Artist Feature: Judah & the Lion

Photo courtesy of Stunt Company 

From smooth sounds to youthful tunes, Judah & the Lion have a folk, bluegrass vibe, like no other band. The band consists of Jadah Akers (vocalist, guitar), Brian MacDonald (mandolin), and Nate Zuercher (banjo). They met back in college in 2011 and have been playing music together ever since. The band has a folk-styled sound that stems from their deep roots of their hometowns. Though they have a folk like sound, it also has hints of pop, rock, and more. Their collective sound comes from their wide variety of musical influences.

They have topped the charts and released an EP in 2013. As they played shows in their hometown, then later on around the southeast, their fan base quickly grew. Judah & the Lion’s rock-folk infused tracks were quickly embraced due to the young band’s strong spirits and strides in the music scene. They have performed at some of the top music venues as well as taking on huge festivals, such as the Americana Music Festival.

Currently, they are on tour with Mat Kearney and Parachute, supporting Mat Kearney on his North American tour. You can check out their confirmed 2015 tour dates below.

Judah & the Lion 2015 Tour Dates:
March 5th @ The Knitting Factory in Spokane, WA
March 6th @ Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA
March 7th @ McDonald Theatre in Eugene, OR
March 8th @ Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR
March 10th @ Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, CA
March 11th @ The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA
March 13th @ The Complex in Salt Lake City, UH
March 14th @ Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO
March 17th @ State Theatre in Minneapolis, MN
March 20th @ Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, MI
March 21st @ Riviera Theatre in Chicago, IL
March 22nd @ The Phoenix in Toronto, ON
March 24th @ Best Buy Theatre in New York, NY
March 25th @ House of Blues in Boston, MA
March 27th @ Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA
March 28th @ The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD
March 30th @ The Ritz in Raleigh, NC
March 31st @ Charleston Music Hall in Charleston, SC
April 2nd @ Iron City in Birmingham, AL
April 3rd @ The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA
April 4th @ Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN

After the success of two EPs, the band hit the ground running making more new music. Their current album, Kids These Days, features tracks that express their young spirit and tells their unique story of life and as musicians. The album was recorded back in March 2014 and has 11 songs. They have intricately strung together both old and new sounds.

Photo courtesy of Stunt Company 

One of my favorite tracks off of their album is “Twenty-Somethings” because of smooth sound and lyrics. It sends a message that it is okay to not have everything figured out and even though it is scary to not have a set plan, that it is also liberty to know that you can go anywhere in life. It is an anthem for the ones who are in limbo between trying to remain a kid and becoming an adult. It is okay to run free and be liberated.