Folk-Rock With Teeth! Whether they're at a brewery pub, a music festival, or on a street corner, Grand Rapids Michigan-based power trio The Northern Skies plays “bluegrass, Americana, and Celtic music and pours it through an indie rock funnel to distill something that sounds like a party out in the back yard. And yes, there is moonshine at that party" (Revue Magazine Grand Rapids, MI). With over 120 regional and national bookings a year, The Northern Skies maintain a dedicated pace and show no sign of stopping (visit www.thenorthernskies.com for touring schedule).

The sound is created by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eric Engblade and rounded out by a dynamic rhythm section comprised of Nic Cole-Klaes on bass and Paul Wozniak on drums and percussion. Each musician is as talented as they are versatile; together with “Engblade’s clear, strong vocals [that] give power to his lyrics,” (Ludington Daily News, Ludington MI) their sets are rounded out with performances on mandolins, banjos, and more in any given set.

Some of their accomplishments include opening for national artists and bands such as Greensky Bluegrass (2011), The Ragbirds (2011), Paul Thorn (2010), and comedian Mike Birbiglia (2007). They are also making a splash in the summer music festival scene with performances at The Beaver Island Music Festival (2011), Hiawatha Music Festival (2011), Hoxeyville Music Festival (2010), The Wayfarer Roots and Bluegrass Festival (2010), The Royal Oak Arts, Beats, and Eats Festival (2010, 2009) as well as other regional community art/music festivals. In the Fall of 2009, they were selected as finalists in the Great Lakes Song Writing Contest for their song "Mission Accomplished" (www.GreatLakesSongs.com).

Hailed as a "beautiful", "up-north, front porch masterpiece" (Recoil Magazine, Grand Rapids MI) their fourth and most recent album, "Northern Skies," was recorded at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, MI. The 2009 album reflects each season of their home state of Michigan, a journey that begins in haunting January, and continues through a changing landscape "awash in Americana instrumentation and modern songwriting" (Recoil Magazine, Grand Rapids MI). The spirit of each month is captured with eclectic style and diverse instrumentation, an American sound of "acoustic, bluegrass-tinged folk that perks up your ears with an infectious, indie-rock sheen" (The Grand Rapids Free Press, Grand Rapids MI).

After the release of "Northern Skies", The Northern Skies were signed by national booking agent Joe Choma of Grand Circus Media. Since then, they have been touring the country receiving tremendous airtime and playing live on stations such as WNMC, WDET (w/ host Ann Delisi, Michigan Public Radio), WLNZ, WMOM, WYCE and many others. Currently, they are tracking a new album at Mackinaw Harvest studios in Grand Rapids, MI with producer Michael Crittenden (Pop Evil, Hello Dave, Drew Nelson) that will be released in the fall of 2011.

Please visit their website at www.thenorthernskies.com for their touring schedule and other information. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.