Arts Fishing Club makes their musical berth in Nashville, TN and travels primarily throughout the midwest and east coast. Their sound blends modern indie-folk (Gregory Alan Isakov, The Head and the Heart, and Jose Gonzales) with classic 90s jam bands (Dave Matthews Band, Phish, OAR) to create a unique take on acoustic rock that will make you dance one moment and search your soul the next. In addition to the above influences, AFC has been compared to Edward Sharpe, Jack Johnson, Ray Lamontagne, and Kaleo. After completing a 1,600 mile 60+ show walking tour from Maine to Nashville as one of The Walking Guys(Google us!), Christopher Kessenich (guitar/vox) focued on piecing together the members of Arts Fishing Club.
"On AFC’s debut EP:The music drips with genuine reflection on classic stylings, including a bit of blues, pop, and certainly what we might call classic rock. If you’re looking for a nice “kick back and enjoy” album, you can’t go wrong with Arts Fishing Club.” - Greg Jones / Ear To The Ground Music
aka JIMS & his Mandareenians
Since 1996, at the ripe age of 11, JIMS has been performing his unique blend of styles and movements that have held a profound influence through the years. Holding frontman/guitar duties with his early projects Code Red, GDS and Prick B. Mafia, once he reached his 20s he started up his longest project to date, Sweet Ray Laurel.
During the same period he was moonlighting as a drummer in Silver Bridge Disaster then as guitar and vocalist in Good Night Noises. Soon after he picked up the sticks again for Martin Luther & The Kings and then Smoke Signals… respectively.
In addition to two unnamed new secret projects, JIMS continues to play with Sweet Ray Laurel and Smoke Signals… while also performing solo.
Alone on the stage armed with just an acoustic guitar and loop station, his songs reflect a love for all styles of music ranging from punk, world, folk and everything in between. The years of influence and experimentation with various groups has helped mold a unique, concise and focused approach which, is evident in his compositions.
Always opting for the most visceral and vulnerable outlet, his solo output is every bit of raw, in-your-face, personal and delicate as you may expect as a document of such a storied sonic past.
JIMS is currently in the process of producing his debut solo album which, should see a release during Summer of 2015 on the label//collective he helps curate with his older brother, AndRecordings.