Student Engagement

Judah & the Lion

December 1, 2017, 8:00 PM

Contact: Hayly Smith (subne@iastate.edu)
Great Hall, Memorial Union

Doors at 7pm

$15 w/ ISU student ID, $25 Public

Tickets available at midwestix.com or at the Maintenance Shop Box Office (beginning August 21)

Co-Sponsored by ISU WinterFest

Years before forming one of Nashville's most genre-bending bands, the members of Judah & the Lion grew up in separate corners of the U.S., listening to every type of music that came their way. They loved it all: the twang of folk, the beat of hip-hop, the drive of rock & roll, the punch of pop. Later, after college brought all four musicians to Tennessee, it only made sense to combine those different backgrounds and different sounds together.

The band consists of front man Judah Akers, who shares the band's lineup with drummer Spencer Cross, mandolin player Brian Macdonald, and banjo wiz Nate Zuercher. An independent band whose success has arrived not on the back of some big budget major label, but through the band's own touring, Judah & the Lion have built a large, loyal fanbase on the road. Along the way, they shared stages with artists like Mat Kearney, Drew Holcomb, and Ben Rector.

Kids These Days, the band's debut record, climbed to number four on the Billboard Folk Chart and number two on the genre-wide Heatseekers chart after its release in September 2014. Their second full-length album, Folk Hop N Roll, was released in 2016.  This album has a wide-ranging sound, with fuzz bass, hip-hop percussion, distorted banjo riffs, and super-sized melodies all stirred into the same mixing pot.

Judah & the Lion followed the release of Folk Hop N Roll with a massive tour spanning most of 2016. Late that year, after being named iHeartRadio’s Artist on the Verge, their single “Take It All Back” began to climb the ranks at Alternative Radio, eventually culminating in a three week stint in the #1 spot to kick off 2017. In tandem with their first #1 song, Judah & the Lion also kicked off a tour as support for Twenty One Pilots which brought them to arenas all across the US.

In early 2017 they recorded 4 brand new songs dubbed the Going to Mars Collection, which, when combined with Folk Hop N Roll, make up Folk Hop N Roll Deluxe. The rebooted version of the album includes the band’s follow up to “Take It All Back,”. With no intention of slowing down anytime soon, Judah & the Lion will be hitting summer festivals and then continue their Going to Mars headlining tour.

Special Guest Wilder

Wilder is an alternative rock band based out of Nashville, TN. They are the product of four college classmates turned band members. Their music combines the art of thoughtful songwriting with the vocal styles of classic Americana. Influenced by artists such as Coldplay and Kings of Leon, the band places a heavy emphasis on high-energy shows.

The band is currently working with producer Jacquire King, Grammy nominee and former engineer for artists such as James Bay, Modest Mouse, Norah Jones, Kings of Leon, Cold War Kids, and many more. With input from each band member and advice from King, the band has honed in their sound, most notably on their recent debut single, “Same Way”. Wilder is now set to tour throughout the US this fall with the Icelandic blues/rock band, Kaleo. Keep up with all things Wilder, and listen to their debut single, “Same Way”, now on iTunes, Spotify, and www.thebandwilder.com.

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