Music
Press
"Their latest album, Simple Tunes for Troubled Times, is possessed with a consistently delightful spirit of musical adventure that, as well as bringing elements of old-time, country, cajun, blues and various roots styles to the table, manage to instill everything they do with an attractive and accessible cool. Singing about real concerns... it's more knowing that know-all, while the upbeat melodies... can't fail to raise a smile. Quite possibly your next favorite American roots act." - Rock N Reel Magazine, UK
"All is not early 20th century daydream on "Simple Tunes for Troubled Times"; there's no doubt that this is a modern production, and there's just enough contemporary Band-esque hesitating beauty on this record to hold the attention of the Pitchfork/Spin/Magnet crowd amidst the derby hats and steamboats and tramps." - Whatz Up Magazine - Ft. Wayne, IN
"They're a song band, in the strictest sense: all that creative energy and instrumental prowess are harnessed to the exacting discipline of delivering the song, and "Simple Tunes for Troubled Times" duly bursts with musical ideas, like blossoms on a spring tree."
Lansing State Journal - Lansing, MI
- Lansing State Journal - Lansing, MI
Discography
Simple Tunes for Troubled Times - 2008
Hidden in the Lowlands - 2004
Last Winter in the Copper Country - 2002
Children Take Your Shoes Off - 2000
Steppin' In It has airplay throughout the States, Canada and Europe, has been featured on XM, Sirius, Meijer's, "Outside the Mainstream" program, and specialty programs around the globe.
Recent Events
Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride, CO
Gunnison Center For the Arts Gunnison, CO
The Back Rose Folk Society - Black Forest CO
Swallow Hill Denver, CO
The Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago, IL
Evanston Starlight Concert Series Evanston, IL
Magnolia Festival Bean Blossom, IN
Old Settlers Festival -Austin, TX
Cactus Cafe - Austin, TX
Uncle Calvins - Dallas, TX
East Lansing Art Festival East Lansing, MI
Top of the Park Ann Arbor, MI
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park - Grand Rapids, MI
The Interlochen Arts Festival Interlochen, MI
The Creole Gallery Lansing, MI
The Wheatland Music Fest - Remus, MI
The Glen Arbor Art Association - Glen Arbor, MI
The Hiawatha Music Fest - Marquette, MI
The Kalamazoo Folklore Society - Kalamazoo, MI
Gopherwood Concerts - Cadillac, MI
Blissfest - Cross Village, MI
Grand Marais Folk Fest - Grand Marais, MI
Top Of The Park Ann Arbor, MI
The Ann Arbor Folk Festival Ann Arbor, MI
The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
Mountain Stage West Virginia Public Radio
The Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV
The New Song Festival Charlestown, WV
Kent State Folk Fest Kent, OH
The Cuyahoga National Park Concert Series Brecksville, OH
Belle Chere Street Festival Ashville, NC
Summer Tracks Concert Series - Tryon, NC
The National Old Time Country Music Fest - Missouri Valley, IA
The Mill Iowa City, IA
WXPR Concert Series - Rhinelander, WI
Music in The Sqaure - Wausau, WI
The Guthrie Center - Great Barrington, MA
Club Passim Boston, MA
Woody Guthrie Fest - Okemah, OK
Suwannee Springfest Live Oak, FL
St James Place - Cotter, AR
The Festival of Traditional Arts Quebec City, Quebec
Photos
Bio
For 10 years, four young men from Michigan have been breathing new life into old-time music. Steppin' In It has earned a reputation for their mastery of traditional American styles and their incredible variety of vintage instruments. The band has become a staple at folk festivals, concerts and clubs from coast to coast playing what Performing Songwriter Magazine calls "some of the liveliest and most rocking acoustic roots music around." The quartet put these years of sweaty stages, highway miles & tattered set-lists on tape with the release of their latest album "Simple Tunes For Troubled Times."
"Rare indeed when a collection of songs creates an entire world. Yet thats exactly what transpires with Steppin In Its "Simple Tunes for Troubled Times." Sonically painting with a pleasant array of old time country swing and blues, this Lansing, Michigan, quartet brilliantly updates a resurging American musical genre. Populating this 11-track collection is an aging riverboat, the ghost of Richard Manuel, innocent love, dreams that are dashed, and the struggle of the common man. Its a world Woody Guthrie knew about, and sang about. Steppin In It conveys the wonder of the American spirit, but also its heartache. Led by composer/guitarist Joshua Davis, traditional roots music is celebrated here by plaintive vocals and sweet harmonies, plus musicianship that is positively staggering. The number of instruments manned by Davis, upright bassist Dominic John Suchyta, steel guitarist Joe Wilson and the harmonica-playing Andy Wilson includes trombone, trumpet, Cajun accordion, dobro, slide guitar, Cajun fiddle, clawhammer banjo. Even rarer, though their competence on these instruments is clearly superior, there is little, if any, soloing taking place. All four musicians play to support the essence of the song. A true ensemble, their wonderful arrangements take us on a rich journey through the jaunty "Give My Regards to Miss Moline," the Texas swing of "Hittin on All Six," the laid-back "Wrens Lul-la-by," the true-blue "The Long Haul," and my fave, "Washtenaw County." Though mostly originals, theres also a rollicking version of Randy Newmans "Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)." These artists earn my vote for band of the year.
© Fred Kraus, Minor 7th
BOOKING:
Fleming Artists
http://www.flemingartists.com
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