Chicago, IL - May 7, 2015. For the eighth consecutive year, country singer, songwriter, drummer and America’s preeminent electric washboard player Lawrence Peters will be presenting A Day in the Country at Chicago’s most beloved venue, The Hideout.
This year, Peters has assembled a line-up of musicians from the entire spectrum of country music, from bluegrass and honky tonk to Cajun music and singer-songwriters. Performing from early in the afternoon until late in the evening on two stages (the "front porch" and the "backroom"), artists include headliner Chuck Mead (ex-BR549; Million Dollar Quartet music director) and His Grassy Knoll Boys, Derek Hoke, Sarah Potenza (season 8 contestant on The Voice and formerly of Sarah & the Tall Boys), The Siderunners, and Peters’ own group, The Lawrence Peters Outfit.
In addition to a dozen musical acts, concertgoers will be able to purchase barbeque (provided by Honky Tonk BBQ) and homemade pie from Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits. The Lagunitas Brewing Company will provide this year’s featured beers.
A Day in the Country 2015 will take place on Sunday, June 14. Doors will open at 1PM CST and the scheduled performances will run from 2-5:10 PM on the front porch stage and from 5:15-11PM on the backroom stage. Tickets are $10 and The Hideout is located at 1354 W. Wabansia.
Take a listen to last year's interview with Lawrence Peters
More Info and the full line up:
A Day In The Country
Chuck Mead and his Grassy Knoll Boys
After leading several popular '80s cult bands in and around his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, Chuck Mead landed on Nashville's Lower Broadway where he co-founded the famed '90s Alternative Country quintet BR549. The band's seven albums, three Grammy nominations and the Country Music Association Award for Best Overseas Touring Act would build an indelible bridge between authentic American Roots music and millions of fans worldwide. With BR on hiatus, Chuck formed The Hillbilly All-Stars featuring members of The Mavericks, co-produced popular tribute albums to Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, guest-lectured at Vanderbilt University, and became a staff writer at one of Nashville's top song publishers. In 2009, he released his acclaimed solo debut album, Journeyman's Wager, and toured clubs, concert halls and international Rock, Country and Rockabilly festivals with his band The Grassy Knoll Boys.
As Music Director for the Broadway smash Million Dollar Quartet, Chuck began crafting the music arrangements during the show's original Daytona and Seattle workshop productions, supervised the musical performances for its 2008 Chicago opening, created new music material for the show's Tony-winning Broadway run, produced the original cast album, and oversaw the music for its smash 2011 premiere at London's Noël Coward Theatre.
Chuck's new album, Back At The Quonset Hut, was recorded at Nashville's legendary Quonset Hut Studio where Patsy Cline, George Jones, Merle Haggard Roger Miller, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and more cut some of country's greatest tracks. Produced by original BR549 producer Mike Janas and with the participation of students from Belmont University's College of Entertainment and Music Business, the album of classic covers features surviving members of Music Row's original 'A Team' studio musicians as well as guest appearances by Old Crow Medicine Show, Elizabeth Cook, Jamie Johnson and Bobby Bare. "It's been incredibly liberating to do all these things I've never done before," Chuck says. "I've already gone from the bars of Lower Broadway in Nashville to the Broadway stage, and the upcoming album is one of the most unique and rewarding projects I've ever been a part of. I'm looking forward to where it all brings me next".
Derek Hoke
Derek Hoke has crafted a collection of equally endearing and infectious songs for his long awaited sophomore release – Waiting All Night. Out August 21, 2012 on Electric Western / Thirty Tigers, Waiting All Night picks up right where Hoke left off with his first release Goodbye Rock N Roll. There is a significant difference here though. If Goodbye Rock N Roll was slow crafted, simmered in Hoke’s brain on low, and came to life on a lazy saw dust floor one night in town, then Waiting All Night was born under the lights on stage. It’s clear that Hoke and his band have been affected by the past years of playing week after week. Nashville has a way of doing that to a singer. A way of molding a voice around the lingering smoke and whiskey hanging in the air night after night. And first and foremost, Derek Hoke is a singer. The songs, even the ballads, reach out and yearn for a late night in a dark room. It’s the same feeling you get when you leave the house at 2am to catch last call…because if you don’t you might miss something. You might miss the steel guitar or meandering piano solos and telecaster riffs. Well, get out of the house, because you won’t want to miss a tune on Waiting All Night.
Born in Brunswick Georgia - a self taught guitarist, composer, singer, and loner - Derek's first love was the theatrics of KISS, but not until his Grandfather planted the country music seed in his brain by playing it constantly while he was young. Not your dad's country, your granddad's country. The REAL country.
Sarah Potenza
Hailing from Rhode Island, Sarah Potenza took her passion for performing and her powerful voice to Chicago in 2003 where she formed Sarah & The Tall Boys. The band spent years on the road showcasing Potenza’s monster vocals and her honest reflective songwriting. They quickly became a regular staple on the club and festival circuit.
Nine years and three self-penned albums later, Sarah left the band and made her way to Nashville (East Nashville to be more precise) with her husband Ian Crossman to be a part of the booming Americana music scene and to make a name for herself.
That same passion for performing, authentic, heart-felt songwriting about real-life and that undeniable voice quickly put Music City on notice. In just over a year, Potenza has earned a spot among East Nashville royalty. She has performed and toured with the likes of Todd Snider, Elizabeth Cook, Jim Lauderdale, Kevin Gordon and Derek Hoke while managing to land several coveted slots such as a feature performance at the historic and world renowned Bluebird Café and the globally broadcast Music City Roots program
Currently, while not on tour, Sarah Potenza is working on her fourth album, which she is co-writing with Ian Crossman and booking shows across the country with her new band!
The Siderunners
"Country music as it was meant to be played..."
- Jim Derogatis
...dynamite harmonies and honest storytelling. At the heart of the band's formidable talent is the ability to write no-frills house-rockers.
- Jay Breitling - Splendid
...there's a snappy, fierce, Jason & the Scorchers-like energy in their songs that really comes out live, with shards of punk flying off their hard-drinking honky-tonk.
- Monica Kendrick - Chicago Reader
...superb debut, "Ain't Inventin' the Wheel," ... received critical kudos and led to the band's status as a popular live attraction
- Tim Shellberg - NWI Times
Chicago's Siderunners fondly remember the early days of Bloodshot Records and the so-called "insurgent country" movement. The difference between Ain't Inventin' the Wheel and its forebears is that the Siderunners eschew any veneer of irony...
- Michael Toland - High Bias
This album isnt your glitzy and glamorous Tim McGraw or Faith Hill country, this is your grandpas country where the boys drink whiskey from dirty glasses and chase it down with an ice-cold beer in a smoky bar.
- Randle Stevens - Innocent Words
The Lawrence Peters Outfit
The Lawrence Peters Outfit is a Chicago's most fiery honky tonk band, with the deepest country sound. Lawrence, best known for his lead vocal on "The Old Black Hen", on the watershed Songs: Ohia/ Magnolia Electric Company album, leads the "Outfit" through his own finely crafted originals, and cherry-picked classics. The band is a super-group of Chi-Town pickers, including Matt Gandurski on lead guitar, Dave Sisson on rhythm guitar and harmonies, and Josh Piet on upright bass.
Katie Belle And The Belle Rangers
Katie Belle Trupiano is a prolific singer/songwriter who grew up in Ottawa, Illinois. At the age of 18 she left home and found her place in Chicago’s vibrant Americana music scene. Her timeless and unique songs have won the hearts of fans of all ages and the admiration of fellow musicians. Her music has been featured in films and television, as well as a children’s book written with friend and author, Julia Durango. Katie met her husband “Duffelbag” Joe Trupiano in Chicago and together they transplanted to Ottawa. They started playing as a duo when he traded his electric guitar for a banjo and some close harmonies. Since then, guitarist Ty Terrones (of Liquid Blues Project and Reclining Buddha) joined the group, adding his masterful guitar playing, a third harmony, and songwriting talents to the mix. Gifted bassist John Nicoli (of Highwater and Liquid Blues Project) forms the southern style rhythmic backbone of the new Belle Rangers along with their newest member, drummer Dick Verucci (Buckacre, The Jerks, Missing 51).
Lonesome Still
Lonesome Still is the best-kept secret in Chicago’s country music scene. You’ll hear their blues, rock, and folk roots with a unique retro-country sound anchored by singer Michael O’Briant’s baritone, joined by Kary Ream and Emily Albright’s harmonies & Emily’s fiddling. Chicago music veterans Tony Wittrock on lead guitar, Josh Piet on bass, Dave Huizenga on guitar/vocals & Lance Helgesen on drums!
Ground Speed
Ground Speed had a very short run, but they made it count. Their sound mixed bluegrass with honky tonk, and steered away from the prevailing "greatest hits” mentality of both genres. Their live sets ranged from fiery to tender, with solid originals, and lesser-known gems from the the catalogs of Jimmy Martin, The Stanley Brothers, The Seldom Scene, and others.
Their finest moment came at the very beginning of their career, when they recorded the song "Poor Old Heartsick Me", with Nora O’Connor, for the album Poor Little Knitter On The Road. It was released in 1999, on Bloodshot records.
In the rest of their year-and-a-half together, Ground Speed played with Ralph Stanley, Split Lip Rayfield, Freakwater, Dale Watson, Jeff Tweedy, The Handsome Family, Rosie Flores, The Texas Rubies, Country Melvins, and The Blacks. They were fixtures at the great clubs and “happenings" of the day- Lounge Ax, The Hideout, Schubas, Pop’s On Chicago, The Drunk Redneck Variety Show, The A-Zone…
The band split in early 2001, but Lawrence Peters, Jason Labrosse, and Will Wall continued their partnership as ad-hoc film crew for bandmate George Goehl’s documentary King Of Bluegrass: The Life And Times Of Jimmy Martin.
This is their first performance in fourteen years.
The Mountainaires
Jon Williams and Kenneth P.W. Rainey are the Mountainaires! The Chicago-based duo use guitar, mandolin, and lots of close harmony to mine the deep country tradition of 30s/40s brother acts the Delmores, Louvins, and Monroes. Both Mountainaires are also members of the renowned western swing group the Chandelier Swingers. Jon also plays various instruments with local groups the Hat Stretchers and the Peter Joly Group, while Kip stays busy with the Golden Horse Ranch Band, Mar Caribe, and the Last Kind Words.
The Wandering Boys
The Wandering Boys is John Huber on guitar, Rob Jenson on banjo, Zack Whttington on mandolin, and Aaron Smith on upright bass. Since joining forces in 2014, the boys have refined a unique craft of rapid picking, clever arrangements and crisp four-part harmony. They've made a name for themselves with a weekly Thursday residency at Cole's Bar in Logan Square and frequent appearances at storied Chicago venues, The Hideout and Schuba's Tavern. Paying homage to the hard-driving traditional bluegrass they love, The Wandering Boys light a fire in casual listeners and die hard bluegrass aficionados alike.
Blackest Crow
Blackest Crow is a Chicago-based string band that plays Early Country songs, Old Time fiddle tunes, and more. Get ready for toe-tapping tunes, sweet waltzes, and tragic love songs. The band features Annalee Koehn (guitar, vocals), Steve Hinds (fiddle), and Woodie Polk (bass).
Hey, Chère!
It's the happiest sad music around! Inspired by the plaintive, wild sound of Dennis McGee and other Cajun greats, Hey, Chere! plays early traditional Cajun music, a close cousin to high-lonesome old-time and early country. Angela Bowman, featured on fiddle and voice, has taken this short step from country to Cajun, joined by Sean Colledge (Le Travaillant) on accordion and fiddle and John Huber (The Wandering Boys, the Lantern Kickers) on guitar and t'fer.
