Event

Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys

Young "rootsgrass" band Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys has jumped into the forefront of today's progressive roots music movement. Distinct vocals, tight harmonies, instrumental expertise, and creative arrangements are all essential characteristics of their unique sound. Instrumentally, they can turn on a dime, their arrangements showing a well-developed taste in music - based on bluegrass traditions but frequently dipping into swing jazz and popular song craft and their sound is deftly guided by the clarion vocals of lead singer Lindsay Lou.

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys' new album, Release Your Shrouds, marks a remarkable step forward and that's thanks in part to the relationship between Lindsay Lou and Joshua Rilko, which blossomed in their college days and, with their recent marriage, now forms the core of the band. Joshua plays mandolin and joins his voice with Lindsay in beautiful harmony on the new album which is a window to a bluegrass band spreading its wings and incorporating new influences into their sound. On "Wonderful You Are," bass player Spencer Cain shines in a duet with Lindsay's Billie-Holiday-like vocals, and dobro player Mark Lavengood brings the fire on "Lemon Squeezy." Keith Billick's banjo playing not only offers the driving bluegrass sound, but also brings a level of sophistication to the less traditional numbers, like instrumental track "Barbarossa." Lindsay Lou's songs are fully crafted stories, often based on real-life experiences, with lovely hooks and choruses. The breadth of the songs' themes pushes each band member to work outside the bluegrass box and the results are delightful. Like any family, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys are more than the sum of their parts. They're an all-American family, front-porch pickin' party, with each song shining with the polish of handmade homemade acoustic roots music.