Event

The Way Down Wanderers

Equal parts fast-paced and soulful, 5-piece modern-folk Americana band The Way Down Wanderers draw in listeners with energy, originality, and soulful generosity. Playing, performing, and writing together for just over two years, the Wanderers have built an enthusiastic and fast-growing following across the country, earning Deli Magazine's Readers Choice title of "Chicago's Best Emerging Artist, 2014." Youthful and professionally trained, these young men captivate audiences with soaring instrumentals, foot stomping sing-alongs, and a lively stage show. They have created a buzz for themselves with their unplugged, off-stage encores, and propensity for performing self-titled "restSTOMPS" - free acoustic sets at rest & truck stops along their tour routes.

Banjo player Ben Montalbano and fiddle/mandolin player Collin Krause, are half brothers who met each other for the first time five years ago. The two were shocked to find that not only were they both pursuing careers in music, but that they were each drawn to the same genres. In addition to their unexpected brotherly collaboration, the other band member's dramatically diverse backgrounds in bluegrass, jazz, classical, and rap blend together to form unique harmony vocals, soaring instrumentals, lively dynamics, and standout melodies.

"What impresses me most about these young guys, is the maturity and depth of their songwriting! By mashing up their diverse musical backgrounds in classical, rap, theater, folk, bluegrass, and jazz, you get a blending of styles and personalities that produce music that is fresh, exciting, and meaningful. The Way Down Wanderers are a band to follow!" - Tim Weed (Founder of "Last Chance" which launched the careers of Grammy-winning artists Stuart Duncan and Alison Brown.)