Biography
Guitarist Aaron Moreland and harpist/vocalist Dustin Arbuckle built a distinctive 21st-century roots style by fusing blues, folk, country, rock, and soul traditions, delivering them at peak moments with unfiltered energy and drive. The pair first crossed paths during a 2001 open-mike night at a Wichita, Kansas club; both were already digging into country blues, so they started collaborating and launched a quartet named the Kingsnakes. Lineup shifts followed, among them drummer Brad Horner, who came aboard in 2003 yet departed soon after. Finding a stable bassist remained difficult until Horner rejoined in 2006, at which point Moreland and Arbuckle discovered they could proceed without one, locking in the present trio format.
Three self-produced albums appeared in quick succession: Caney Valley Blues in 2005, Floyd's Market in 2006, and 1861 in 2008. Those records drew strong critical notice, prompting a deal with Telarc International that yielded the 2010 release Flood. Just a Dream arrived the next year and included a guest appearance by guitarist Steve Cropper. Horner exited in 2012; Kendall Newby stepped in on drums. The refreshed lineup cut 7 Cities in 2013 under producer Matt Bayles, known for work with Mastodon and the Sword. Nearly nonstop touring occupied the following two years, with the group headlining club, small-theater, and festival bills throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. During a pause they signed with Chicago’s Alligator Records and tracked their label debut at Arc Studios in Omaha, Nebraska, again with Bayles. Promised Land or Bust reached stores in spring 2016, led by the single “When the Lights Are Burning Low.”
Three self-produced albums appeared in quick succession: Caney Valley Blues in 2005, Floyd's Market in 2006, and 1861 in 2008. Those records drew strong critical notice, prompting a deal with Telarc International that yielded the 2010 release Flood. Just a Dream arrived the next year and included a guest appearance by guitarist Steve Cropper. Horner exited in 2012; Kendall Newby stepped in on drums. The refreshed lineup cut 7 Cities in 2013 under producer Matt Bayles, known for work with Mastodon and the Sword. Nearly nonstop touring occupied the following two years, with the group headlining club, small-theater, and festival bills throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. During a pause they signed with Chicago’s Alligator Records and tracked their label debut at Arc Studios in Omaha, Nebraska, again with Bayles. Promised Land or Bust reached stores in spring 2016, led by the single “When the Lights Are Burning Low.”
Albums
