Making it a full decade as a band is no small achievement. Regardless of changes in lineup, there are few bands of local, or even regional importance that can say they’ve accomplished as much. So celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Frontier Folk Nebraska is an especially, and sincerely, enjoyable topic to discuss and share.
As far as “local” bands go, Frontier Folk Nebraska has always been a band blazing their own particular, and peculiar, path. And while only two of the members can say they’ve seen all 10 years pass by within the band, Frontier Folk Nebraska has never been more active, or as vital, as they are today.
“The year has been our busiest to date,” says guitarist Travis Talbert. “All told we should have 50 shows this year covering 7 states, with our second Daytrotter Session, Pygmalion Festival along with bands like Future Islands, Frightened Rabbit, Russian Circles, and we even got to open a sold out show for Boston.”
You mean, that Boston?
“Yeah, that was weird and fun. Definitely the busiest and best year we've ever had in FFN.”
Let’s not forget the release of their live album, on Old Flame Records, This One’s For the Kid In the Back: Live at the Southgate House Revival, and the aforementioned tours in support of that dynamite effort, which followed their phenomenal Frontier F**k Nebraska. A sublime effort in paying homage to Rock ‘N Roll of days gone by, all the while creating a sound - and an album - that was very much its own, it’s an album that’s a highlight in an already luminous career.
Most importantly, and as a further testament to their Rock bonafides, CincyMusic is proud to exclusively premiere of their video for “Open Chords,” shot live at Southgate House Revival and directed by Steven Oder.
Check out the video, then read on for information about their plans for celebrating 10 years as a band, as well as tour dates through the end of the year. Without further adieu…
So what is a band to do in celebration of going double digits? “We'll be celebrating that milestone with a very special unplugged show at Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, Kentucky,” Talbert says. Taking place on December 17, it’s an appropriately dialed back commemoration if there ever was one. But, it’s safe to say this milestone has been on their mind. “We're making 50 hand illustrated CDs of the long out of print "Devil's Tree" EP, along with bonus tracks from the initial lineups,” he adds. This limited edition re-release will also include a new, reimagined version of the EP recorded just this year.
On top of the expected release of a brand new EP this year through Old Flame Records, Frontier Folk Nebraska has sketched out their itinerary through the end of 2016, which you can see below. Is this it, though, for the year? “Likely we’ll be adding a few more, though,” Talbert says.
8/25 @ MOTR w/ Andrew Leahey and the Homestead (Cincinnati, OH)
8/27 @ Whispering Beard (Friendship, IN)
9/23 @ Pygmalion Festival (Champaign - Urbana, IL)
10/8 @ Southgate House Revival (Newport, KY)
11/10 @ MOTR w/ William Matheny and Strange Constellations (Cincinnati, OH)
11/11 @ Trolley Stop w/ William Matheny and Strange Constellations (Dayton, OH)
11/12 @ Empty Glass w/ William Matheny and Strange Constellations (Charleston, WV)
11/17 @ Al's Bar w/ William Matheny and Strange Constellations (Lexington, KY)
11/18 @ Be Here Now w/ William Matheny and Strange Constellations (Muncie, IN)
11/19 @ Casa Nueva (Athens, OH)
12/9 @ New Holland Brewery (Holland, MI)
12/10 @ Red Line Tap (Chicago, IL)
12/17 @ Folk School Coffee Parlor (Ludlow, KY)
Be sure to catch them live on August 25 at MOTR with Andrew Leahey and the Homestead, and then make the trek to Ludlow, Kentucky for their dialed back acoustic set where they’ll be celebrating 10 years as Frontier Folk Nebraska.
Here’s to 10 - and, we hope, many more - years, gentlemen. Cheers!
