Grace Bowers Announces Debut Album with Eric Fortaleza on Bass

The record consists of nine soulful tracks including a version of Sly and the Family Stoneโ€™s โ€œDance to the Musicโ€

Grace Bowers Announces Debut Album with Eric Fortaleza on Bass

The record consists of nine soulful tracks including a version of Sly and the Family Stoneโ€™s โ€œDance to the Musicโ€

Guitarist, songwriter and bandleader Grace Bowers will independently release her highly anticipated debut album,ย Wine On Venus, August 9th. The new album adds to a breakout year for Bowers, who was recently selected as a U.S. Global Music Ambassador as part of the U.S Department of State and YouTubeโ€™s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, is nominated for Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2024 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards and will make her debut performance on the legendary Grand Ole Opry on her eighteenth birthday, July 30, 2024. Other performances this year include shows supporting Slash, The Red Clay Strays and Brothers Osborne as well as stops at Levitate Music & Arts Festival, Floyd Fest, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Bourbon & Beyond, XPoNential Music Festival and Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival. See below for complete tour itinerary.

Produced by John Osborne (Brothers Osborne),ย Wine On Venusย captures the electric energy of Bowersโ€™ live performances with The Hodge Podge. The record consists of nine soul-infused tracks including a new version of Sly and the Family Stoneโ€™s โ€œDance to the Musicโ€ as well as previously release single, โ€œTell Me Why U Do That,โ€ of whichย Forbesย praises, โ€œan infectious, joyous party and a worthy introduction to Bowers.โ€ Additionally,ย The Bluegrass Situationย declares, โ€œan exceptional breakout talent who seems primed for a long career to come,โ€ whileย RIFF Magazineย calls her โ€œThe next generationโ€™s star of American rock, blues and funk guitar.โ€ย 

Of the record, Bowers shares, โ€œIโ€™m so excited to share my first album with the world in August! Itโ€™s been a long time coming, and Iโ€™m proud of what was created with the incredible Hodge Podge and John Osborne producing. We recorded everything live, as it should be, for this sonic journey. I hope you love it as much as I do.โ€

Additionally, of the title track, she reflects, โ€œMy nana was 100 years old when she passed away last year. She would always tell me that when she died, she would be drinking wine on Venus. She was a little eccentric but thought that was just something so cool. When she passed, I wrote a song about it.โ€ 

In addition to Bowers (guitar), the record features Joshua Blaylock (keys), Brandon Combs (drums), Eric Fortaleza (bass), Esther Okai-Tetteh (vocals) and Prince Parker (guitar) as well as songwriting collaborations with respected artists such as Ben Chapman, Meg McRee, Maggie Rose and Lucie Silvas.

Originally from the Bay Area and now calling Nashville home, Bowers began garnering attention after sharing videos of herself playing guitar on social media during the pandemic. In the years since, sheโ€™s been featured on โ€œCBS Morningsโ€ in a piece focused on a new wave of young female guitarists, performed alongside Dolly Parton as part of her Pet Gala special on CBS, joined Lainey Wilson as part of CBSโ€™ New Yearโ€™s Eve Live celebration, performed as part of the โ€œMenโ€™s Final Four Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissanโ€ and been sought after by everyone from Devon Allman to Tyler Childers and Susan Tedeshi to Kingfish. Of her 2023 Newport Folk Festival debut, Rolling Stone declared, โ€œHer 20-minute performance gave the distinct sense that everyone lucky enough to have attended was witnessing a star in the making,โ€ while The Tennessean calls her โ€œa 17 year old Blues guitar prodigy,โ€ with a, โ€œheart as big as her talent is vast.โ€ 

Most recently this summer, Bowers performed alongside Billy Idol at the Fired Up For Summer benefit concert and raised $30,000 for MusiCares and Voices for a Safer Tennesseewith her 2nd Annual โ€œGrace Bowers & Friends: An Evening Supporting Love, Life & Musicโ€ benefit show. With the release of Wine On Venus (distributed by The Orchard), Bowers will further establish herself as one of musicโ€™s most intriguing new artists.

For more information, please visitย gracebowers.com

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Bass Magazine   By: Bass Magazine