It’s been five years now since Wood & Wire sprouted out of the rich musical soil of Austin, Texas. They’ve cut their teeth at national festivals like Merlefest and Austin City Limits, set the country to talking with their unique hybrid of tight, original bluegrass — and now they’re coming to Bainbridge Island for a special 21-and-older concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 29 at the Treehouse Café.
In a tightly defined genre, Wood & Wire’s “band-style” ethos and clean traditional song crafting, so often associated with their Texas home, permeate their sound. That said, what comes out of the Wood & Wire blender is also something entirely its own. Tony Kamel — leader singer, guitarist, mover, shaker, and primary songwriter — brings his material to the group in a raw form and once shaken and stirred. The results are inimitable.
“I think I’m most proud of how we’ve developed our sound together,” Kamel said. “It feels great to step on stage feeling like we’ve really found our own style.”
Tickets, $15 apiece, are on sale at www.treehousebainbridge.com.
“Our goal is to show up and drive, so that the energy hits you, and it’s undeniable,” bassist Dom Fisher said.
Fisher, a New York native, formed the group with Kamel in 2011. Shortly thereafter, the addition of banjoist Trevor Smith, Fisher said “really put us on a different level.”
Smith grew up playing classical piano. After attending his first bluegrass festival, he picked up his main instrument, the banjo.
“I was perplexed by the sound of it, and I had to figure it out,” Smith said. “We’re rooted in traditional bluegrass but don’t limit ourselves to any perceived notion of what that’s supposed to be. We do our own thing, and we realize that vision collectively.”
Mandolinist Billy Bright joined the group in 2014. Bright brought with him a suitcase full of tunes and a trunk full of ideas. Influenced by everyone from Merle Haggard to John Hartford, this motley team is drawing attention in an arena crammed with luminaries.
“We’re fortunate to have reached both die-hard bluegrass fans, folks who have never heard of bluegrass, and everything in between,” Kamel said. “We’ll keep working hard to bring the music to our fans.”
