Arlen w/ Simon Cropp

Arlen band bio: A keen group of three of the Midwest’s finest Americana singer-songwriters – Kyle Shelstad (Barbaro), Lee Henke (The Last Revel), and Soren Staff (Them Coulee Boys). The trio blossomed during a chilly February weekend in 2023. The three longtime songwriting friends met at a studio in Minneapolis with Nate LeBrun (Humbird) to see what would happen if they tried creating music together. The chemistry was immediate, the vulnerable early stages of song-crafting were easy, and the new group found enjoyment in the freedom to express themselves in an environment where no idea was a bad idea. As one would expect, the vocals are strong, the harmonies close-knit and the songwriting poignant.

Simon Cropp Bio: Simon Cropp is a flatpick guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and folk songwriter. His performance is equal parts dive bar bravado and fireside introspection. Simon’s songwriting style is plainspoken storytelling, channeling classic country themes of love, heartbreak, and the landscapes he travels through. Both as a solo act and with his band Slapdash Bluegrass, Simon has shared stage with songwriting inspirations in The Last Revel, Possessed by Paul James, Margo Cilker, Clay Street Unit, and Joseph Huber. Simon logs thousands of miles as a touring multi-instrumentalist, equally comfortable on pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, and bass. With a dreadnought guitar in hand, Simon’s flatpicking style blends country-inspired crosspicking with melodic sensibility to produce a sound that is as comfortable on a front porch as it is on a festival stage.

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