Debut from Steep Ravine - Trampin’ On

Simon Linsteadt, Jan Purat, Andy O'Brien, Alex Bice

Steep Ravine is a folk and roots acoustic based quartet hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area.  Blending equal parts poetic lyricism, deft string-playing, and elements of folk, bluegrass, and gypsy swing, Steep Ravine explores compelling new directions while paying homage to the spirited Northern California landscape the band calls home. TRAMPIN’ ON, the quartet’s debut album of eleven originals, is an ode to Steep Ravine’s musical prowess, melding melodic verse, tight harmonies, and rich instrumentals while showcasing the diverse stylistic musical backgrounds of all four band mates, which also encompass elements of classical, jazz, and funk.



Tracklist:
1. Prairie Rose
2. Wooden Floors
3. No. 37
4. The White Mare
5. Lazy Tide
6. The Waiting Blues
7. Trampin' On
8. Where the River Runs Deep and Green
9. Wildflower Honey
10. Ponderosa
11. C'mon Home

Available on Bandcamp and  iTunes

Simon Linsteadt (guitar, lead vocals) and Jan Purat (violin, vocals) began playing music together back in high school, later moving on to study music at UC Santa Cruz, where they fortuitously met Andy O’Brien (mandolin, vocals) and Alex Bice (bass, vocals). The chemistry and enthusiasm of the youthful quartet was immediate, and within the short year they have been together, Steep Ravine has gained steady recognition, playing a packed schedule of shows in the Bay Area, embarked on their first national tour, made notable appearances at such music festivals as Outside Lands 2013 and  Northwest String Summit 2013.

Simon Linsteadt, principal lyricist and vocalist, penned nine of the eleven songs on Trampin’ On including the instrumental “Where the River Runs Deep and Green.” The remaining two instrumentals, mandolin led “No. 37” and the gypsy-grass driven “Ponderosa” were contributed by Andy O’Brien and Jan Purat respectively. Linsteadt’s timeless buttery vocals weave dreamy songscapes of the Northern California mountains and coast, which he is uniquely inspired by in songs like, “Lazy Tide”, “Wildflower Honey” and “C’mon Home.”  The lead off  “Prairie Rose” and title track “Trampin’ On” showcase the ability of the band to embrace Linsteadt’s vocal lead with sparkling three-part harmony.