WYATT ESPALIN & THE RIVERTONES "Year of the Rabbit Party'

100 Public Square North,Dahlonega GA 30533

27 January, 2023

Description

With the Ocoee River in East Tennessee as the backdrop, and North Georgia on the horizon, Wyatt Espalin’s debut album, Songwriter/Singer (2015), was born. Entertaining audiences since the age of eight on the music barn stage built by his grandfather on the Hiawassee, GA campground where Wyatt was raised, Wyatt’s passion for music was obvious. He and his brother Matt were known early on as “The Fiddling Brothers.' But, when Matt hung up his fiddle and bow after high school, Wyatt was just getting started. Armed with a guitar and a desire to write songs, he paired with his friend, Cobi Ferguson to form the acclaimed Americana duo, Trees Leave. The duo combined magnetic lyrics with a fiddle, electric guitar, and traditional bluegrass musical phrases, creating a noticeably unique sound and a growing fan base. After years of touring and two successful albums, Run (2008) and The Gospel of Hurt (2010), it was time for Cobi to settle down, and for Wyatt to find a new setting fit for a more personal level of songwriting. While working a sabbatical period as a raft guide and caring for his ailing Granddaddy, Wyatt began writing the songs for his debut solo album, Songwriter / Singer, which he released in 2015. His songs have since garnered much attention - winning the 1st Annual New Song Songwriting competition at North Carolina's acclaimed L.E.A.F. festival in 2015, as well as a number of other songwriting competitions across the southeastern U.S. through 2020. During this time Wyatt also spent several years on stage opening for some of his performing artist heros and heroines, including Indigo Girls, Jennifer Knapp, Kevn Kinney, Chely Wright, Michelle Malone, Shawn Mullins, and Patty Loveless. During his performances, the haunting, intimate songs juxtaposed with the hilarious stories that he shares in the banter between them create a beautiful tension that makes for a very memorable experience. After returning to his roots to live at the rustic campground where he was raised by his grandparents in the North Georgia Mountains, Espalin found a setting that would inspire “DIAMONDBACK”, a collection of mysterious songs released in 2020 that gave his audience a bird’s eye view of an artist rediscovering himself. In 2022, Espalin shook things up with his new band, The Riverstones, and a collection of songs that invites his fans to examine his songwriting through a different lens. Well, this fiddler/singer and champion clogger has discovered more and before the Year of the Rabbit, all may be revealed. Let the enlightenment begin! For more info about Wyatt Espalin visit www.WyattEspalinMusic.com or find him on Facebook! PRESS QUOTES: ".... ADDS A FRESH VOICE TO THE ALTERNATIVE FOLK SCENE WITH SONGS THAT MOURN OPPORTUNITIES LOST AND CELEBRATE HOPE RENEWED...... THE ESSENCE OF TODAY'S TROUBADOUR." - WYLIE GRAVER / VERGE LIVE MAGAZINE