Music in the Parks: Brothers Strong

The Calaveras Arts Council presents
Brothers Strong
at Mountain Ranch Community Park,
Mountain Ranch

Wednesday,
July 19, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
​ 
*Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner 5:00 to 6:15 available prior to concert
 In partnership with the Mountain Ranch Youth Alliance

Music in the Parks is free to all, but we rely on the generosity of those who can contribute to make this program available to the community. Please help if you are able. Thank you for your support.

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“In the spirit of The Avett Brothers’ shout-till-you’re-bleeding-from-the-mouth-country-grunge, The Brothers Strong bring their own version of alt-newgrass, straight out Sonora, California”
                                                                                                    - Monterey County Weekly 
 
The Brothers Strong are a 4-piece string band from  Sonora. Stemming from the foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada, the band has formed their own brand of "mountain" music based heavily in Americana and folk, with a strong modern beat. Their live sets are best described as a boxing match; each fast song has the audience on their toes bobbing and weaving like a boxer dodging head jabs.

And just when the audience thinks they've learned all the moves, the band throws the "gut" punch: A slower song with thoughtful lyrics that cuts to the depth of emotion.

The songwriting explores many of the daily struggles of human life from love and loss, to success and failure, while also seeking to expose the duality of most situations and to speak to the ever-present enigma of emotion. This two-sided thinking can also be heard in the band's instrumentation. While understanding that the acoustic line up of the guitar, banjo, fiddle, and upright bass has immense potential to create a highly energetic sound, each also has a soft, simple voice which is equally clear and powerful. These key elements define The Brothers Strong, bringing diverse audiences to their shows. 

The band has accomplished much in DIY fashion, recording with Tiny Telephone Studio and Producer Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum in early 2016. The band has acquired diverse performing experience from around the West in venues like Mountain Sage, Groveland; Ironstone, Murphys; Amnesia Bar and Brick and Mortar, San Francisco; The Great Salt Lake Guitar Company, Provo and Café Artichoke, Portland. Performing with acts such as Hot Buttered Rum, The Haunted Wind Chimes, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, Willie T. Taylor, The Little Fuller Band, The Risky Biscuits, Dandelion Massacre, Lowland Hum, The Collection, and members of Front Country: Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman has made the band a favorite of bluegrass aficionados, good ol' country boys, folk lovers, hot blooded punks, and indie rock audiences. The Brothers Strong's music can also on occasion be heard live from stations Sonora’s 93.5 KKBN and 92.7 KZSQ, Santa Cruz's 88.1 KZSC, West Point's KQBM 90.7 and Chico 90.1 KZFR.

The Brothers Strong are: Shane Strong on banjo; Stephen Strong on guitar; Owen Ragland the fiddler; Ian Evans on stand-up bass.