The sound of Soul Folks carries the authenticity that their name suggests. This trio generates tunes with appeal for all walks of life through their love of making music laden with stirring harmonies and skillfully blurred genre lines.
Adam Fichtelberg (guitar, vocals, banjo, percussion) grew up playing metal music with bass player Angelo Benedetto, before he connected with singer Alyssa Allen in college. Soul Folks’s sound is far from heavy, but Fichtelberg credits his background with influencing some of the darker “colors” present in their songs. The light, sweet voices of Allen and Fichtelberg in harmony combine with his folky lyrics and Benedetto’s funky jazz touch on the bass to make a sound that is captivating, enjoyable and fresh. It can be compared to indie bands like The Head and the Heart, The Civil Wars and Bright Eyes when they play originals, but their cover repertoire skates playfully all over the map. Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and The Beatles all get the Soul Folks treatment at gigs, and audiences connect.
“We love making music, and we love that we appeal to different kinds of people for different reasons,” Allen says. “From an old Rasta man to Dead Heads to young hip kids. It’s really meaningful to us.”
Soul Folks have been found playing the Riverside Arts Festival in Allen’s native Easton, at Pearly Baker’s and Porter’s Pub, as part of Bethlehem’s Tunes at Twilight roster, and just about anywhere music-loving crowds congregate around the Valley. The three sink into what they’re doing onstage with the magnetic focus of a passionate band, and whether it’s a big stage or a cozy listening room, you’ll find yourself drawn in.
Check out their SoundCloud to listen and follow them on Facebook for upcoming gigs!
