Artists
West Texas Exiles
There’s Texas, and then there’s West Texas. You can leave it behind, but you can’t let it go.Nobody knows that better than the West Texas Exiles. Love of music and a restlessness to escape their hometowns of Lubbock, El Paso and Amarillo brought them together in Austin. With the release of their debut EP, Volume I, they showcased the talents of their three singer / songwriters: Marco Gutierrez, Daniel Davis, Colin Gilmore with masterful performances by bassist Eric Harrison and drummer Trinidad Leal. The band are now hard at work on their highly anticipated first ever full-length album, set to release later in 2024. With influences from The Flatlanders and Buddy Holly to Vampire Weekend and Jason Isbell, they are reinvigorating the music scene with a modern interpretation of the lone star vernacular. They've quickly grown from their inception a couple of years ago, playing SXSW, AmericanaFest and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest and garnering national radio play. Plaudits like 2022 International Songwriting Competition spotlight their rhythmic and lyrically honest sound. The West Texas Exiles’ style truly evokes the ghosts of southwest Americana.
Never Come Down
Weaving together modern and traditional styles of American music, Never Come Down is a Portland, Oregon based 5-piece composed of Joe Suskind (guitar), Crystal Lariza (vocals), Brian Alley (banjo), Kaden Hurst (mandolin), and Ben Ticknor (bass). Their dedication to thoughtful songwriting and dynamic arrangements highlight polished technical skills and a commitment to listening to each other. Formed in 2018, the band began touring extensively- steadily cultivating a passionate fan base at home in the Pacific Northwest, and eventually around the country. NCD released their first studio album “Better Late Than Never” in 2021 and their second LP “Greener Pastures” is slated for release late 2023. They’ve toured internationally and have found acclaim at festivals such as Iceland Airwaves, John Hartford Memorial Fest, Americanafest, FreshGrass and RockyGrass.
“Never Come Down has as much raw musical talent as any up-and-coming band out there today. They play and sing with authority and emotion beyond their years, and they showcase those skills through timeless songs that are all their own. This is a rare combination, and it's fully on display on their upcoming album, 'Greener Pastures‘. Unlike a lot of string bands, the sound of their individual voices/instruments merge seamlessly into one, and I find myself listening to the emotion, not the picking. That can take many years to figure out. Some never do. But Never Come Down has that emotive synergy as a starting place for what promises to be a meaningful musical journey ahead. It was such an honor to produce this record, and I can't wait for the world to learn what this amazing band is all about”.
-Chris Pandolfi , The Infamous Stringdusters
“I became an instant fan of this band upon hearing their set at Northwest String Summit in 2022. As it turned out, they were opening several shows for us on the west coast that same week. I was privileged to witness firsthand their professionalism and musicianship. Never Come Down’s ability to gain and hold an audience’s interest at showtime and handle all the other day to day business is a testament to their dedication and work ethic. They are a driven group of folks and I admire them. Having momentum is certainly a fitting way to describe their trajectory.”
-Alan Bartram , The Travelin’ McCoury’s
"The Portland music scene got a huge shot in the arm with the advent of Never Come Down. Top-notch players combined with great original songwriting make for an always-fantastic show whenever they play. They're also deeply involved in the musical community - sweethearts building a scene!"
- Philip Graham, Ear Trumpet Labs
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