Sedona News – After performing to a packed house at Red Dirt Concert Series last Spring, the Southern California bluegrass band — The Storytellers — returns to Sedona. They will appear for two nights at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Dec. 14 and 15.
It was a cool and breezy May evening at Posse Grounds Pavilion in Sedona, AZ, when the Southern California-based progressive bluegrass band, The Storytellers, took the stage as part of the City of Sedona’s Red Dirt Concert Series. “At that point, we already had an exceptionally large turnout,” said Jason Vargo, the cities’ Special Events Coordinator, “but the folks kept coming.”“It was a spectacular concert, showcasing the band’s unique and exciting sound, with tight vocal harmonies and stunning instrumentals. Theirs is a fun and soulful bluegrassy sound that’s perfect for Sedona.”
Now the band, riding the tide of a surging interest in bluegrass music, and having recently performed a series of high-profile concerts, is returning to Sedona.
“We are thrilled to return to the Verde Valley,” said Lance Frantzich, the founding bassist who also manages the band. “The region is visually stunning, beautiful and magical and so are the people. We received so much positive feedback after our Red Dirt show, as well as a show we did a few months before that in Cottonwood. When we began mapping out our tour of the Southwest, starting in Sedona was an easy decision.”
The Storytellers has established itself as a creative force in the Southwest Roots Music scene. They draw from the rich canon of traditional bluegrass, country blues, old-time and folk music as a basis for inspired improvisations and intrepid vocal harmonies. Renowned for their strong musical chemistry, soulful harmonies, delicate acoustic sensibilities, soaring grooves, tight rhythms, and substantive storytelling, they bring their joyous musical magic to every stage they stand on.
Since the beginning of the year, The Storytellers have performed at the Calico Bluegrass Festival, the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, the Desert Bluegrass Festival in Marana Arizona, as well as the Brookdale Bluegrass Festival, where the band performed onstage with legendary bluegrass star Peter Rowan. In June the band headlined the prestigious Prescott Bluegrass Festival in Prescott Arizona.
Patrick Schweiss, Executive Director of Sedona International Film Festival, agrees with Vargo’s assessment of the band. “This band’s unique sound is a modern, wonderfully joyful take on traditional bluegrass music,” he stated. “We watched their videos, we listened to their music, we heard their stage banter, and we instantly realized why this band refers to their concerts as ‘shows’. They dress up and they connect with their audience in ways most bands do not. This is the type of experience the good people of Sedona appreciate. You don’t want to miss this show!”
The Storytellers bring their high, lonesome sound to the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in Sedona on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m.. Tickets for the show are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
All tickets include a meet-and-greet with the band in the lobby after the show.
Tickets and additional information is available at www.SedonaFilmFestival.org, at the box office, or call 928-282-1177. The Sedona International Film Festival Office and the Mary D. Fisher Theatre are located at 2030 W. SR 89A in West Sedona.