Award entitles band to nomination for coveted Black Fret 2016 Grant; band to release debut LP titled Time Owes You Nothing April 15.
(AUSTIN, TEXAS – March 17, 2016) – Austin’s own orchestral psychpop band Calliope Musicals were named “Best New Austin Artist” at last night’s Austin Music Awards. The band was also named an official 2016 Black Fret Grant Nominee. With a busy touring schedule beginning this month through the summer, Calliope Musicals was added to a sold out Electric Forest lineup this June and will be opening for Shakey Graves on a number of upcoming tour dates. Most recently, USA Today premiered the band’s new track “Sink or Swim” here.
“Over the course of being a band, we’ve had so many great opportunities because of our fans turned friends who have been supportive of us,” said Carrie Fussell, lead singer. “It means a lot to have created a family around us based on music, color and positivity. We are wildly excited about what the year holds for us and can’t wait to share it with everyone who helped us along the way.”
“It’s always exciting to announce the Black Fret nominees for the year,” said Matt Ott, Black Fret Co-Founder. “Our Members, Advisors and prior year Artists always make incredible selections. To have the voice of Austin via the Austin Music Awards add Calliope Musicals to our list is some beautiful icing on what was an already delicious cake. We look forward to an amazing year of music from our 2016 Black Fret Nominees.”
The band’s new album Time Owes You Nothing is coming out Friday, April 15, 2016 and is available for pre-order here. The Austin release party will be at Central Presbyterian Church located at 200 E 8th St., Austin, Texas 78701. In true Calliope Musicals fashion, the evening will be filled with music, confetti, costumes, dancing, hugging and much more. Tickets and more information can be found here.
The band has a busy schedule this SXSW. Their remaining shows include:
THURSDAY 3/17
5pm – performance at CHEERS ROOFTOP
1am – Official SXSW showcase at TELLERS
FRIDAY 3/18
1:45pm performance at STAY GOLD
5pm performance at SHINER’S SALOON
SATURDAY 3/19
5pm – performance at DOC’S MOTORWORKS CONGRESS
12am – Official SXSW showcase at BAR 96
“Calliope’s self-described genre — ‘psychedelic party folk!!’ — not only illustrates their style of music but also the degree of enthusiasm with which they deliver it,” said Tribeza Magazine. “While the songs themselves are dance worthy on their own, what’s especially impressive is their live performance: the playful implementation of art, props, costumes and confetti cannons combined with the genuine joy that emanates from each member of the band. Everyone is having fun on stage, and it’s a contagious feeling that easily overflows into the audience.”
“Wielding psychedelic folk with circus-party theatrics, Calliope Musicals lacks no audience in Austin,” said the Austin Chronicle. “Forthcoming album Time Owes You Nothing boasts Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zero’s producer Kevin Augunas. As heard on 2013 EP Clouds on Fire, their fusion of glittering melodies and charismatic lyricism caters to the bohemian, free-loving folk.”
Calliope Musicals fill in their folksy roots with a mix of vibraphone, tribal drums, bass, lead guitar and explosive vocals. A preview track “What My Eyes Found” from the album can be streamed here.
The track Listing for Time Owes You Nothing is as follows:
1. 1604
2. Echo of the Whoos
3. Sink or Swim
4. Vegas
5. Happy, Sandy Baby
6. Potting Daisies
7. What My Eyes Found
8. Swim or Sink
9. Tiny White Moths
10. Velveteen
11. Letters
12. Morning Ground
13. Be (Morning Ground pt. 2)
CALLIOPE MUSICALS LIVE:
March 17 – Official SXSW Showcase | Tellers – Austin, TX
April 8 – Lola’s – Fort Worth, TX
April 1 – Grand Stafford Theatre – Bryan, TX
April 15 – Central Presbyterian Church – Austin, TX
April 16 – Easter Island Festival – Claremore, OK
April 23 – Satellite Bar – Houston, TX
May 7 – Pecan Street Festival – Austin, TX
May 28 – Pink Garder Theatre Jackson, WY*
May 29 – Knitting Factory Ballroom, Boise, ID*
5/31 – Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA *
June 23-26 – Electric Forest – Rothbury, MI
Sept. 15 – Backwoods Music Festival – Agra, OK
*w/ Shakey Graves
About Calliope Musicals:
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Calliope Musicals is a six-person musical tribe that includes Carrie Fussell (vocals), Matt Roth (guitar), Craig Finkelstein (vibraphone), Josh Bickley (drums), Andrew Vizzone (bass) and Chris Webb (lead guitar). Recorded at Fairfax Studios during a month-long stay in California, Time Owes You Nothing is the first LP from Calliope Musicals. The album was produced by Kevin Augunas (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Cold War Kids), mixed and engineered by Gavin Paddock and Andy Dalton and mastered by Pete Lyman (Pat Benatar, Jason Isbell, Banks, Ben Harper).
About Black Fret:
Black Fret is a public charity headquartered in Austin whose mission is to empower musicians to create and perform great new music. The organization is an innovative evolution of the age-old symphony patronage model that is focused on supporting popular local music. Together, Black Fret’s limited membership will build an endowed institution capable of sustaining more than a million dollars a year in grants to Austin’s artists.
Media Note:
To RSVP for the album release event, SXSW shows, or general press inquiries, please contact the team at Juice Consulting:
Heather Wagner Reed Amber LaFrance
713 208 3891 469 877 1533
heather@juiceconsulting.com amber@juiceconsulting.com