Event Description
Band of Brothers Tour
Public
John Vaughn (lead vocals/guitar) and Ben Lapps (drums) started writing songs in a basement as a duo before being joined by Matt Alvarado (bass) to form their current lineup, PUBLIC. Using their roots in classic rock and indie-pop, the band released their first EP, Red, in 2012, solidifying a strong fanbase in their hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. Quickly after, the band found themselves on the road supporting acts such as Walk the Moon, Twenty One Pilots, Young the Giant, as well as participating in major festivals like Forecastle, Bunbury, CMJ, and SXSW, giving them exposure to a variety of crowds and fanbases.
Following the release of their second EP, Let's Make It, and embarking on their first national tour supporting Walk the Moon, the band was invited to work with producer Eric Palmquist (Mars Volta, Bad Suns) in Los Angeles, CA. With their new touring experience, as well as the creative atmosphere of a new environment, the band embraced the influences of alternative and pop sounds to craft their 2015 single, Heartbeating. Released while on a national tour with Oh Honey, the single received nods from reputable blogs like Kings of A&R ("The trio makes their mark with an effortless sense of harmony and entertaining musicality") and Good Music All Day ("Heartbeating presents PUBLIC as a rising rock band with a contagious indie style").
As momentum continues to grow, PUBLIC looks to make a big impact with their upcoming releases in 2016, carrying a message that someone's identity can be found outside the lines of what's expected or acceptable. The music and lyrics are there to communicate honest experiences and express the vulnerable truth that PUBLIC is made up of three humans that desire to use music as a means to connect.
Magic Giant
Coming off of a blazing set at Coachella, with Billboard singling them out as one of “10 Awesome Bands” playing this year's massive fest, and LA Weekly calling them “Cool as Folk,” LA-based MAGIC GIANT has been thrilling growing crowds at every stop along its 70-city North American and European tour, celebrating the release of its debut album In The Wind (Concord Records) and its acoustic album counterpart.
With appearances on the Today Show and in Rolling Stone as one of "10 Artists You Need to Know,” the group has toured with acts ranging from The Revivalists to Mike Posner; played shows with bands such as The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, X Ambassadors, Vance Joy, and Foster the People; performed to thousands at festivals ranging from Firefly in Delaware to Electric Forest in Michigan; and was recently tapped as one of the bands to join headliner Bruno Mars at Bottlerock in Napa this spring.
DuJour has proclaimed Magic Giant “the most festive band in the festival circuit, quickly becoming a must-see.” Its style has been described by NPR as "upbeat, passionate indie-folk” and by Billboard as inspiring “mass dance-alongs." Its initial single "Set on Fire" broke the top 25 on the US Alternative chart and top 5 on Spotify’s US Viral chart; its current single “Window” leaped into the Top 40 on Billboard's Hot AC and Adult Pop charts; and the new acoustic album debuted in the iTunes Alternative top 25.