With hook laden melodies, compelling songwriting, and burning instrumentals, after one listen to Act Of Congress debut album "Declaration", you'll remember why you first loved music in the first place. Combining the best elements of rock, folk and bluegrass to produce a self titled "Pop-Grass" acoustic genre that's turning heads nationally, the music of Act of Congress is, in a word, contagious.
Chris Griffin (guitar/dobro) and Adam Wright (mandolin/guitar), became friends in college. Wright, a pianist turned guitar player turned mandolin player, says " After being exposed to progressive bluegrass music, Chris and I both became very interested in modulating our singer songwriter/rock knowledge to acoustic instruments. That style evolved from a casual jam to one that requires an extraordinary high level of musicianship," Says Wright, "The playing is very demanding. This is not a style of music where you can not play for a month then get up and do a show again. We work really hard on keeping the songs up to par. Vocally, it's equally demanding as well. But in the end, there's nothing else we'd rather be doing."
In late "2006, Tim Carroll (upright bass) was hired to perform with Chris on several tracks for Ferret Recording Artist Maylene and the Sons Of Disaster"s II album. A friendship and respect developed between the three, and the notion to create a new progressive acoustic band originated. Almost a year later, Bethany Borg, fiddle champion in ten states, relocated from a two year stint performing in Branson Missouri, and after hearing her play at an afternoon rehearsal, the quartet solidified.
From industry professionals to casual music fans, everyone can relate to the group's sound. Their debut album titled "DECLARATION" produced by Jason Elgin, (Collective Soul, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Lynam) and mastered by Roger Lian (White Stripes, Deftones, Staind) recently Sold Out it's release concert at Workplay, "One of PASTE magazine's 40 best venues in America
Act of Congress was chosen by Billboard from over 2,000 bands as the winner of the 2008 "Disc Makers Independent Music World Series". They are a Birmingham Music award winner, and on the cover of Portico Magazine. 2009 features include performances at the SXSW Music Festival, Folk Alliance, Arova Contemporary Ballet (setting AOC to motion), Nightfall Concert Series, Eddies Attic, and a feature in Billboard magazine. The group has worked with Live Nation, opening VIP areas for artists such as John Mayer, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Brooks and Dunn.
Declaration is out now on New Ocean Media and The first single "In The Middle" has been impacting AAA radio since January.
saw you/met you at my sister (Angi) brother-in-law's (Lincoln's) house. You were great. Can't wait to hear the whole band - I've heard wonderful things!!! God bless :)
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