Photo by Mary Carol
Great Divide
Midpoint Music Festival
9/26/13
Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 700 Race St, Cincinnati, OH
10:45pm, Buy Tickets here – http://www.mpmf.com
Great Divide’s music is influenced by the traditional roots of blues, soul, funk, country or otherwise, good ol-fashioned rock & roll. The Alternative Root attests “Their sound is Memphis soul meets Muscle Shoals grit and funk. It is rock’n’soul glory with each note.”
The band’s self titled LP was released in the spring of 2013. Recorded in 4 days at Third Ward Studios in Milwaukee, with subsequent sessions in Chicago and Rockford, IL, Great Divide is an ambitious affair, moving effortlessly from soul to pop to funk, all tied together by lead frontman Teddy Grossman’s lyrical openness and his way with a hook. Performer Magazine declares: “Great Divide is certainly hitting their stride on their second release, delivering classic blues-rock with a healthy dose of soul.”
The group expanded their sound, bringing in a bevy of talented musicians and friends behind the scenes: Helping out: Producers Dan McMahon and Darren Garvey, two multi-instrumentalists and recent collaborators with the likes of Cory Chiesel. Also lending a hand: James Auwarter (Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Rihanna, John Legend) who was brought in to engineer the record, as well as recruit some gospel singers singer’s from Chicago’s south side. Theo Katzman, a longtime friend from their days in Ann Arbor, lights up the 70’s Cali-Pop tune “Fast Train”, while the final icing on the cake came from local brass duo, “HornBread” (Sam Trump and David Ben-Porat), part of an up and coming hip-hop/jazz/soul group, Sidewalk Chalk.
Following the release of Great Divide, the band descended upon Austin, TX as an official SXSW artist, and went on to tour the country, making stops at renowned festivals such as Summerfest, Taste of Chicago, Top of the Park etc. As “one of root music’s up and comers”, Great Divide is “quickly becoming one of the hottest bands on the Chicago festival scene.” Performer Magazine attests Great Divide is, “Rock n’ soul custom-made for a sweaty live setting.” Fitting, as the band is about to head back out on the road for a string of dates on their way to CMJ.
Great Divide Tour Dates:
Sept 13 – Naperville, IL – The Union
Sept 21 – Oak Park, FL – Oaktoberfest
Sept 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Midpoint Music Festival
Oct 10 – Washington, DC – Treehouse
Oct 11 – Towson, MD – WTMD Live Lunch
Oct 11 – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10 Club
Oct 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Milkboy
Oct 16 – New York, NY – The Artie Lange Show
Oct 18 – New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 – CMJ
