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Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Caamp frontman Taylor Meier says he's ‘C-list folk singer famous,' but he sold out the Salt Shed
Caamp frontman Taylor Meier isn't fazed by writer's block. 'I'm never like, 'Oh, I wonder if I have the songs,'' he admits over the phone from home in Columbus, Ohio, during that liminal space between intense rehearsals and the kickoff of a 32-date tour that brings the banjo-infused folk rockers to the Salt Shed Fairgrounds for two sold-out shows on Thursday and Friday to promote this week's release of a long-awaited fifth album, 'Copper Changes Color.' 'They're coming to me at such a rate right now and such a sincerity,' he says. And, yes, he understands how infuriating that sounds. 'I'm friends with enough musicians and enough creatives at this point to be super aware of what the inverse looks like, and to see people struggle and go dry and doubt themselves,' he says. 'I'm sure that a slower era is on my horizon at some point.' The deceptively simple secret to this prolific output that keeps Caamp (in addition to Sumbuck, his solo side project) awash in deeply personal, bittersweet vignettes? 'I don't shy away from writing. If it comes, I write the song,' he says bluntly. He fears probing deeper into the mystery of his craft. 'If I knew, I don't think I'd really be able to do what I do,' he attests. 'Yes, it's from me in a way, but it's also very much for me. I do this stuff because it truly makes my soul happy. What I do makes me smile. I'm lucky to still be in love with it all.' That rose-colored sheen dipped in 2023 after eight years of grinding it out on the road and in the studio, first as a duo with Caamp co-founder and childhood friend Evan Westfall (banjo) and then with an expanded, permanent lineup including Matt Vinson (bass), Joseph Kavalec (keyboards) and Nicholas Falk (drums). Despite incremental successes (late-night TV appearances, conquering Colorado's iconic Red Rocks, major festival slots, a spot on former president Barack Obama's summer playlist and strong chart showings culminating with 2022's 'Lavender Days' reaching the No. 5 spot on Billboard's Americana/Folk Albums chart), Meier abruptly pulled the plug on all the band's remaining appearances for the year citing 'untimely knocks to my health' in an Instagram post and offered refunds to bewildered ticket holders. Speculation percolated online, some of it wild and a lot of it invasive, like most internet chatter is, which didn't upset Meier as much as it stunned him. 'I'm not even famous!' he exclaims. 'I am C-list folk singer famous. I can't even imagine what the actual tops of my industry go through.' Apart from scattered one-off dates, Caamp flew under the radar until the 'Somewhere' EP broke through the winter doldrums in February with Meier tenderly pointing out in his sandy squall of a voice on the first single 'Let Things Go' that maintaining a death grip on the entanglements and duties battling for our attention is a recipe for disaster. He doesn't mince words in the lyrics: 'You can let it roar / You can let it out / You can let things go / And anything your heart needs to make you feel better.' 'That song is the anecdote. It's not an answer by any means, but it's just kind of me trying to sing a lesson to myself,' he reveals. 'I chose to keep the details of my struggle private and will continue to do so, but that's the sentiment that got me through it and that's what I want to sing to my fans every night.' Gearing up to leave the comforts of home behind takes some grit, especially for a bunch of self-described 'homebodies.' 'We love our houses, routine, community,' Vinson admits in a separate phone call, stressing that he's not complaining about the road, it's just 'you caught us at the exact perfect time when we're leaving in one week and it kind of seems like the world is ending.' Pre-tour jitters aside, Vinson says the band is 'fully, fully rested' and 'morale is good.' Meier emphasizes the interpersonal work everyone put in during the break to come back together stronger. 'Heal the heart and fix the head,' he intones like a mantra. And just like Dorothy and her ruby slippers, the path to this place of ease always lurked inside him. 'You have all the tools the whole time, but it's just what you choose to pay attention to. Maybe I was paying attention to the wrong things — whatever it was. But I feel as if I'm dialed into the right things now,' he explains. In between the expected campfire harmonies and a left turn into Strokes-era nostalgia, the gorgeous 'Copper Changes Color' lays bare Meier's evolving mental state. In the jostling 'Mistakes,' he sings, 'Feels like I'm just trying to keep my plants alive / And trying to drink water,' while in the plaintive, piano-driven 'Living & Dying & In Between,' he reveals 'I wanna live/I don't want to die/They can feel so much alike.' Madi Diaz guests on the gauzy 'One True Way,' which contemplates if we're really meant for one thing. And 'Drive' cinematically rides off into the sunset, unsure of the destination, but certain of how to get there. The album's 11 tracks don't strive to be confessional, just open. 'It's kind of been this crazy process of, as I've gotten older, of getting a little bit more transparent,' Meier explains. 'Before, it could have been maybe construed on life stuff that I was wanting to feel. But there's bits of me in there now and I don't really hide from it or hide behind it.' Recorded in bursts between Oregon, Texas and New York, the sessions for 'Copper Changes Color' adhered to the same process in place since the band's self-titled debut in 2016. Meier brings in almost fully-fleshed out songs, which the band learns on the spot and then it's go-time. 'It's not as do or die as it sounds,' Vinson reassures. Minor things can be added or edited out months later, but importantly, 'there's an element of something live in everything Caamp has truly ever done.' That ability of the five members to lock-in on stage or in the studio without going 'through the grinder' to achieve it keeps the band from straying too far. 'Our chemistry playing is something that will never not amaze me. Just being in a room together and the telepathy of our musicianship, which is fueled by our friendship — that will never get old,' Vinson says. Meier shares the sentiment. 'There's always gonna be other music and other projects and other collaborators in my life,' he admits. But, 'I always come back home.'
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Barenaked Ladies Contest
More from CBS News Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Barenaked Ladies at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 17. This contest ends June 8. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On
Calgary Herald
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Calgary Herald
Edmonton Folk Music Festival lineup: Allison Russell, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Taj Mahal join The Roots and Mt. Joy
Article content Article content As far as general operations go, no big announcements this year — more food trucks, some extra shade, that sort of thing — though we did get a bit doomy talking about worst-case scenarios if fire season forced a cancellation due to air-quality safety. Article content 'A couple of rainfalls this week were good,' says Wickham. 'The farmers need rain, the gardens need rain — it just makes the place look better. But I don't think that's going to have any impact on August. Article content 'We're in for a dry spell coming up, so we'll see if things start to spark up. Article content 'I mean, wildfire smoke is an existential threat to all the festivals outdoors.' Article content That consideration aside, costs have also been reliably rising, especially headliner fees. Article content 'It's doubled or quadrupled, post pandemic,' notes the producer of the non-profit festival. 'Dynamic pricing, excess demand, etc. And it won't stop until people stop buying tickets at crazy prices.' Article content Article content This makes it especially noteworthy that ticket and pass prices this year are holding steady, no increases. Article content 'We could go up and people would grumble,' says Wickham, but I'm so tired of inflation everywhere, that at least one place, for one year, we can hold the line.' Article content He notes the folk fest will always continue to do what it can, and that 'money is not everything to all the artists. Article content 'They do look for special places to play,' says Wickham, noting Ben Harper once said it was his favourite. 'And I did hear two band members from The National talking and saying, 'Which is your favourite, here or Red Rocks?' So that kind of thing is nice to hear.' Article content Bringing it home, the local acts include AV & the Inner City, St. Albert's Current Swell, Nîpisîy, Secondhand Dreamcar and let's note Shaela Miller's country music by way of Lethbridge. School of Song will also highlight local talent Asiah Holm, Halfway Home, Sam Steffen and Tayler Grace, and the Nikamowin indigenous programming will spotlight even more locals by the fest's central tipi. Article content Article content 'There's a lot of great talent out there,' says Wickham. 'I said yes to a lot of people who have been knocking on the door for a few years. Article content 'About 60 per cent of the artists have never played here before. We haven't been too nostalgic. So I feel good.' Article content Pre-GST and fees, adult personal weekend passes (25-64) are $234, single tickets Thursday or Friday are $109, and Saturday or Sunday $115. Article content AHI Article content Allison Russell Article content AV & the Inner City Article content Aysanabee Article content BALTHVS Article content Blackburn Brothers
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Broncos QB Bo Nix joined Brad Paisley at Red Rocks concert
Broncos QB Bo Nix joined Brad Paisley at Red Rocks concert Bo Nix took a page out of Peyton Manning's playbook over the weekend. After throwing out the first pitch at a Colorado Rockies game (which was a strike, something not even PM managed to do) on Friday, Nix showed up at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre on Saturday night at a Brad Paisley concert. During a break, Paisley asked for someone from backstage to come take a photo ... that someone turned out to be Nix: Paisley later let Nix audition to replace a certain someone in an ad campaign: Manning was a frequent guest at Red Rocks, and his friendship with Paisley turned into a business partnership when they teamed up for a series of Nationwide commercials. Paisley poked fun at Manning in an Instagram caption following Nix's appearance: "What a night," Paisley wrote. "What a spot on earth. Thank you @redrocksco. Such an awesome time with @walkerhayes and @ And also @bonix10 showing us how a @broncos quarterback should really sound singing the @nationwide jingle." (Scroll to the end to see Nix.) Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
National Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
VEEPS and Postmedia Studios Announce Strategic Relationship to Launch VEEPS All Access in Canada
Article content Launch content exclusive to VEEPS includes live concerts from Canadian indie rockers Metric at the Budweiser Stage in Toronto, nine-time GRAMMY winner Sheryl Crow live from Red Rocks, Bryan Adams live from Royal Albert Hall show plus thousands of hours of the world's best performers. Article content Article content LOS ANGELES & TORONTO — VEEPS, the leading global platform for live-streamed concerts and entertainment, is proud to announce a strategic relationship with Postmedia Studios, a part of Postmedia Network Inc. ('Postmedia'), to bring VEEPS All Access to Canada for the first time. VEEPS All Access is the first music subscription service to offer unlimited viewing of premium quality concerts and live music entertainment for a monthly or annual fee. This collaboration between VEEPS and Postmedia Studios will deliver unparalleled access to live entertainment for audiences across the country, from major cities to small towns, both live and on-demand. Article content 'This collaboration is a significant milestone for VEEPS as we expand our offering in Canada,' said Kyle Heller, Co-Founder of VEEPS. 'With Postmedia's vast reach and deep connection to Canadian communities, we'll be able to bring even more Canadian fans closer to the music and artists they love from Arcade Fire to Metric, Coldplay, and beyond. We're introducing this special, lifetime rate for those who sign up early as members' Article content VEEPS All Access gives Canadian fans access to thousands of hours of live and on-demand concerts, comedy specials, music documentaries, intimate artist interviews, and live entertainment featuring popular Canadian artists like Shawn Mendes, Arcade Fire, Alanis Morissette, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Terri Clark, Alessia Cara, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jessi Cruickshank, Mae Martin, and Anvil as well as an incredible display of content from world-class international artists like Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Alicia Keys, Fall Out Boy, Kings of Leon, and many more. Article content For a limited time, Canadians and Postmedia subscribers can lock in a lifetime monthly rate of CAD $13.99—a 30% discount—by subscribing through a Postmedia website link. This provides unlimited access to all VEEPS content at this special price through the end of the Summer. Article content As part of the launch, VEEPS and Postmedia Studios are excited to announce a special livestream event featuring one of Canada's most iconic bands, Metric, performing live from Toronto's 15,000-capacity Budweiser Stage on June 6. 'We're thrilled to have people from all over the world join us virtually for this very special hometown performance of Fantasies in Toronto,' says Emily Haines of Metric. 'It's going to be a romantic, nostalgic evening for all. Wherever you may be, we'd love to have you there with us.' Article content Erika Tustin, Postmedia Studios, added, 'Postmedia's unparalleled reach across Canada gives us the unique ability to introduce VEEPS to audiences in every corner of the country. This strategic relationship highlights the power of our network to connect Canadians with unforgettable live entertainment experiences.' Article content As part of the collaboration, Postmedia has launched a new music coverage channel on Canoe ( which was recently rebranded as an entertainment, lifestyle, shopping and commerce site. On Canoe, audiences will find music and industry coverage from across the country, be the first to hear about concert news and trends and get access to interviews with artists performing on VEEPS. Article content 'Entertainment has the power to unite and inspire like nothing else,' said Steven Amato, Founder of Contend, Postmedia's strategic partner in Postmedia Studios. 'This collaboration bridges the physical and virtual worlds, giving Canadians access to the artists they love, no matter where they are.' Article content VEEPS and Live Nation will support the launch with a robust promotional campaign, leveraging their global expertise and deep experience connecting artists with fans. This strategic relationship is set to redefine how Canadian audiences experience live music and entertainment, while fostering a new era of access, storytelling and creativity. VEEPS content is available via and apps on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, Samsung, and Android. VEEPS All Access subscribers will gain unlimited access to hundreds of upcoming live and on-demand performances each year, exclusive VEEPS-only artist content, merch drops, and more for a special introductory price of $13.99 a month. Article content About VEEPS: VEEPS is the world's leading streaming platform for live music and entertainment, where fans connect with their favourite artists through live and on-demand concerts, comedy shows, and more. Launched in 2018 by Joel and Benji Madden, VEEPS has streamed performances to millions of viewers worldwide for thousands of artists, including Billie Eilish, Bob Dylan, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Kings of Leon. VEEPS has been named a Fast Company World's Most Innovative Company, nominated for an Emmy, and holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest ticketed livestream performance by a solo male artist. VEEPS content is available via and apps on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, Samsung, and Android. VEEPS is a part of Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV). Article content About Postmedia Network Inc.: Postmedia Network Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Postmedia Network Canada Corp. (TSX:PNC.A, PNC.B), is a Canadian newsmedia company representing more than 130 brands across multiple print, online, and mobile platforms. Award-winning journalists and innovative product development teams bring engaging content to millions of people every week whenever and wherever they want it. This exceptional content, reach and scope offers advertisers and marketers compelling solutions to effectively reach target audiences. Our expertise in home delivery and expanding distribution network powers Postmedia Parcel Services. For more information visit: and Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For Media Inquiries: Article content Article content Article content
