TUESDAY, December 13, 2011 — When The Dunwells debuted at the 2011 International Folk Alliance Conference last February, No Depression singled them out as “the Breakout Band” of the event. So it’s no wonder that for the 2012 Int’l Folk Alliance, set to take place February 21-26, 2012 in Memphis, TN, The Dunwells will headline the event’s Main Ballroom on Thursday, February 23.
“We had a great time at last year’s conference,” said the band’s lead vocalist Joseph Dunwell. “What’s terrific about this event is that we’ll not only play a full show in the evening in the main room, but we’ll play smaller showcases throughout the week, most will be all-acoustic, so we’ll be able to do really small, intimate performances with people two or three feet away from us. We love that kind of interaction.”
The Int’l Folk Alliance performance is in support of The Dunwell’s debut album, Blind Sighted Faith, set for a February 14, 2012 release (Playing In Traffic/SONY/Red). The album will introduce the band’s organic sound that blends Celtic and American folk, rock, blues, pop and soul. The 11-track collection was produced by nine-time Grammy winner John Porter (The Smiths, Elvis Costello, Ryan Adams), and recorded during the summer of 2011 at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio in Austin, TX, and Analogue Studios in West Yorkshire, England.
All five band members – brothers David (guitars, piano, banjo) and Joseph Dunwell (vocals, guitars), cousins Jonny Lamb (vocals, drums) and Rob Clayton (bass), and long-time band buddy Dave Hanson (guitar, pedal steel) – contributed to the writing of the 11 songs on Blind Sighted Faith. The album’s opener and first North American single, “I Could Be A King” (ships to radio December 28), is an uplifting rocker with a splash of Britpop shine that leaves the listener feeling empowered. Showcasing the band’s stunning five-part harmonies, “Only Me” is reflective and regretful, while the rousing “Follow The Road” beckons one to grab at life’s adventures.
February will mark the 24th annual Folk Alliance conference. Started by Lewis Meyer, one of the four people who launched SXSW, the conference offers music conference panels, showcases, and networking that all takes place at one location, Memphis’ Downtown Marriott. The close proximity of events enables registrants to catch far more shows and panels that are hosted throughout the week in the hotel’s ballrooms, conference rooms, and private suites. For more information, go to http://www.folkalliance.org/
