Live Review: The Lil Smokies @ 9:30 Club — 3/7/20

Posted on 03/16/2020 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, bluegrass, folk, Montana, The Lil Smokies.

The Lil Smokies jam on stage at DC’s legendary 9:30 Club, March 7, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

The Lil Smokies had March 7 circled on their calendar for quite some time. For several months, the progressive bluegrass band from Missoula, Montana, anxiously anticipated stepping onto the stage at DC’s legendary 9:30 Club for the very first time.

Preview: The Lil Smokies @ 9:30 Club, 3/7/20

Posted on 02/28/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, bluegrass, Montana, The Lil Smokies.

The Lil Smokies (Photo courtesy IVPR)

Progressive bluegrass band The Lil Smokies released of their third studio album, Tornillo, last month. Recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, with producer-engineer Bill Reynolds (The Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, Midland) Tornillo is a focused and refined representation of the sound The Lil Smokies have become known for, Live For Live Music deeming the release “…an album with a point to make.”

The Lil Smokes stare a bill with Joe Pug at 9:30 Club on Saturday, March 7.

Preview: Upstate @ Union Stage, 1/25/19

Posted on 01/21/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged folk, New York, soul, The Lil Smokies, Union Stage, Upstate.

Upstate (Photo by Jennifer Elrod)

Upstate is a unique collective from Hudseon Valley, New York, with three female vocalists and guitarists — Melanie Glenn, Mary Kenney, and Allison Olender. On Feb. 8, Upstate will publish Healing, the band’s sophomore album, but first they will open for The Lil Smokies at Union Stage on Friday, Jan. 25.