Sturtz and Soultru at Velvet Elk Lounge

Sturtz and Soultru are coming to Velvet Elk Lounge on May 17th. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the show kicks off at 8:00 PM all for $19 (fees included).

NPR’s All Songs Considered described the band as “a reassuring breath of fresh air that pulls me back to simpler times." The quartet – Andrew Sturtz [vocals guitar] Courtlyn Carpenter [cello harmonies] Will Kuepper [bass piano harmonies] and Jim Herlihy [banjo electric guitar harmonies] - is serene and folksy with melodic vocals soaring over the lower string instrumentals. Sturtz just released their second studio album Hyacinth in September 2024 and they're excited to tour on this album for the next year. When they’re not playing music you’ll probably find them milling flour gardening roasting coffee or honing their photography skills. 

For more than 15 years singer-songwriter Terrance Banks has performed music under the name Soultru. For many of those years he worked as a solo act singing soulful tunes or delivering a more melodic rap flow. However he was unaware of the history and roots that shaped him into the artist he is today.

Terrance grew up in Davenport Iowa and Rock Island Illinois within a large family with members who opened for The Temptations (original lineup) Ready For The World The Deele (Babyface and L.A. Reid's band) George Clinton and many others in Davenport Iowa. However many of them eventually walked away from music and Terrance didn't learn much about this until recently.

In March 2024 he decided to expand the Soultru sound and form it as an Indie Soul Band. He added Simon Ertzinger Jake Soltow and Chris Cheers to shows like Mile of Music 11 Merchant Street Music Fest and Des Moines Arts Festival. Soultru is currently working on releasing an LP in 2025 under The Record Machine out of Kansas City MO.

Host or Publisher Velvet Elk Lounge