WILD WEST FEST: LORD HURON IN (FREE) CONCERT JUNE 7

03 Jun WILD WEST FEST: LORD HURON IN (FREE) CONCERT JUNE 7

Free admission, donations appreciated at the door, reservations suggested for Lord Huron Concert

Lord Huron

As part of its annual Wild West Fest 22-year tradition, the Sheridan Arts Foundation hosts its annual benefit concert Friday, June 7, 2013. The event features the Los Angeles-based group Lord Huron. Admission is free, but a donation hat will be passed around. Proceeds will benefit the Wild West Fest, which in turn supports young people from challenged environments, in town for the week.

The doors of the Sheridan Opera House open at 7:30 p.m. for a night of entertainment that begins with performances by the drama, dance and Rock ‘n Roll Academy Wild West Fest mentorship groups, an excellent opportunity for the community to learn about the SAF’s commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America who travel to Telluride each year for this  gathering.

Lord Huron is a musical and visual project created by Ben Schneider. Originally a solo act, collaborators now include Mark Barry (percussion, vocals), Miguel Briseno (bass, percussion) and Tom Renaud (guitar, vocals).

Schneider was born in Michigan and started playing music as a child, on his father’s acoustic guitar. The senior Schneider wasn’t a musician by trade, but he had learned to play during his downtime while in the Navy. Schneider’s father would bring out the instrument from time to time, most often on summer nights around the campfire on Lake Huron..

Schneider studied art in college and moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue a career in the visual arts, however, music remained a regular pastime. Passions often intertwined and Schneider wound up composing music for various visual art projects over the years. His work was continually inspired by his outdoor explorations, landscape, and water in particular.

In May 2010, Schneider traveled home to Michigan, spending a week on the shores of Lake Huron. For several months before, he had been writing songs and designing artwork in Los Angeles –  though he wasn’t sure exactly where his ideas were headed. At the lake, Schneider recorded the three songs that would comprise his “Into the Sun EP,” which quickly gained traction online. Schneider set out to recruit musicians to help him translate his recordings into a performance. Lord Huron’s first performance was August 2010.

The band has since released a second EP, which gained attention from critics and fans alike. The group now tours heavily, playing across the country with gigs at venues such as South by Southwest, Outside Lands and Lollapalooza.

In January 2012, Lord Huron signed with independent label, IAMSOUND Records. The first full-length album from Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams, was released September 2012.

Tickets and information: sheridanoperahouse.com or 970.728.6363 x5

To preview Lord Huron, watch this video from a recent performance in Brussels: