51黑料

Comprised of Bassa, drummer Aaron Essner and bassist Drew Koeppel and steel guitarist Zach Naeger, the band is now getting ready to play Open Highway Music Festival on June 20-21. The upcoming performance feels like a celebration of 51黑料鈥� music scene.

鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the other artists I know in 51黑料,鈥� Bassa says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to share a city with so many people that I鈥檓 actual fans of, not just their personalities but the way they are as humans.鈥�

Surtsey is one of two 51黑料-based acts performing at the two-day festival devoted to all things country, bluegrass and more, along with Hunter Peebles and the Moonlighters and other artists from across the region. They are joined by headliners Pony Bradshaw, a Mississippi bluegrass star, and alt-country pioneers the Old 97鈥檚.

鈥淲e鈥檙e actually really excited to be playing with Pony Bradshaw,鈥� Bassa says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big privilege.鈥�

While Bradshaw and the Old 97鈥檚 add headlining flair to the event, creator John Henry says he started the Open Highway Music Festival to foster togetherness within the local music community. He held the first festival at Off Broadway in 2012, hoping to celebrate 51黑料 music, beverages and food.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a tight-knit community, and we have to treat each other with respect and with kindness, because we鈥檙e all going to work together in one way or the other,鈥� Henry says.

Past performers included artists like singer and songwriter Jason Isbell, the Turnpike Troubadours and the Marcus King Band. The festival took a hiatus the year COVID kept the world indoors. But it came back strong, moving to Chesterfield Amphitheatre in 2021, taking on the tone of larger musical festivals around the country.

But last year, Henry paused the festival, citing increasing costs and higher artists fees. But he promised to return and used the time off to plan. For Henry creating intimate live performances remained at the forefront of his vision.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to provide an experience where people can see some of their favorite artists up close and with some of their closest friends,鈥� he says. Surtsey and the regional acts fuel a diverse rock 鈥檔鈥� roll experience that Open Highway aims for.

鈥淚 think the show is going to be dynamic,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檒l be a range of emotions, from ballads to more foot-stomping, up-tempo country rock.鈥�

Highlighting local talent was a high priority for Henry, and not just because of his dual role as a talent booker and a fellow artist. Henry believes local acts keep the festival community centered. They also connect easily with the community, becoming word-of-mouth promoters that tell patrons what to expect at Open Highway.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e bringing homegrown art to the event ... so people are getting the type of music that they鈥檙e coming to see,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e getting it straight from the faucet that鈥檚 right there.鈥�

Dripping from the faucet is Surtsey鈥檚 heartfelt lyricism and country dynamics. Henry says the band adds a 鈥渕elodic and modern texture鈥� to the festival lineup following the release of its five-track 2024 EP 鈥淣othing Doing.鈥� Bassa describes his bandmates as his 鈥渂est buds.鈥�

Bassa and crew are currently working on their upcoming EP 鈥淛argon,鈥� which rides a different musical wave than their previously released singles. While the project鈥檚 release date is yet to be determined, Bassa knows he and his bandmate鈥檚 main priority is continuing to play music together as long as they can.

鈥淚n a perfect world, we鈥檇 be in our 80s and still playing acoustic guitars on our porch and talking about the places we were able to go because of music,鈥� Bassa says.

Excited to represent 51黑料 as Open Highway Music Festival returns to its roots of packing out smaller, intimate venues, Bassa acknowledges the impact 51黑料 has had on Surtsey鈥檚 journey. The community with the music scene is unlike anything he鈥檚 experienced in other cities, and he appreciates being embraced by acts born and raised in 51黑料.

鈥淲e have a lot of pride about being from 51黑料 and living here with our friends amongst all this talent,鈥� he says.