Shane Smith & The Saints

Flytjendur

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  Shane Smith & the Saints

  Named after the northern winds that blow across Texas during the winter, Norther, the upcoming new album from Shane Smith & the Saints, is anything but monochromatic. Written and recorded during breaks in the band's touring schedule, the album captures Shane Smith and the Saints at their most colorful, offering up a hard-hitting version of American roots music that's influenced by country, folk, and roadhouse rock & roll. It's a sound that's been shaped by the road, where the Saints spent the past decade on tour, building a cult audience with each gig. Those years of raw, redemptive performances are now paying off — not only with headlining concerts at bucket-list venues like Red Rocks Amphitheater (which the group sold out in 36 hours) and the Ryman Auditorium, but also with an appearance on the hit TV show Yellowstone, where the Saints premiered Norther's final track, "Fire in the Ocean," with an onscreen performance.

  For an independent band like Shane Smith and the Saints, the work is never done. "It's like you can't help but feel like you've paid your dues to get to a certain spot, but once you get there, you realize you're just starting to touch the surface of the bigger picture," Smith admits.

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  The Avett Brothers

  The Lemonheads are an indie/alternative/punk band, originally from Boston, Massachusetts, but now based in Sao Paulo . The primary (and only consistent) member is Evan Dando. While Dando's penchant for melody-driven tunes makes him a favorite amongst the indie community, his song structures display obvious punk and 80s-rock influences, especially on earlier albums, as well as a hint of country here and there, most noticeably on Dando's solo album, 'Baby I'm Bored'.