From the funk of West African jive to the exhilarating tones of the lapsteel guitar, The John Adam Smith Band combines the love of groove with a taste for edge in their roots driven, acoustic funk-rock innovations. 

This sturdy North American trio is built on the original compositions of multi-instrumentalist John Adam Smith. Throughout the US, Canada, and Australia John has captured audiences with his integrations of Australian Weissenborn, open tuned acoustic guitar arrangements, and his background in traditional African music. The potent combination of these diversely talented musicians brings the heat when this high spirited trio sets forth to energize the room.


Raised in Missoula, MT John was inspired by his father and artists such as Duane Allman, Jerry Garcia, and Mark Knopfler. John started playing guitar when he was 10 years old and landed his first gigs at the age of 15. John's background is rooted in Traditional West African Music. Since his early teens, John studied with Master Djembefolas including two of his most influential teachers - Dibo Camara and Abdoul Doumbia. Combining these rhythmical roots with intricate acoustic compositions and passionate songwriting, John found a unique original sound. His early bands "Smitty & The Boss", and "CottonWood Draw" developed a lively following in the local Montana scene. In 2008 John started performing as a one man band. During these shows he generally had a guitar in his lap, a slide on his finger, bare feet on his homemade wooden stomp boxes, and an assortment of drums near at hand. John toured around the United States, Canada, and Australia as a solo artist before adding a rhythm section and forming The John Adam Smith Band in 2011. In 2012 John produced and recorded "Ponderosa Skies". This full length studio album was released in June of 2013 at the Top Hat Lounge in Missoula. Ponderosa Skies is a collection of songs John started writing and composing at the age of 16. The album was recorded and co-produced with Chris Cunningham (Storyhill) at Basecamp Recording in Bozeman, Montana. Ponderosa Skies has made it's way to fans throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. John is currently following life's inspirations and continuing his journey as a musician and story teller. He is in love with the opportunity to share his words with the wonderful folks who take the time to listen.      

JohnAdamSmith.com

Photo Credit: @_markcluney (on IG)

Karl Vincent Roth is what some might call, a musical renaissance man. Karl has spent the last 20+ years, working on all aspects of his musical career - from honing his skills as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, to cutting his teeth in the recording studio as a producer and audio engineer. 

Growing up outside of Chicago, and eventually living in the city, Karl started playing saxophone at the early age of 7, only to pick up strings shortly thereafter. It was when Karl started confidently playing guitar at the age of 14, that he began writing his own songs. Eventually Karl adopted the hobby of recording his own music, as a way of teaching himself the finer points of production and audio engineering. It was when Karl hit his early 20’s, that he began his short career as a DJ in Chicago. After 8 successful years, Karl then moved to Montana to join the band “Satsang” with his best friend Andrew McManus. Karl and Drew started touring heavily, sharing the stage with acts like Michael Franti & Spearhead, Nahko & Medicine for the People, and Trevor Hall, all with Karl singing harmonies and acting as the bands Bassist. But Karl also worked behind the scenes to engineer, mix and co-produce the albums “Story of You”, “Pyramid(s)”, “In Between Another Blink” and most recently - “Kulture”. With “Pyramid(s)” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts for a brief stint, and the building success of “Kulture” - Karl finally found some time to start writing his own music again.

Heavily influenced by folk, blues, soul, and elements of modern production, Karl is finding his own unique take on the melding of genres. With folk acting as the foundation, Karl Vincent Roth is building on his love of vocal harmony and arrangement, and his knowledge of modern pop music to create a soundscape that is unique to his writing. 

A large amount of the content behind Karl Vincent Roth’s music is inspired from his struggles with depression and anxiety. 

“I write as a method of catharsis. It helps me process and overcome my own struggles, and It’s my hope that someone hears one of my songs and feels a little less alone.” 

With Karl’s lyrics coming from a deep place of honesty and vulnerability, and the music itself being a broad soundscape of intricate melodies met with full, verbose harmony. Karl Vincent Roth’s music stands to be a unique take on a longstanding tradition.

Karl is currently awaiting the release of his upcoming EP - “Wits End”, slated to be released on Nov. 9th, Karl has accomplished the whole project on his own, from the writing and the performing, to the recording and production, Karl has stood to complete this record with a hand on the pulse of every stage of creation.

It’s only the beginning for Karl Vincent Roth, and he couldn’t be more excited.

“I’ve been waiting to do this for some time. And with everything I’ve learned over the course of my life, from creating, working & touring with Satsang, to working and collaborating with other artists across the US, It’s time. I’ve worked hard to get where I am now, and to finally come back to writing my own music again, I finally feel ready.”

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