The Recording Academy Texas Chapter recently played host for GRAMMYs On The Road at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, held Oct. 12–14 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists performing at the festival, including folk/rock band the Avett Brothers and country/rock group Old 97’s.
The Avett Brothers’ Scott and Seth Avett discussed performing for larger crowds versus smaller audiences, their songwriting process and stories from touring, among other topics.
“It’s interesting figuring out how to process the energy of so many people and to try to provide for them an energy that matches it without just collapsing,” said Seth Avett on performing to larger audiences. “But I think we do that pretty well.”
It’s been a consistent steady climb for North Carolina’s the Avett Brothers, the folk/bluegrass project formed by brothers Scott Avett and Seth Avett.
After breaking through with their 2007 album, Emotionalism, the Avett Brothers garnered the attention of GRAMMY-winning producer Rick Rubin, who signed the band to his American Recordings label. Rubin produced 2009’s I And Love And You, which peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. In 2011 the group made an impressive debut on the GRAMMY stage, performing with Bob Dylan and Mumford & Sons on the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.
Rubin returned to the fold to produce The Carpenter, the Avett Brothers’ new album due Sept. 11. The album features 12 tracks, including the opening ballad “The Once and Future Carpenter” and the first single “Live And Die.”
“I don’t think anybody can tell you anything,” said the Avett Brothers’ upright bassist Scott Crawford. “Just like your parents trying to tell you something, it’s makes you want to do the opposite. You gotta make your own mistakes or have your own successes.”
Watch our full interview with the Avett Brothers here.
Three-time GRAMMY winner Keith Urban will headline the GRAMMY Foundation’s signature benefit Starry Night concert on July 23! Rising folk combo the Avett Brothers will open the benefit.
Tickets for Starry Night go on sale June 11 at 10 a.m. PST.
