Acoustic Syndicate is a roots-rock/Americana band from

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

that has been an active part of the rock music scene since forming in 1992. They have toured nationally in the US, including appearances at

Farm Aid Farm Aid is an annual benefit concert held for American farmers. History On July 13, 1985, before performing "When The Ship Comes In" with Keith Richards and Ron Wood at the Live Aid benefit concert for the 1983–1985 Ethiopian famine, B ...

, Jazzfest,

MerleFest MerleFest is an annual "traditional plus" music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina on the campus of Wilkes Community College. The festival, which is held the last weekend in April, was hosted by Grammy Award winner Doc Watson prior to ...

, and the

Bonnaroo Music Festival Bonnaroo (or Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival) is an American annual four-day music festival developed and founded by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. Bonnaroo has taken place at what is now Great Stage Park, a 700-acre (280 ha) fa ...

. Their sound is characterized by three-part vocal blood harmony and complex polyrhythmic

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...

playing. Although they are known for featuring traditional acoustic instruments, Acoustic Syndicate's early influences in rock, jazz and reggae surface throughout their approach to songwriting with electric guitar, electric bass and saxophone instrumentation often appearing. Lyrically, the group often discusses themes relating to subsistence, sustainability, social justice and quality of life. Their live touring act is a popular draw to festivals, theaters, clubs, and performing arts centers. The band consists of the McMurry family (brothers Bryon McMurry and Fitzhugh McMurry, along with their first cousin Steve McMurry), who come from a small

family farm A family farm is generally understood to be a farm owned and/or operated by a family. It is sometimes considered to be an Estate (land), estate passed down by inheritance. Although a recurring conceptual model, conceptual and archetype, archet ...

Cleveland County, North Carolina Cleveland County is a County (United States), county located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the western Piedmont, on the southern border of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, t ...

, north of

Shelby, North Carolina Shelby is a city in and the county seat of Cleveland County, North Carolina. It lies near the western edge of the Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina, Concord, North Carolina, NC-South Carolina, SC Charlotte metropolitan a ...

. They have been farming the same region that their ancestors settled over 200 years ago. Rounding out the quartet is long-time member, Jay Sanders, who currently resides in Asheville, NC, and is an active member of the local music scene. Since 1996, the band has released six full-length albums, one double live album, and as of 2021, they recorded five new singles with current label, Organic Records. Recorded at Crossroads Studio in Arden, NC, the singles feature a mix of original songs and covers by influences

The Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1965. Known for their eclectic style that fused elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, rock and roll, gospel, reggae, and world music with psyc ...

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...

, and

The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground were an American Rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1964. Its classic lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and percussionis ...

Members

Current members

*Bryon McMurry: Vocals, Banjo, Guitar *Fitz McMurry: Vocals, Drums, Percussion *Steve McMurry: Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin *Jay Sanders: Bass, N/S Stick

Former members

*Billy Cardine: Dobro & Electric Resophonic Guitar *Jeremy Saunders: Vocals, Saxophone *John Burn: Percussion *Doug Rodgers: Bass Acoustic Syndicateat Allmusic.com *Roger Padgett: Guitar *Gaines Post: Flute

Discography and Singles

*''Acoustic Syndicate'' (Self-released, 1996) *''Tributaries'' (Self-released, 1999) *''Crazy Little Life'' ( Little King Records, 2000) *''Live From The Neighborhood'' ( Little King Records, 2003) *''Terra Firma'' ( Sugar Hill Records, 2003) *''Long Way Round'' (Sugar Hill Records, 2004) * ''Rooftop Garden ''( Little King Records, 2013) * '' Sunny '' (

Organic Records Pamplin Music was an independent Christian record label founded in 1995 by Robert B. Pamplin Jr. The label was a subunit of Pamplin Entertainment and in turn Pamplin Communications, which was already established in the Christian media market th ...

, 2021) * '' Bertha '' (

, 2021) * '' Simple Dream '' (

, 2021) * '' Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground '' (

, 2021) * '' Rock n Roll '' (

, 2021)

References

External links

Official WebsiteCurrent Label
{{Authority control Musical groups from North Carolina