The Tillers got their start in 2007 playing old timey folk and bluegrass. Mike Oberst, Sean Geil and Jason Soudrette (in 2010, Jason handed his bass duties over to Aaron Geil) would just grab their banjo, guitar and wooden bass and jam out for anyone who would listen. Quickly, The Tillers became a staple in the Cincinnati music scene. They have toured extensively around the U.S. and were featured in an NBC documentary about Route 50. In 2009, CityBeat awarded The Tillers with “Best Folk and Americana” act. The Tillers have played such festivals as Forecastle, Bunbury, SXSW, Old Time Music Festival and Whispering Beard among others. Don’t assume The Tillers are all about foot stomping bluegrass though, as they also break out some punk, jazz and rock from time to time.

The Tillers are a force to be reckoned with. Seeing them live will leave a lasting impression and the desire to see them again and again. Never have I seen a Tillers show the same as the one before. The Tillers know how to command an audience with their mesmerizing harmonies and impressive fiddle/mandolin/stand up bass/guitar picking.

Come witness history at The Southgate House Revival for The Tillers LIVE CD release on November 10th at 9p. Supporting The Tillers will be Whiskey Bent Valley Boys. 

"For these three, it's not about scoring the prettiest stage. It's about conjuring up lost songs, keeping them alive. It's about tackling classics, putting a progressive spin on old-time music. Embracing the past, this formerly Punk-ish trio combines forces to rekindle the spirits and sounds of the Depression Era." -C.A. Macconnell, CityBeat Magazine

"In their lives, and in their music, all three band members embrace a return to simplicity, a longing for freedom, and hope for the future. It is fitting then that these American Characters would devote a song to Highway 50, a road that, like the country it traverses, has seen its share of hardship and history and still keeps pressing forward." -Tom Brokaw American Character Along Highway 50