The Surf Hotel is honored to present two incredible days on The LAWN May 21st & 22nd featuring the Kitchen Dwellers with special guests Bonfire Dub and The Runaway Grooms. Kitchen Dwellers twist bluegrass, folk, and rock through a kaleidoscope of homegrown stories, rich mythology, American west wanderlust, and psychedelic hues. The Montana quartet—Shawn Swain [Mandolin], Torrin Daniels [banjo], Joe Funk [upright bass], and Max Davies [acoustic guitar]—have captivated audiences at hallowed venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater and performed alongside everyone from Railroad Earth and Twiddle to The Infamous String Dusters in addition to playing festivals such as Northwest String Summit, WinterWonderGrass, and more. Don't miss your opportunity to experience them on The LAWN!
Among the many natural wonders in Montana, Wise River runs for about 30 miles through the Southwestern region of the state, cutting through the mountains and flowing into the Big Hole River. Beyond being a favorite spot for fly fishermen, it remains etched into the topography of the land itself. Two hours away in Bozeman, Kitchen Dwellers equally embody the spirit and soul of their home with a sonic palette as expansive as Montana’s vistas. The quartet—Shawn Swain [Mandolin], Torrin Daniels [banjo], Joe Funk [upright bass], and Max Davies [acoustic guitar]—twist bluegrass, folk, and rock through a kaleidoscope of homegrown stories, rich mythology, American west wanderlust, and psychedelic hues. After amassing 5 million-plus streams, selling out shows, and receiving acclaim from Huffington Post, Relix, American Songwriter, and more, the group brings audiences back to Big Sky Country on their third full-length album, Wise River, working with Cory Wong of Vulfpeck as producer.
“Since we weren’t on the road due to COVID-19, the music we wrote was different,” Max reveals. “It was more introspective. There were a lot of ties to Montana.”
“For the first time, we were all home for 365 days in a row, which hasn’t happened in ten years,” adds Shawn. “We were thinking of the quieter lifestyle encapsulated in the area. That comes through.”
“In the past, our songs would touch on the physical aspects of the state or reference its history and nature,” says Torrin. “These songs are more introspective, because they come from the perspective of actually being in one place. The vibe is a little more serious—given the weirdness of the past year and the shit everyone has been dealing with. Our little corner of the world has always delt with hard winters, but the whole world felt it in 2020.”
At the same time, their music continues to resound beyond that little corner. They’ve captivated audiences at hallowed venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre and performed alongside everyone from Railroad Earth and Twiddle to The Infamous String Dusters in addition to playing festivals such as Northwest String Summit, WinterWonderGrass, and more. They’ve released two critically acclaimed albums—Ghost In The Bottle [2017] and Muir Maid [2019]—and a live record, Live from the Wilma [2021]. They broke up 2020 with an EP of Pink Floyd covers entitled Reheated, Vol. 2. It was heralded by a two-night livestream concert, Live From The Cabin, beamed out to audiences from the Bridger Mountains. Additionally, they appeared at the Live From Out There virtual festival and even took over a drive-in movie theater for an in-person gig in between regular writing sessions together throughout the year. Learn more about Kitchen Dwellers HERE.
Bonfire Dub plays a deep and powerful blend of roots music — original songs with rich melodies, featuring downtempo, acoustic laced and electric driven reggae, folk and dub. Bonfire’s lyrical repertoire is inspired by eastern philosophy, indigenous struggles, political injustice, international relief efforts and a deep respect for the soul of love and the balance of nature.
Scotty Stoughton is the lead vocalist, lyricist and acoustic guitar player for Bonfire Dub, with Rodney James Coquia on electric guitar, Jeff Armistead on the keyboard, Mark Levy on percussion, and Trevor Noel Gagstetter on bass. Since 2009, Bonfire Dub has also welcomed fiddle player Bridget Law of the renowned folk music group, Elephant Revival, as a part-time player and full-time family member.
Bonfire Dub’s new 2016 album, “Gypsy Roots,” is a celebration of community and collaboration. The new release has been called “a record for our times.”
About The Runaway Grooms:
Born from the rich culture of the Colorado mountains, The Runaway Grooms are bringing a refreshing take on contemporary jam band music. With pocket grooves, syncopated rhythms, and expansive tones, the band captures elements of funk and psychedelic rock while simultaneously celebrating traditional songwriting roots of Americana music. Dueling guitar solos, 3-part harmonies, and a screaming lap steel guitar, combine to create a unique soundscape that takes listeners through an experiential musical journey.
The Colorado based band formed when frontman, Adam Tobin, met guitarist, Zac Cialek, at employee housing for a ski resort. The two were joined by drummer and long time friend, Justin Bissett, shortly after and formed the original lineup of the band. Bassist/vocalist, Zach Gilliam, and keyboardist, Cody Scott, joined the band in November 2019. The addition of the new members helped catalyse the evolution of the band’s sound.
The band released their debut album ‘Tied to the Sun’ in March 2020 , The release was immediately followed by the global Coronavirus pandemic during which the band continued to develop and write music together. The newly written music contributed to the Groom’s sophomore album, Violet Lane, set to be released October 2021.
