We're giving away a pair of tickets to Wednesday night's show via the Live & Listen Facebook page. Click the link to our FB page, share this post, and tag a friend in the comments for a chance to win!
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It’s safe to say that the night before Thanksiving has become a highly anticipated occasion for the Birmingham music scene. Local favorites Winston Ramble have created what feels like a tradition that's here to stay at Saturn Birmingham, and they're back for round three on Wednesday night. Many will recall last year's rager, which also featured rising "jam grass" stars The Mountain Grass Unit, and this year's bill is equally exciting.
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Following a special acoustic Ramble set at 8:45 PM, local legends Little Raine Band will be kicking off what's sure to be a killer set at 9:45 PM. Simply fantastic news for any Birmingham music enthusiast. The roots between these two bands run deep, and if history is any indication, you can expect an evening of heavy collaboration ahead. If I can give anyone reading one piece of advice today, go ahead and purchase your tickets in advance. I'd be willing to bet this one sells out by showtime, and it's just not worth the risk. Click here to snag those tickets while supplies last.
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To make things even sweeter, this show marks the 10th anniversary of Winston Ramble, and what a decade it's been. This folk-rock powerhouse officially took form as a three-piece from the free state of Winston County (AL) back in 2013, and they've been entertaining crowds across Alabama and beyond ever since. Wednesday night’s opening acoustic trio set will be a perfect, fitting nod to the band’s humble beginnings.
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Just a few days ago, I had a chance to catch up with Ramble's Justin Oliver (mandolin / vocals) and Andrew “Ben” Benefield (guitar / vocals) to discuss the anniversary, this week's show, and the latest on what's been keeping the band busy. Check out the conversation below and make sure to head over to the Live & Listen Facebook page, share this post, and tag a friend in the comments for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Wednesday night's show!
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The band is officially celebrating its 10 year anniversary as we close out 2023. When looking back over the past decade, what stands out when reflecting on the band’s evolution?
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Justin: There’s been so much that has happened that has helped form us into what we are now. Growing as musicians, exposure to different influences, changes in band members, as well as getting older and experiencing more of life, while trying to incorporate it into what we’re playing. It really doesn’t seem like ten years, but looking back, I can hear the changes if nothing else. And it still all feels like Ramble.
. How is the band feeling about it’s current iteration, and what does the future look like for Ramble?
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Justin: This iteration feels like home. We’ve really fallen into our own sound and leaned more towards it throughout the years. We’ve come a long way since the acoustic trio we started as but every iteration and member from the past until now has played an important role to us finding our sound now. We’ve always had a kind of open interpretation to everyone playing their own parts as they see fit. There’s a freedom and vulnerability that comes with that which has always allowed us to play into each others talents and stay true to our original vibes on a new level. . Wednesday night marks the 3rd year in a row that Ramble has played the night before Thanksgiving at Saturn. How has this become such a special tradition for the band?
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Justin: It’s always been a big night for us and probably the show we put the most energy into each year. We put thought into the song choices and they all mean something to us for this show. And this year is no different. We’ll kick off the night with a short acoustic set, much like we started. Our musical brothers in LRB fit perfectly and we’ve probably shared the stage with them more than any other band throughout the ten years. We’ve planned our set to include songs from our biggest influences, local bands we’ve loved, and choice tunes from the whole Ramble catalog. Personally, this show just kicks off the holidays right, in my mind, every year.
. It’s been a while since Ramble’s last studio release. I’ve heard through the grapevine that you guys have something exciting in the works. What can your fans expect from this session?
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Ben: Well your sources are correct! We recorded a single recently in the Shoals and are hoping to release it soon. It’s a pretty straight forward rock’n’roll tune that Ramble does best, back to basics for us in a sense. It’s called “Whole New Way” and you will for sure hear it on Wednesday.
. . When looking ahead to 2024, what are a few of the goals set out for the band next year? What should the Ramble faithful be most excited about?
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Ben: We’re not trying to be on the road as much as we have been in the past, but we’ll still play regularly and plan on diving deeper into some new original material. We’ve really cracked the code to what our sound is and want to focus on capturing it in a studio setting as we know it now. We’re also toying with the idea of a live album, so be on the lookout for that too.