Blue Heart's Revelry

Blue Heart's Revelry has been performing throughout the Lehigh Valley since the band's initial formation in 2012.

It took six years and a handful of lineup changes for the Easton-based bluegrass-folk group to find their musical comfort zone -- the result of which has led to an ever-evolving sound.

"The basic incarnation was a three-piece. We were way more bluegrass than we are today," vocalist-banjoist Lucas Sutphen said during a March 21 phone interview. "With all of the different members coming and going, we definitely got a little louder and a little more rock 'n' roll; a little more high-powered, if you will."

Blue Heart's Revelry will open Saturday's "Stage on Stage" concert at the State Theatre in Easton. The show will also feature performances by New Jersey-based folk-pop trio The Happy Fits and Nashville's Forlorn Strangers.

During "Stage on Stage," fans and bands will share the theater's historic main stage, which will be transformed into a club-style atmosphere. (The first "Stage on Stage" concert, held in January, featured Americana-rock outfit Acoustic Kitty Project and blues rockers The Trongone Band.)

RELATED: PHOTOS: The Trongone Band, Acoustic Kitty Project rock State Theatre's main stage

"It's an opportunity not really given to local bands. It's such a rare occasion," Sutphen said of the concert. "I'm really looking forward to being on the stage... It's the oldest, most historic (venue) in Easton and to be given the opportunity to be there and share the stage with other fantastic acts and show our hard work is really special."

Blue Heart's Revelry released the album Until You're Gone in 2017. Sutphen said the band had begun writing music for the album but put it on hold with the addition of vocalist-guitarist Joe Burley and violinist Dan Stevens in early 2016. He said the group is hoping to release a five-song EP this summer.

"We got a lot of songs that haven't been recorded yet. We have a lot of catching up to do," he said. "it's been kind of a wild ride."

Sutphen said the appeal of bluegrass and folk music lies in its rawness and simplicity. "It's bare bones and anybody can relate to it. I believe that without heart and soul, there's no reason to write a song."

Blue Heart's Revelry will perform Saturday, along with The Happy Fits and Forlorn Strangers, during "Stage on Stage" at the State Theatre in Easton. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door.

"Stage on Stage" is presented by radio station WXPN, and sponsored by DustinSchoof.com and EM Acoustics. - Dustin Schoof

Sometimes, the chase doesn’t always lead us where we would prefer.

That seems to be the underlying theme of Blue Heart’s Revelry‘s video for “Bad Decisions,” from their 2017 release “Until You’re Gone.”

The video features vocalist/banjo player Lucas Sutphen, with flowers in hand, literally chasing after a runner he so desires (played by Caitlin Hughes). It takes Lucas a while and, we would assume, at least a few miles before giving up the chase, resigned to contemplate his loneliness on a park bench.

The video — directed by Anthony Antonelli, produced by Karl Bohn, and edited by Adam Barbato — is below. - Underground Music Collective

Blue Heart’s Revelry are a five-piece out of Easton, Pennsylvania with a penchant for riveting, folk-laden Americana. Their new album, Until You’re Gone, features eight memorable tracks — and is available for streaming in full below. Charismatic vocals and fluid musicianship are on display on each track, with highlights including “Violence”, “Coffee and Cigarettes”, and “Virginia”. The latter does a great job of showcasing the talent quintet’s sound, with Dan Stevens’ vibrant string work providing a melodic backbone to the bouncy acoustics and lead vocals, which remind fondly of The Waterboys’ Mike Scott and that group’s general folk-laden arsenal in general. The central hook, which pleads “I’m sorry Virginia, I just tried to make it work,” pours with emotion and heartfelt charm. It’s one of many memorable tracks on this very impressive release.

The band is presently playing a variety of shows to considerable acclaim, around the Easton area. - Obscure Sound

Last month, we reviewed “Violence,” a single from Easton folk band Blue Heart’s Revelry. At the time of its release, its tale of pain and anguish served as a precursor to the band’s forthcoming album, “Until You’re Gone.”

Indeed, the band’s full-length effort features songs about the trials we experience in our interpersonal relationships, adding a hint of melancholy to even the album’s most up-tempo tracks. All of this is done solidly within the sonic context of old time Americana, making for eight selections that would make Johnny Cash proud.

Within that framework, Blue Heart’s Revelry showcases its musical flexibility. The opening track, “Coffee & Cigarettes,” starts off with an ambient, alt rock touch, adding a layer to the band’s folk foundation. There’s an element of fun to stomp-along tracks like “Bad Decisions” and “Virginia,” with the latter seeming to draw inspiration in its opening strings from the gospel traditional, “This Little Light of Mine.” “Try Honesty” is a fun, strum-along tune featuring an effective fiddle solo and lyrics that come to terms with one’s own faults.

Another highlight is the closing track, “Lack of Heart,” which features soothing, stripped down guitar picking to underscore poetic verses.

Track listing:
Coffee & Cigarettes
Until You’re Gone
Bad Decisions
Virginia
Try Honesty
Moonshine
Violence
Lack of Heart - Underground Music Collective

Hailing from Easton, Blue Heart’s Revelry has released the first single from their forthcoming, eight-track album – and it’s a tale of heartbreak and anguish.

“Violence” features the vocals of Lucas Sutphen and Joe Burley, who trade lead duties and each have a distinctive grit that projects the range of raw emotions that follow a breakup. A pointed sense of anger and bitterness permeates the verses, suggesting that this song speaks to a relationship that is far from resolved.

Instrumentally, “Violence” is rooted in the traditions of old time country and bluegrass. The simple, minimalist opening recalls Johnny Cash before strings and percussion create the tune’s strong rhythmic backbone.

The climax of “Violence” begins around 3:15 and features a sweet, shimmering violin solo from Dan Stevens. At 4:10, a sing-along melody begins featuring the lyrics, “If I broke her heart / would she even break a slience / She loves to kill with kindness / It’s her favorite kind of violence.” This, despite the morbid subject matter, is a fun and enjoyable moment that is sure to go over well during live performances.

Listen to “Violence,” the new single from Blue Heart’s Revelry, below! - Underground Music Collective