SMOKE & THE POET WITH SPECIAL GUEST, BRENT FUNKHOUSER

Smoke & the Poet is a young and hungry Country band taking Virginia by storm. Touring behind their debut album, “Road From Virginia”, the band is led by North Idaho native, Joey Kuplack, whose catchy melodies and poetic lyrics call you back to country music of old while maintaining a gritty edge, which makes them accessible to young and old alike.

High energy and exuberance lead the charge and sweep audiences into a musical experience rife with poetry drawn from real life experiences and love of adventure.

This 6-piece outfit is highlighted by driving fiddle, commanding lead guitar, banjo, bass, and drums which serve as a seamless backdrop behind the soul-stirring lyrics of Kuplack: a marriage of old and new which leaves audiences refreshed and wanting more.

“Make no mistake, Smoke & The Poet’s newest song, ‘One Trick Pony’, flies in the face of the band, who themselves are anything but a one-trick pony” -DC Music Review

“Smoke and The Poet should be on your radar. They may not be big now, but we are sure they will one day be the next big thing.” -DC Music Review

https://smokeandthepoet.com/home

BRENT FUNKHOUSER
“Funkhouser’s brand of ‘Virginia-grown Americana’ is just beginning to blossom.” - Alchemical Records

Brent Funkhouser began writing songs to quell his adolescent boredom, and quickly fell head-first into a life-long obsession. Growing up in a small town on the edge of Appalachia meant entertainment options were limited, and music provided a creative remedy. Not quite fitting the mold of country despite his Shenandoah drawl, Brent half-jokingly describes his music as y’alternative (or as a friend once said, “not redneck, but redneck adjacent”).

Today, Brent is a dyed-in-the-wool troubadour with hundreds of shows under his belt. Live performance has taken him from the hills of western North Carolina to the coastal communities of Rhode Island, winning over attentive audiences and opening for legends like Judy Collins and Phil Vassar along the way.

Brent’s achingly uplifting lyricism is punctuated by his storytelling prowess. His 2021 debut full-length The Next Karaoke Star was propelled by a fan-powered vinyl campaign and received attention from Whiskey Riff and Adobe & Teardrops. Brent’s upcoming releases showcase his writing at it’s sharpest, embodying sympathetic characters and accented by a poetic flare.

https://www.brentfunkhouser.com