John Howie, Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff w/special guest Will Easter

219 South White Street,Wake Forest NC 27587

06 November, 2021

Description

A special one-night-only, full band performance by John Howie, Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff! In 1995, John Howie Jr.’s honky-tonk band, the Two Dollar Pistols, emerged out of the North Carolina alt-country explosion that gave the world Whiskeytown and the Backsliders, among others. The Pistols spent twelve years traveling around the United States and Europe, making records for the esteemed Yep Roc label with an updated, soulful take on old-school country and honky-tonk sounds. Over the course of seven albums – including a series of duets with Grammy nominee Tift Merritt – Howie and the band developed a sizable following, packing clubs on the East Coast and being flown to festivals in Europe, while the band's albums regularly appeared on the Americana chart. In that time, the Pistols shared the stage with a veritable who's-who of country music legends, including Merle Haggard, Billy Joe Shaver, Dale Watson, BR-549, the Derailers, and many more, and were invited to play at Opryland in 2003. When the Two Dollar Pistols went on an extended hiatus in 2008, Howie set about forming a new group, an expansion on the Pistols' sound that broadened its musical scope to incorporate other influences that had crept into John's songwriting, like Southern soul, rhythm and blues and country-rock. That group, John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff, has released two full-length albums, and, like the Pistols, the Rosewood Bluff has shared the stage with big names like the legendary George Jones, Wayne Hancock, Shovels and Rope, and many more. Both of the Rosewood Bluff's albums, 2011's Leavin' Yesterday and 2014's Everything Except Goodbye, were met with critical acclaim and received steady airplay on key programs like Sirius/XM's Outlaw Country. The band's five piece line up - that includes pedal steel guitar - allows for movement between honky-tonk shuffles, driving country-rock numbers, and deep soul ballads, all delivered via Howie's rich baritone. Howie spent the majority of 2016/2017 in the studio and on the road playing drums for Bloodshot Records artists Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, receiving a co-write credit for the song, “Fuck Up.” He left the Disarmers in late 2017 to continue to work on his own music, and released his critically acclaimed solo album, Not Tonight, which featured members of the Disarmers and the Rosewood Bluff, in September 2018. 2020 found John and the Rosewood Bluff releasing the "Better Things" single and video and working on a new album. https://johnhowiejr.bigcartel.com ABOUT WILL EASTER: Coming of age in the shadow of the Sauratown Mountains, Will Easter learned the family traditions; working hard, enjoying life, and playing music. His father and grandfather instilled in him their gifts,talents, work ethic, and love for the nature surrounding their home. These lessons combined with inspiration from the wild calm of the land and steady roar of the river impressed on Will’s heart the inspiration for his masterful lyrics and music. Will embraced their gifts, combining them with his love and appreciation for many genres, crafting his own unique sound. You can call it “Sauratown Mountain Folk.” You can call it “Grunge Grass.”Regardless, when you listen to his album, Carolina Home, you can hear his fearless vulnerability in every note and lyric.The last few years have been incredible for Will. He has shared the stage with acts synonymous with Folk and Bluegrass like the legendary Jim Avett, David Childers, Time Sawyer, Brooks Forsyth, The Kruger Brothers, Rhonda Vincent and Danger Muffin. In 2018 he earned his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, and in 2019 he recorded and released Carolina Home. From Boone and Asheville to the Triad and Charlotte, Will has become a staple of music venues and festivals throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. With a piece of every place woven into each song, his music has something for everyone, while paying homage to his roots. The road ahead for Will is exciting.Won’t you join him on this sonic journey from coming of age to love lost and found, working hard while finding peace in the every day, always culminating in the winding road leading to his Carolina Home? https://www.willeastermusic.com/