Stars of Cascadia Record Release! Jan 26!
Portland alt-country powerhouse, Stars of Cascadia (former members of Spirit Lake), are releasing their sophomore effort on Saturday, January 26 at the White Eagle. Titled Fairfield, after a small, Iowan town that seems to hold so many of today’s divisions and cliches in ripe form, I found the sample tracks both deep and moving. A big fan of Neil Young, Stars of Cascadia aims to impress with their powerful, tight, roots rock musicianship and smart, thoughtful lyrics. Hooks abound and, if alt-country is in any way your thing, you should now know what you’re doing on January 26th.
Stars of Cascadia knows how to entertain. Come to the record release on Jan 26 at the White Eagle to see why this alt-country powerhouse gets continually compared to Gram Parsons, Neil Young and the like. Image Courtesy: Stars of Cascadia
Here is a press release from the band:
Fairfield is the second album by Portland Americana band Stars of Cascadia, being released on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at the White Eagle Saloon. Their love of Neil Young, Gram Parsons, and Willie Nelson shines through while branching into new stylistic territory reflecting the themes of the record, incorporating psychedelic, progressive, and even surf influences into their roots rock sound.
Told through the lens of the eponymous Iowan town, the album explores the birth, division, and reunion of the two Americas, from the settlement of the plains through the Dust Bowl, Baby Boom, social unrest, and spiritual awakening. At first glance, Fairfield is like any other midwestern Main Street town — farms, churches, the post office, the county courthouse, the town square. But starting in the 1970s, two worlds collided which embodied the growing struggle in America. After groups like the Beatles and Beach Boys popularized transcendental meditation, its guru, Maharishi, sought out a new home far away from its Californian birthplace, which he found in the wide open spaces of Iowa. Though the locals greeted the newcomers with skepticism, they have come to coexist side by side and remain so to this day in one of the country’s most unexpected places.
Fairfield is strikingly unique but it does not need to be. Though the album gets its name and inspiration from this particular town, the name “Fairfield” is one of the most common in America. The album seeks to be about more than just this one place, but as an inspiration for every other Fairfield and every place like it. In these times when it feels like we are as divided as ever, or at least since the turbulent era when a new spiritual movement promised peace and tranquility for people desperately seeking it, we can look to a place like Fairfield as a hopeful example of how we can put our differences aside and simply live.
For press/booking inquiries, contact starsofcascadia@gmail.com
The album artwork for Stars of Cascadia’s second album, Fairfield, is spot on. Middle America, roots…but with a lot of challenging divisions that are polarizing the country. Image Courtesy: Stars of Cascadia
Sample Music from Stars of Cascadia
A picture is worth a thousand words…and when it comes to music, well, we need to hear it! Thus, here are some excellent music samples from Stars of Cascadia’s new album, which you can get a copy of on 1-26-19 (and thereafter):
As evidenced in the tracks above, if you’re a fan of tremendous guitar work, passionate vocals and fiddle…you should be delighted. Hopefully I’ll see you out at the show on Jan 26 at the White Eagle. Always a great place to see a band, the night should be memorable indeed!