Sweet ‘Shine
bio
Driven by the electric vocals and provocative songwriting of Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition Award-Winner, Rachel Laven, Sweet ‘Shine is a tex-grass super group comprised of Laven (Guitar/Vocals/Songwriting), and multi-talented artists Steven Sellers (Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Backing Vocals), Nathan Evans Fox (Fiddle, Backing Vocals), and Jesse Thompson (Bass, Backing Vocals).
“Sweet ‘Shine's limited engagements and modern take on traditional Bluegrass and American forms offer audiences a range of sensitive story-telling and foot-stompin' fun.“ - Tyler Phillips, Conifer Loves Music Series
The four of them live in different cities and each front their own bands: Rachel Laven and Nathan Evans Fox (Nashville, TN) are both solo artists, Jesse Thompson is the frontman for Denton superstars, Levi Cobb & the Big Smoke, and Steven Sellers (also Denton, TX) fronts a dixie jazz band called Bayou A Drink Jazz. Laven & Sellers met in high school at San Antonio's magnet arts school, North East School of the Arts where Sellers studied instrumental music and Laven studied Musical Theatre. Sweet 'Shine, however, didn't form until two years after they graduated, when Laven challenged Sellers to pick up a banjo and the two sought out friends to join their bluegrass project. Steven met Jesse while studying in the Jazz program at University of North Texas, and Rachel met Nathan at a songwriter festival in South Texas. The four have developed their own sound born from traditional bluegrass and their multi-genre backgrounds in Americana, Folk, and Jazz; they call it Texgrass.
Tour dates
Highlight Shows
2019 Welcome Home Fest - Kerrville, TX
2019 Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, CO
2019 Black Rose Acoustic Society - Colorado Springs, CO
2018 Eddie Owen Presents at the Red Clay Theatre - Atlanta, GA
2018 Southwest Arts Festival - San Antonio, TX
2018 Tobin Center with the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio - San Antonio, TX
2017 Oyster Bake - San Antonio, TX
videos
Press Quotes
“Over the Summer, I saw Rachel Laven perform a set at a venue in Colorado. I had no clue that I was in store for one of the most amazing live shows I’d seen in a long while.
Hailing from Texas, Rachel’s music is a mix of bluegrass/ folk/ feminist country, a genre that she’s delightfully dubbed “TexGrass” and that she shines in all her own.
From the moment she took the stage, I was struck by Rachel’s stage presence–her ability to create deep intimacy and high energy all at the same time, her voice, AND her song-writing–which is vulnerable and generously thoughtful.”
Social media
