Carbon Leaf
Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Bull Run
For 25 years, 17 albums and 2500 live shows, Carbon Leaf’s independent spirit continues to resonate with it’s fans, young and old. Their songs of life, love, hope, heartbreak and landscape are independently written, recorded and produced from the band’s own studio in Richmond, VA.
Pulling from folk, Americana, roots and rock traditions, the Virginia quintet’s lively sound features vocal harmony, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, fiddle, bass, drums, cello, banjo, penny whistle, pedal steel, accordion and whatever else can be placed onto the stage.
The Virginia-based quintet rose out of Randolph-Macon College where, in 1992, the band met and began playing at college parties and fraternities. A move to Richmond, followed by heavy regional touring, saw the five piece coming into their own and developing a devoted fanbase. At the time, Richmond was a fertile music scene, also giving rise to like-minded acoustic rock acts like the Dave Matthews Band, Agents of Good Roots and the Pat McGee Band, helping to nurture the band to greater artistic heights. By 2001 they had released four records independently and had a radio hit with their single “The Boxer.” The success of that single sparked interest in record labels, and in 2004, they recorded Indian Summer, released on Vanguard Records to great acclaim. Tunes like “Life Less Ordinary” and “What About Everything” found regular rotation on AAA radio stations around the country.
The band stayed with Vanguard for six years, releasing several albums and continuing to tour the country, sharing the stage with acoustic rock juggernauts like The Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R., David Gray, and Great Big Sea among many others. But by 2010, the band had decided to try the independent route again, cutting ties with Vanguard. Along with recording new studio albums (Ghost Dragon Attacks Castle, Constellation Prize), the band has re-recorded two of their earlier albums (Indian Summer & Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat) to expose a new generation of fans to their classic songs of the early 90’s.
The group’s current project is a 4-part series called Gathering, and centers on life and death; love and loss; heartbreak, loneliness and landscape and, ultimately, the need for community, gathering and human connection.