Frischzelle | FOREST RAY (USA) in Darmstadt

Description

The American band Forest Ray gets the basement stage rocking. What began in 2015 as purely a recording project has long since become an integral part of the indie and psych-folk scene. Forest Ray blends guitar-driven psychedelic rock with elements of garage rock, folk, and organ-heavy pop, a sound that feels both retro and timeless. Musically, Forest Ray falls somewhere between “Britpop meets country” and “The Band covering obscure Beatles songs”, as aptly described by the music blog Artist Home. Their songs sound like the perfect soundtrack for a long, dusty road trip through the American wilderness, earthy, dreamy, and full of atmosphere. Frontman Peter Sumic is a master storyteller. Using classic instruments like guitar, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel, harmonica, and percussion, the band creates a sonic mosaic that deeply moves the listener. Their latest album, *Windfucker* (Jebivjetar), was hailed by KEXP as “a solid blend of Americana, psych, and indie rock.” The press agrees: Forest Ray are an analog experience. LOUDER THAN WAR calls them “the embodiment of garage rock,” while THE STRANGER describes their music as “psychedelic, nostalgic, and physically palpable.” If you’re into handmade music with soul, you won’t want to miss this evening. Forest Ray bring the magic of the ’60s into the here and now, raw, honest, and mesmerizing.