Hailing From Birmingham, Alabama, the organic sound of Act Of Congress combines hook laden melodies, compelling songwriting, and intelligent acoustic instrumentation that’s rapidly gathering attention throughout the country. Having released their debut album “Declaration” (2008), Act Of Congress’ sound is grounded, approachable and technically masterful. In two short years, the band has been recognized by the likes of Paste Online, SXSW, Disney, and Billboard (chosen from over 2000 submissions to compete and ultimately win the 2008 Disc Makers IMWS Award.) AOC has also worked with Live Nation, opening VIP areas for artists such as John Mayer, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Brooks and Dunn. With lush harmony, articulate instrumentation and a live show that will leave you speechless, Act of Congress’ musical vistas sweep from the ground breaking sounds of Nickel Creek, Mute Math, and John Mayer to the weaving soundscapes one might find sprinkled throughout Matthew Perryman Jones or Radiohead. Timeless compositions of masterful lyrics and musicianship abound throughout each song, combining vintage acoustic instrumentation with sweeping layers of varied musical roots to create a truly magical experience. Chris Griffin (guitar/dobro) and Adam Wright (mandolin/guitar), became friends in college. Wright, a pianist turned guitar player turned mandolin player, says ” After being exposed to progressive bluegrass music, Chris and I both became very interested in modulating our singer songwriter/rock knowledge to acoustic instruments. That style evolved from a casual jam to one that requires an extraordinary high level of musicianship,” Says Wright, “The playing is very demanding. This is not a style of music where you can not play for a month then get up and do a show again. We work really hard on keeping the songs up to par. Vocally, it’s equally demanding as well. But in the end, there’s nothing else we’d rather be doing.” In late “2006, Tim Carroll (upright bass) was hired to perform with Chris on several tracks for Ferret Recording Artist Maylene and the Sons Of Disaster”s II album. A friendship and respect developed between the three, and the notion to create a new progressive acoustic band originated. Almost a year later, Bethany Borg, fiddle champion in ten states, relocated from a two year stint performing in Branson Missouri, and after hearing her play at an afternoon rehearsal, the quartet solidified. From industry professionals to casual music fans, everyone can relate to the group’s sound. Their debut album titled “DECLARATION” produced by Jason Elgin, (Collective Soul, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Lynam) and mastered by Roger Lian (White Stripes, Deftones, Staind) recently Sold Out it’s release concert at Workplay, “One of PASTE magazine’s 40 best venues in America |REVIEWS “Superstar Potential” |-Portico Magazine “Act Of Congress=Fantastic” |-Athens Banner Herald “One of the freshest sounding, exuberant bands in all of the known acoustic universe” |-Dave Higgs, Nashville Public Radio “Act Of Congress brings down the house” |-Chattanooga Times Free press “The Declaration album is a TuneCore staff pick!” |-Tunecore “Wow—- whats in the water where you guys live???? I WANT SOME!!!!!- I KNOW that you will accomplish many many wonderful things in your career if you keep making such amazing music!!”|-Taxi, submission review#19 “The band exudes charisma. It seemed like the group was the sleeper favorite of the day.”|-Flagpole.com “Congratulations to Act Of Congress-The 2008 Billboard Selected Disc Makers Independent Music Awards SE Grand Prize Winner” |-Disc Makers “If you haven’t seen Act of Congress play live, you’re in for a real treat. ” |-Philip Gibson, University Of Alabama Birmingham “What I witnessed was a collaboration of pure talent and passion for music.” |-Monica Gober, The Unsigned Review “Act of Congress perfect three and four part harmonies driven by articulate, fluid, and intelligent acoustic instrumentation take the listener on a great ride!” |-John Mooy-Artist Relations LR Baggs “AOC delivers an acoustic pop,rock,newgrass record full of hook laiden melodies,compelling songrwriting, and burning instrumentals that make you remember why you love music in the first place” |-Birmingham Magazine “ActofCongress was certainly the most professional band to hit the stage, and their musicianship was second to none. These guys could flat out play. ” |-Michael Dunaway, Paste Magazine Online Industry Judge Review ACT OF CONGRESS DATES 9/08-12/09 12/03/2009 07:00 Pm - Samford University-Birmingham,Alabama|11/13/2009 02:00 PM - APCA Conference Houston,Texas|11/12/2009 09:00 PM - Birmingham Museum Of Art-Birmingham, Alabama|10/31/2009 02:00 PM - NACA Convention-Covington, Kentucky|10/24/2009 07:00 PM - Private Show-Birmingham, Alabama|10/17/2009 03:30 PM - Decatur Fest-Decatur,Georgia|10/03/2009 07:00 PM - Walt Disney World-Orlando, Florida-TBA|09/19/2009 04:00 PM - Lees Folk Festival Headline-Leeds, Alabama |09/17/2009 06:00 PM - Alys Stephens Center-InterARTive-Birmingham, Alabama |09/05/2009 07:00 PM - Private Show-Birmingham,Alabama|08/29/2009 07:00 PM - Bottletree w Jon Black/Great Book Of John-Birmingham,Alabama|08/22/2009 12:00 PM - Sam Bush Newgrass Festival-Oakland,Kentucky|08/21/2009 11:00 AM - Video Shoot- Birmingham,Alabama|08/15/2009 04:00 PM - Private Event-Birmingham,Alabama|08/07/2009 08:00 PM - Nightfall Concert Series at Miller Plaza- Chattanooga, Tennessee |07/31/2009 09:30 PM - 8th and Rail- Opelika,Alabama|07/30/2009 08:00 PM - Eddies Attic-Decator Georgia|07/15/2009 07:00 PM - Private Show-Birmingham Alabama|06/26/2009 09:00 PM - Peach Festival Headliner-Clanton, Alabama|06/11/2009 07:00 PM - Arova Contemporary Ballet “Between The Lines”-Birmingham, Alabama |06/06/2009 05:00 PM - Alabaster City Fest (main stage)-Alabaster, Alabama |05/23/2009 06:15 PM - Jubilee City Fest-Montgomery, Alabama |05/22/2009 07:00 PM - Private Event-Birmingham, Alabama |05/16/2009 05:00 PM - Private Event-Birmingham, Alabama |05/16/2009 11:45 AM - Do Dah Day-Birmingham, Alabama |05/15/2009 03:30 PM - Bluegrass Breakdown Taping with Dave Higgs|05/09/2009 03:00 PM - Trussville Dog Daze Festival (Headliner)-Trussville, Alabama |05/09/2009 12:30 PM - Buck Creek Festival-Helena, Alabama |05/02/2009 08:00 PM - Cabin Concerts-Springfield Illinois |05/01/2009 08:00 PM - Cabin Concerts-Springfield Illinois|04/24/2009 06:00 PM - Aldridge Gardens-Birmingham, Alabama |04/21/2009 08:00 PM - Smiths Olde Bar/w Cadillac Sky-Atlanta, Georgia |04/17/2009 06:30 PM - Relay for Life-Homewood-Homewood, Alabama|04/11/2009 11:00 AM - Christ Church United Methodist-Birmingham, Alabama |03/29/2009 08:00 PM - Fight 4 Life Rally-Birmingham, Alabama |03/27/2009 09:30 PM - 8th & Rail-Opelika, Alabama |03/20/2009 07:00 PM - Opening Bell Mosaic-Dallas, Texas |03/19/2009 08:00 PM - SXSW Music Festival-Mother Egan’s-Austin, Texas |03/18/2009 08:30 PM - Dosey Does-The Woodlands, Texas |03/08/2009 02:30 PM - Arova Dance Presents “Between the Lines” AOC In Motion-Birmingham, Alabama |03/07/2009 07:30 PM - Arova Dance Presents “Between the Lines” AOC In Motion-Birmingham, Alabama |03/06/2009 07:30 PM - Arova Dance Presents “Between the Lines” AOC In Motion-Birmingham, Alabama |02/26/2009 08:00 PM - Workplay-Birmingham, Alabama |02/26/2009 12:30 PM - Fox 6 Birmingham-Birmingham, Alabama |02/22/2009 01:30 AM - Folk Alliance-High Horse Records Showcase-Memphis, Tennessee |02/21/2009 03:30 PM - Folk Alliance-Help Me Ronda-Memphis, Tennessee |02/20/2009 09:00 PM - Center for Southern Folklore-Memphis, Tennessee |02/20/2009 03:00 PM - Folk Alliance-3:00 PM-The Annex-Memphis, Tennessee |02/19/2009 10:30 PM - Folk Alliance-10:30 PM-The Annex-Memphis, Tennessee |02/19/2009 01:00 AM - Folk Alliance-First Timer’s Showcase- Memphis, Tennessee |02/14/2009 05:00 PM - Seaside Amphitheater-Santa Rosa Beach, Florida |02/13/2009 07:00 PM - Mars Hill Cafe-Mobile, Alabama |02/07/2009 08:00 PM - Barking Legs Theater w/Cadillac Sky-Chattanooga, Tennessee |02/06/2009 08:00 PM - Edgehill Cafe-Nashville, Tennessee |02/05/2009 07:30 PM - Private Party-Birmingham, Alabama |01/30/2009 03:00 PM - 30A Radio Special-Seaside, Florida |01/24/2009 05:00 PM - American Village Wedding-Montevallo, Alabama |01/22/2009 08:00 PM - Eddie’s Attic-Atlanta, Georgia |01/10/2009 05:00 PM - Private Event-Clanton, Alabama |12/19/2008 07:00 PM - Outback Lodge Opening for “Sparky’s Flaw”-Charlottesville, Virginia |12/18/2008 09:00 PM - The Triple opening for “The New Familiars”-Richmond, Virginia |12/16/2008 07:00 PM - Bongo After Hours Theatre-Nashville, Tennessee |12/12/2008 10:15 AM - Java N’ Jams-Birmingham, Alabama |11/21/2008 02:00 PM - Studio Tracking Christmas Special Release-Birmingham, Alabama |11/20/2008 07:00 PM - Samford University-Harry’s Coffee House-Birmingham, Alabama |11/06/2008 04:30 PM - Birmingham Magazine & Chamber Of Commerce Party |10/25/2008 09:00 PM - Halloween Party-Tuscaloosa, Alabama |10/24/2008 07:00 PM - Lee University-Clemson, Tennessee |10/23/2008 06:00 PM - Botanical Gardens-Birmingham, Alabama |10/23/2008 08:00 AM - Fox 6 Good Day Alabama Morning Show-Birmingham, Alabama |10/20/2008 08:00 AM - ABC 33/40 Morning Show-Birmingham, Alabama |10/19/2008 06:00 PM - A2 Event Opening-Vestavia, Alabama |10/19/2008 01:00 PM - Studio Cover Project |10/18/2008 01:00 PM - Studio Cover Project |10/17/2008 01:00 PM - Studio Cover Project |10/12/2008 03:00 PM - Mt. Laurel-Birmingham, Alabama |10/11/2008 06:30 PM - Private Wedding-Birmingham, Alabama |10/10/2008 07:30 AM - WOCA Radio Interview Live broadcast-Ocala, Florida |09/20/2008 06:00 PM - North Alabama Folk Festival-Cullman, Alabama |09/19/2008 08:30 PM - Atlantis Music Conference 08-Atlanta, Georgia |09/13/2008 02:00 PM - Private Wedding-Birmingham, Alabama |09/11/2008 05:00 PM - Disc Makers Independent Music World Series-Atlanta, Georgia |09/05/2008 09:00 PM - WORKPLAY THEATRE “DECLARATION” CD RELEASE SHOW-Birmingham, Alabama |Instrumentation|Bethany Borg |Tim Carroll |Chris Griffin |Adam Wright Discography|2009 Declaration Full Length|2009 Cover Up E.P.|2008 Love Remains E.P. | |
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