Catching Up With Summer Camp On The Road Tour winner, Railway Gamblers

For those unfamiliar, Summer Camp offers an awesome opportunity for bands eager to play Summer Camp Music Festival with On The Road Tour. This year’s On The Road Tour had 16 different dates! I had the opportunity to catch up with one of the final winners and an all around awesome addition to this years fest, Railway Gamblers!

2017 clearly marks big things for them! With a loaded spring tour underway, Railway Gamblers couldn’t be happier to add Summer Camp to the mix. Described as Cosmic Americana fusing elements of folk and rock, the Railway Gamblers sure know how to pull of a unique sound. The band is made up of Brendan Folliard (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Piano), Matt Fricks (Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Sitar Guitar, Midi Keyboard, Effects), Sean Wilmsen (Drums, Percussion, Vocals), and Matt Gizyn (Bass) I was able to catch up with Matt after their win at the Cubby Bear in Chicago. Kyle: For those in the band that have been to Summer Camp before, what does Summer Camp mean to you? Matt: Half of the band has frequented Summer Camp for years. The other two guys will be first timers, and they are in for a treat. It’s like the slogan says, to me, Summer Camp is home. There’s really no better way to explain it. I can speak for us all when I say we’re humbled and thrilled to be playing this year. We hope to gain some listeners by giving our set everything we’ve got. Might I ad, this years lineup is incredible. Looking forward to many many artists this year. It’s an honor to be playing Summer Camp 2017. Kyle: For those who are unfamiliar with the Railway Gamblers, what can they expect seeing you at this years Summer Camp? Matt: We’re a Cosmic Americana group and while we DO jam a little bit and extend instrumental segments of our songs, we put a pretty big emphasis on lyrical writing and supporting that with a palatable sound. The majority of our music isn’t overly-technical or super intricate. But it’s textured. It’s jangly guitar work, riffy bass lines, stomping percussion, and vocals cranked out in reverb. It’s a different kind of rock and roll. It’s a different kind of sound outside of the jam band realm. But those fans seem to really enjoy it. Kyle: Who are the bands biggest musical influences? Matt: The Lumineers, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Mumford & Sons, and The War on Drugs Kyle: How long has the band been together? Matt: The band began in March 2014 – first show was in April 2014, so 3 years. I highly recommend checking out the Railway Gamblers at #SCamp17! Go give them a like on Facebook, and give them a listen below (PS their brand new album is on Spotify!) https://soundcloud.com/railway-gamblers]]>