Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers are on the lineup for Sloss Fest 2015 in Birmingham. (Avett Brothers Instagram photos)
Over the next few days, we'll finish our previews of all 32 acts on the 2015 lineup for Sloss Fest in Birmingham.
The inaugural event, formally known as as the Sloss Music & Arts Festival, will be held on July 18-19 at Sloss Furnaces. Three stages of music are planned at the park, a national historic landmark at 20 32nd St. North.
Who they are: Scott Avett (vocals, banjo, kick drum), Seth Avett (vocals, guitar, high-hat), Bob Crawford (vocals, bass) and Joe Kwon (cello). The core members tour with fiddler Tania Elizabeth, drummer Mike Marsh and keyboard player Paul Defiglia. Home base for the band is Concord, N.C.
When and where they'll play: Sunday, July 19, on the Blast Stage, 10 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
Music style: Roots rock, folk rock and Americana.
On the record: The latest studio album, "Magpie and the Dandelion," was released in October 2013. Tracks include "Vanity," "The Clearness is Gone," "Open-Ended Life" and "Bring Your Love to Me." The Avetts have more than a dozen other records to their credit, including several EPs.
Birmingham background: The band has a history here, performing at venues that range from WorkPlay to Sloss Furnaces to Samford University. AL.com reviewed a 2012 show at Boutwell Auditorium, saying, "There's something earthy and organic about the Avett Brothers. Instead of being planned or prepared, their music seems to emerge naturally, from a wellspring of creativity. On Saturday, the Avetts exuded warmth and likability, along with commitment and talent. Polish wasn't always their strong suit; the music could get ragged and the pitch could flatten or wobble. ... Yet when flaws emerged, they weren't off-putting. In fact, they added to the spontaneous nature of the performance."
Good to know: The band records at its own pace -- no rushing a project to meet industry demands -- and reportedly is working on a new studio album with producer Rick Rubin. AL.com talked to Seth Avett after the band's first encounter with Rubin, for 2009's "I and Love and You." ''The thing about Rick is that he's never pushy," Avett said. "He always asks, 'What do you think about this?' His big thing was to experiment, to take time to really work on the songs, to slow down for a moment and do things just right. What it felt like, and I don't want to sound egotistical about this, was an effort to make a transition from a good band to a great band. I don't know if we became a great band by working with Rick, but we're one little step on the journey.''
Hands-on: Seth and Scott Avett have created original artworks for their album covers, displaying a DIY sensibility. "For us, it all boils down to an old American tradition and a folk tradition: self-reliability," Scott said during a 2011 interview with AL.com. "We grew up in a household where you didn't hire somebody to do something you can do yourself. Self-reliability is the reason we take on anything. I think we make things. Songs are one thing. We make songs and prints and chicken houses and gardens. I think of myself as just an architect or a creator."
Gossip alert: Tabloids took notice when Seth Avett started dating actress Jennifer Carpenter, who starred in Showtime's "Dexter." Carpenter's rep recently said the two are engaged and expecting their first child, according to People magazine.
Milestone: The Avett Brothers typically perform as a headliner, but the band happily opened for the Rolling Stones on July 1 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.
Tour dates before Sloss Fest: The agenda includes three shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo., July 10-12; plus The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at The Woodlands, Texas, July 17; and Champions Square in New Orleans, July 18.
More info: Avett Brothers website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, Instagram page.