BAND YOU SHOULD KNOW: THE LUMINEERS
“Born out of sorrow, powered by passion, ripened by hard work, The Lumineers have found their sound when the world needs it most.”
The Lumineers story is one of prevailing terrible loss and turning it into strength and hope. Wesley Schultz (guitar/lead vocals) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums) grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey. As a kid Wesley spent his days drawing side by side with his best friend, Josh Fraites (Jeremiah’s brother).
In 2002, amidst the loss and grief when Josh Fraites died from a drug overdose at 19, Schultz and Fraites found solace in music and started writing songs and playing gigs together. After battling New York City, the two decided to pack up everything, including a trailer of musical instruments, and head to Denver, Colorado.
When they got to Denver they placed an ad on Craigslist for a cellist, the first person to respond was a classically trained Denver native, Neyla Pekarek (cello, mandolin, piano, and vocals). They then began playing at a popular gritty basement club, the Meadowlark, which had open mic nights and dollar PBRs. In 2011, their self-recorded EP led to a self-booked tour which in return gained them very devoted fans throughout the West and East coast.
When their single "Ho Hey" appeared in an episode of the television show ‘Hart of Dixie’ last December they got their first taste of national attention; just in time for the release of their marvelous self-titled debut album (Dualtone Records) on April 3, 2012.
They recently announced some Summer tour dates that include tour stops with The Civil Wars, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brandi Carlile and more. You can see all the tour dates on their website.
Sounds Like: Mumford and Sons, Avalanche City, Of Monsters and Men
Songs to listen to: “Ho Hey”, “Flowers In Your Hair”
Tour Dates:
May 20 - Gulf Shores, AL Hangout Festival
May 22 - Jackson, MS The Red Room @ Hal & Mals
May 23 - Memphis, TN Hi-Tone
May 24 - Indianapolis, IN Radio Radio
May 25 - Indianapolis, IN Radio Radio
May 26 - Chilicothe, IL Summercamp
May 30 - Houston, TX Fitzgerald's
May 31 - Austin, TX Antone's
June 01- Dallas, TX The Prophet Bar
June 02 - Ozark, AR Wakarusa Music Fest
June 23 - Fish Creek, WI Door Community Auditorium (w/Brandi Carlile)
June 25 - Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead (w/Brandi Carlile)
June 28 - Vienna, VA Wolftrap (w/Brandi Carlile)
June 29 - Richmond, VA Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (w/Brandi Carlile)
June 30 - Norfolk, VA The Norva (w/Brandi Carlile)
July 02 - Tarrytown, NY Music Hall (w/Brandi Carlile)
July 05 - Quincy, CA High Sierra Music Festival
July 06 - Quincy, CA High Sierra Music Festival
July 07 - Minneapolis, MN Cities 97 Basilica Block Party
July 19 - Thornville, OH All Good Music Festival
July 20 - Philadelphia, PA XPoNential Music Festival
July 22 - Seattle, WA Capitol Hill Block Party
July 28 - Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater (w/ Cake)
August 06 - New York, NY @ SummerStage, Central Park (w/Old Crow Medicine Show)
August 10 - Burlington, VT @ Lake Champlain Maritime Festival at Burlington Waterfront Park (w/Old Crow Medicine Show)