Way Up South is a northern band with deep southern rock roots. Way Up South’s music goes in directions and to places beyond the Southern Rock or Jam Band genres, and has earned them the right to call their music “Big Sky” sound, incorporating a maturity and musicianship that weaves in and out of southern, blues, country, jazz, and Americana rock songs with precision and finesse that still retains the loose spacey qualities that are the hallmark of improvisational rock. Listening to one of their many extended jams, you will be transported to those natural wide open spaces in your mind where you can breathe easy and do some soul dancing. Fresh vocal harmonies, instrumental virtuosity, and dynamic energy transference between the musicians and the audience are the hallmarks of Way Up South.

Recorded almost exclusively live in bassist’s John Brigham’s home studio, the band’s debut album truly reflects the “Big Sky” sound that characterizes a Way Up South live show. The band insisted on producing the CD LIVE, with no extra special studio effects or add-ons, so they could give the fans an experience akin to seeing the band in person. The decision was made not to set any limits on time or the length of the jams so that fans would get a real taste of the signature Way Up South “Big Sky” sound. Says guitarist Charley Carrozo, “Most of all, we made a record that represents our aspirations and passions. That is why we are all so proud of this record. The album was recorded with no restraints on the music…The sound of Way Up South is supposed to be felt as much as heard, just like at a live show, and between the mixes and the performances I think we achieved that with this first album.”

Charley has been writing songs for twenty four years and dusted off many of his more southern or country sounding songs for this project. With a message for a hopeful future, the song Further On opens the EP much as it would a Way Up South live show. Featuring guitarist Paul Ferguson on the slide guitar, the song Country Time sets the live “good times” tone, talking about living in the moment with a positive eye to the future. Things take a dark turn on the critically-acclaimed song Ghost; “This is a song you immerse yourself in, as though it were a river, and when you emerge you find yourself clean again” raves Victor Infante of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Mid-set staple "Until Then," co-written by guitarist Paul Ferguson and sung by Bubba Maider, is a beautiful love song infused with an epic building guitar solo. Track 5, Just One Night, is a good-time song riffing on the age-old themes of casual rebound sex that always gets people dancing. Finally, Down Like Rain caps-off the EP with a classic southern rock jam, including an epic organ solo by Dave Osoff and slide solo by Paul Ferguson.

The band’s live shows always feature a heavy dose of their signature original songs that fit in well with a diverse array of choice cover tunes, such as Whipping Post by the Allman Brothers and Willin’ by Little Feat. Even when Way Up South plays other covers that are not from the Southern Rock repertoire, like “Turn On Your Love Light” a Bobby Bland song made famous by the Grateful Dead (played as a jazz rock tune) or “Big Shot” by Billy Joel (played like a blues rock tune), they take the audience out of their comfort zone by playing them in styles that makes them familiar and new at the same time.

The members of this six-piece band and their musical backgrounds prior to joining the band are just as varied and diverse as the music they play together. Way Up South is: Paul Ferguson (Nibot, D and The Heavyweights) on lead guitar and vocals; Jeff "Bubba" Maider (Nibot) on piano and vocals; Charley Carrozo (Another Planet, Sun Jones) on guitar and vocals; Dave Osoff (Vykki Vox, Jiggle the Handle) on organ and keyboard; John Brigham (the Knot) on bass; and AJ Vallee (The Peacheaters) on drums. These veteran musicians have also played as supporting musicians in a variety of other projects: Another Planet was Merle Saunders’ backup band; John Brigham played with members of the Allman Brothers; Dave Osoff played with Little Feat, Leon Russell, Spindoctors, and Widespread Panic; and AJ Vallee played with The Southern Rock All-Stars (featuring members of Marshall Tucker Band, Molly Hatchet, and Blackfoot) and with Grammy nominated Doug Bell. Still other members of Way Up South have been on bills with Derek Trucks, Rusted Root, Merle Saunders, JGB, The Radiators, Aquarium Rescue Unit, and moe., to name a few.