In 1973, Rowan teamed up with Jerry Garcia to found the legendary bluegrass band Old & In The Way. This year, Peter Rowan will join Railroad Earth for a tribute to Old & The In Way at LOCKN’.
Railroad Earth
Railroad Earth is a bluegrass-influenced American band formed in Stillwater, New Jersey in 2001. The band’s music combines elements of progressive bluegrass, folk, rock, country, jazz, celtic and other Americana influences. Railroad Earth’s music is driven by the remarkable songs of front-man, Todd Sheaffer, and is delivered with seamless arrangements and superb musicianship courtesy of all six band members. They will team up with Peter Rowan to perform the magical bluegrass album Old & In The Way in its entirety at LOCKN’ this year! Check out this photo gallery from their recent show at The Capitol Theatre on February 8, 2020.
Samantha Fish
Samantha Fish quickly established herself as a rising star in the contemporary blues world. Since then, the charismatic young singer-songwriter has earned a reputation as a rising guitar hero and powerful live performer, while releasing a series of acclaimed albums that have shown her restless creative spirit consistently taking her in new and exciting musical directions.
The War and Treaty
As The War and Treaty, spouses Michael Trotter, Jr. and Tanya Blount make impassioned soul music that draws on traditional folk, country, and spirituals, often combining them all. Both powerful singers capable of leading the church choir, they instead pair their voices with various combinations of acoustic folk instruments, organ, and pedal steel guitar. They made their recording debut in 2017 with the EP Down to the River.
Tom Guarna
Grammy-nominated guitarist, composer and arranger Tom Guarna will be taking the stage at LOCKN’ this year. Tom is a guitarist who is praised for the “emotion, tension, surprise and passion” he puts into his playing. Tom Guarna has forged his own voice as a modern jazz guitarist, performing with a wide range of artists including Wallace Roney, The Allman Brothers, The Yellowjackets, Gary Bartz and more.
Yola
Grammy nominated musician, singer and songwriter Yola from Bristol, England Is joining the 2020 LOCKN’ lineup! Her contemporary twist on a traditional sonic tapestry of orchestral strings, fiddle, steel, and shimmering tremolo guitars is sure to bring good vibes down on the farm this year. Read up with a recap from Yola’s sold out show at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre on January 6, 2020.
