| Dates | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 06/22/2013 | Paddlefest Finish Line Festival Cincinnati |
10:30am-2:30pm |
| 06/22/2013 | The Trolley Stop Dayton, OH |
9pm |
| 06/23/2013 | Private Party Northern Kentucky |
3pm |
| 06/29/2013 | Private Wedding Blanchester, OH |
4pm |
| 07/12/2013 | Barrio Tequileria Cincinnati, OH |
9pm |
| 07/13/2013 | Plain Folk Café Pleasant Plain, OH |
7:30pm |
| 07/26/2013 | Front Street Cafe New Richmond, OH |
7:30pm |
| 07/27/2013 | Arnold's Bar & Grill Cincinnati, OH Tito's Old Time Music Festival |
tba |
| 08/02/2013 | 50 West Brewing Cincinnati, OH |
5:30-7:30pm |
| 08/09/2013 | The Trolley Stop Dayton, OH |
9pm |
| 08/10/2013 | Hamilton Co. Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series Miami Whitewater Park Harrison, OH |
7-9pm |
| 08/13/2013 | Western & Southern Tennis Tournament Landen, OH |
Noon-2pm |
| 08/15/2013 | Bluegrass on the Bandstand Washington Park Cincinnati, OH |
7pm |
| 08/16/2013 | Adjust Your Eyes Festival Southgate House Revival Newport, KY |
8pm |
| 08/20/2013 | Riverbend Music Center, Time Warner Stage before Goat Rodeo Sessions Cincinnati, OH |
6:30pm |
| 08/24/2013 | Stanley's Pub Summer Fest Cincinnati, OH |
6-7:15pm |
| 08/31/2013 | Metamora Music Festival Metamora, IN |
3-3:50 |
| 09/07/2013 | Arnold's Bar & Grill Cincinnati, OH |
9:30pm |
| 09/14/2013 | Barley Island Brewing Co. Noblesville, IN |
9pm |
| 09/21/2013 | Fort Ancient Bluegrass Festival Lebanon, OH |
TBA |
| 09/21/2013 | Plain Folk Café Pleasant Plain OH |
7:30pm |
| 09/26-28/2013 | Midpoint Music Festival Cincinnati, OH |
TBA |
| 10/26/2013 | York St. Cafe Newport, KY One More Girl on Stage |
10pm |
| 11/27/2013 | Plain Folk Cafe Pleasant Plain, OH Thanksgiving Eve Bash! |
7:30pm |
| 1. Late | Sawyer |
Please download flash. |
| 2. The Devil's Den | Sawyer |
Please download flash. |
| 3. Somerset Blues | Sawyer |
Please download flash. |
| 4. Temptation and Sin | Firefly |
Please download flash. |
| 5. Firefly | Firefly |
Please download flash. |
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"Hartford's Bend" wins the 1st John Hartford Memorial Festival Songwriting Contest!
Scott's tribute to John Hartford was chosen as the best of the 16 entries at the Festival this year, and he and Jim performed the song on the main stage on Friday afternoon. Later during the festival we actually met Tom Martin, the man who built Hartford's Bend, John's home on the Cumberland River. Overall a fantastic experience and a wonderful festival.
- Sawyer nominated for CEA Album of the Year, now available on iTunes
Our 2nd album, Sawyer, is now out and available. Reviews have been great, and it was even nominated for a 2013 Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Album of the Year. You can find it at local record stores in Cincy such as Shake It Records and Everybody's, or digitally on iTunes, Spotify, and most other digital download services. Or you can be old-fashioned and purchase it directly from the band, either at our shows or by contacting us at HickoryRobot@gmail.com. We'll ship it right to you!
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A recent review from BluegrassSpin.com:
WKRP is no longer my favorite thing from Cincinnati. Check out the infectious musical stylings of Hickory Robot and try not to become an instant fan. The smoky sounds and “easy on the eyes” looks of lead singer Lauren Schloemer will blow you away as will the fine musicianship exhibited by her band mates. Jim Pelz on guitar, Scott Carnder on mandolin, and Mike Georgin on bass round out this quartet. Of course, Lauren isn’t afraid to pick up a fiddle or keep rhythm on the washboard when called for. With the recent release of “Sawyer” this Americana / Newgrass/ Country band has all the right ingredients to enjoy some crossover success if they can connect with a more mainstream audience. Of course, I wish them all the success in the world but I want to discuss their bluegrass roots and why you should want to listen to them.
Give a listen to several of the tracks from “Sawyer” as featured on their website at http://www.hickoryrobot.com/ and you’ll see what I mean. I am listening to the first track “Late” and the fact that this is their sophomore album is clear to me. Beautiful production and great use of the band’s assets. I’d stack this song up against anything I am hearing on Country FM radio these days. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, ReverbNation, iTunes and more. This band has fully embraced the digital age.
Cincinnati had best enjoy this hometown band while they can. Just like Tom Sawyer, I’d say their ready to set sail. Hickory Robot’s adventure is just beginning. Come along for the ride, won’t you?
And here's what Mike Breen of Citybeat had to say about Sawyer:
Citybeat Magazine Sawyer Review, 10/17/2012
• Gifted, progressive local Americana/ Newgrass/Country/Pop quartet Hickory Robot returns to record store shelves (cyber or otherwise) this week with its new album, Sawyer...The band scored some nice buzz in the Americana underground with its 2010 debut release, Firefly, but Sawyer has some serious mainstream crossover potential. The songs on the album are as creative and diverse as ever (from swaying ballads to shuffling Bluegrass), but the band members’ wider range of influence is more ingrained in the sound and a stronger, natural Pop element emerges. Not the sheeny big-hat Country Pop of Nashville, but the cooler Bluegrass-driven style of Pop that artists like Alison Krauss have perfected. Like Krauss and her band Union Station, the playing is flawless and inspired, guided by great vocals and melodies. If Sawyer reaches the right ears, Hickory Robot’s future is neon-bright.
Midpoint Music Festival Guide Review:
"Hickory Robot's lyrics, like the band's name, have a whimsical air to them, layered over top of a progressive blend of Bluegrass, Jazz and other Americana forms. Though adventurous and unique, Hickory Robot also has a marketable sound, meaning with a little love and dedication on behalf of fans, they could easily become "The Next Big Thing" out of Cincinnati. And, really, can we ever have too many big things? The band's new album 'Sawyer' is slated for a mid-October release and could well be Hickory Robot's "golden ticket" to the broader acclaim and recognition it deserves."
Dig: Artists who understand the Americana blueprint, but aren't afraid of augmenting it with new, modern ideas. (Deirdre Kaye)
"Hickory Robot hail from the fertile acoustic soil of Cincinnati, Ohio. The original trio of guitarist Jim Pelz, mandolinist Scott Carnder, and fiddler Lauren Schloemer came together in 2008 and by 2010 had released an album of critically-praised originals entitled Firefly. 2011 saw bassist Mike Georgin complete the quartet and a year of constant gigging that resulted in a Cincinnati Entertainment Award nomination for best Bluegrass band.
In October of 2012 the band released their 2nd album, Sawyer, to even greater acclaim, and a Cincinnati Entertainment Award nomination not only for Best Bluegrass Band (2nd year in a row), but also for Album of the Year. Citybeat Magazine's summation: "stellar songwriting"; "impeccable musicianship".
Jim Pelz brings a lyrical brand of storytelling and a sophisticated harmonic sense to his songs that engages the listener on multiple levels. His guitar playing complements his writing with a unique and fluid sound devoid of the usual picker’s clichés, finding new paths over familiar landscapes.
Scott Carnder writes songs often drawn from the traditional themes of bluegrass but arranged with with an ear raised on equal parts Motown and classic rock. His mandolin playing also reflects a broad range of influences, with strong rhythmic drive, deep pocket, and flowing melodic lines ready to take flight.
Lauren Schloemer, a natural singer of great dynamic range, power, and depth, takes those songs and makes them her own, delivering emotive and riveting performances. Equally remarkable is her expressive and adventurous fiddle-playing, which seemlessly melds a beautiful, classically-influenced tone to a warm, country soul.
Bassist Mike Georgin plays both upright acoustic bass and 5-string fretless electric bass. His playing percolates with chords, slides, and counter-melodies, providing not only a striking foundation for the rest of the band, but another superb soloist as well.
The band, brought together by friendship born of a shared love of acoustic music, songwriting, and live performance, have created a music that reflects those varied backgrounds while developing a unique and multi-faceted personality all its own."