Bonnaroo Band of the Day: Pokey LaFarge

Bonnaroo Artist | Pokey LaFarge
Bonnaroo History | Newbie
Stage & Time | TBA

As we’ve been doing for the past several years now, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with as many bands as we can from Bonnaroo‘s impressive 2015 lineup. We’ll start from the bottom and work our way up, paying special attention to the smaller and lesser known acts on this year’s bill. Keep reading for your Bonnaroo Band of the Day…

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St. Louis singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge is, without a doubt, the closest musical experience you’ll get to witnessing old-timey American folk and roots music short of stepping through a time machine. Don’t call his style nostalgic though; as far as Pokey’s concerned, he’s continuing on a tradition that never died. Backed by a five-piece band of Joey Glynn (bass), Adam Hoskins (guitar), Ryan Koenig (harmonica, washboard, and snare drum), TJ Muller (cornet, trombone) and Chloe Feoranzo (clarinet, saxophone), LaFarge has spent the last decade crafting music that is at once sincere, traditional, and timeless, appearing on countless festival lineups, talk shows, and even films.

Raised on a love of literature and traditional music, Pokey, born Andrew Heissler, developed his sound and unique musical identity while moving around the country as a young man. He self-released his debut, Marmalade, in ’06, and, throughout a prolific stream of followups in the years since, has worked with the likes of Jack White and Ketch Secor, earned multiple Independent Music Awards, and has found a broader and devoted fanbase through relentless touring. LaFarge will release his latest full-length and followup to his 2013 eponymous Third Man album on April 7. Titled Something in the Water, the record seems to double down on Pokey’s nuanced and rootsy style, honed by several years on the road with his permanent band. Check out the video for his latest single, plus a favorite from a few years back, below!

LISTEN | “Central Time”