Carbon Leaf

A touring mainstay and an indie folk-rock staple, this quintet’s well-hewn live show, and musical style drift in and out of Americana, bluegrass, rock, folk, Celtic and pop traditions with ease, using an arsenal of instruments – acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, cello, bass, drums, accordion, pennywhistle, and rich vocal harmonies – to define the band’s lively stage presence and sonic landscape.
“We call it ether-electrified porch music,” says frontman Barry Privett, using a phrase nicked from an earlier album of the same name when describing the band’s expansive sound.

“It’s the sweet spot between the earnest roots music we grew up on and the textured electric rock side that gives us different places to go musically during the course of an evening.”

Whether they are plugged into amplifiers or huddled around a single ‘Grand Ole Opry’ style microphone, Carbon Leaf radiates a warm, magnetic onstage presence that pulls the audience closer. Lyrically poetic with a wide range of musical styles, the band’s live charm is its ability to make the concert feel as much of an electrifying event as it would be an intimate gathering of just family and friends.

“Being both a folk band and rock band allows each song to breathe a little differently and creates an arc that keeps things interesting for the band and the fans,” Privett said. Performing live truly is a symbiotic relationship between the 5 band members and the audience.”

With a history spanning 27 years, 20 albums, and 3,000 live shows, Carbon Leaf’s independent music and spirit continue to resonate with its fans.