Illiterate Light thrives on subverting expectations. Though just a duo, the Harrisonburg,Virginia-based singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman along with Nashville, Tennessee-based drummerJake Cochran make surprisingly pummeling and thoughtful alternative rock. Since the band’s2015 inception, they’ve intently focused on their unorthodox live show with Cochran standingbehind his kit and Gorman playing synth bass with his foot as he sings and strums his guitar.Fiercely egalitarian and independent, the two not onlysplit up songwriting duties andarrangement ideas, they even built bike-powered stages: bringing the fans into the liveexperience and envisioning a greener future for shows.But with their latest albumSunburned, out January 27 via Thirty Tigers, Gormanand Cochranhave turned their attention inward to their songwriting and studio craft. It’s their most fully-realized and ambitious LP yet, one that’s full of immediate songs that update and revolutionizethe band’s approach to making music. There are richkeyboard and programmed percussiontextures now populating their songs, as well as soaringly anthemic choruses, and hefty dosesof fuzz. “On our first record, we were very live-focused and wanted to make sure whatever wewere writing was translated in person,” says Gorman. “Without that crutch, we could be moreadventurous and take more risks. We definitely weren’t timid in the studio.

Named one of NPR's 10 Nashville Bands to Add to Your Playlist, Arts Fishing Club’s music is spreading across the globe.  Their sound has been described as a mixture of the Kings of Leon and The Grateful Dead.  Songs are rooted in lyricism and spread a gamut of rock, folk, and indie music. They've shared stages with Lovely the Band, Max, Nappy Roots, The Eli Young Band, Hanson and have had showcases at notable festivals Mile of Music, and Summerfest.  For fans of:  Mount Joy, Caamp, Wild Rivers, Bon Iver, Wilderado. The name ‘Arts Fishing Club’ is an homage to lead singer Christopher Kessenich’s grandfathers (Colonel Arthur Kessenich & Arthur Schmidt). The name serves as a reminder to approach music in the way they taught us to fish: go out every day with the sincerest intention for success, casting out again and again despite the inevitable empty-handed reels.  A successful day of fishing is not determined by what you end up with at the end of the day but rather the beauty of the action itself along with the presence of the moment in nature.  Fishing, music, and life are about the adventure they take us on and the people we get to share it with.  Music is our great adventure and Arts Fishing Club is about being in the boat with the people we love.