Kind Hearted Strangers is an evolving cast of musicians led by singer/songwriter Marc Townes. Tracing its origins to the foothills of Colorado, 2025 finds the band creating and touring out of Nashville, TN. As the name implies, the project acts as the primary vessel for Townes’ artistic endeavors, as he has been joined by a variety of musicians for each album cycle. With a foundation built on well crafted songs, KHS has evolved into a dynamic live band capable of bridging the gap between all out rock n’ roll and harmony-driven acoustic roots.
The band’s latest LP entitled “Now.here” features a collaboration with visual artist/painter Dylan Lynch. This immersive project found the group working in a shared Richmond, VA warehouse space for 5 days. With no prepared material, the artists intentionally put pressure on themselves to create and deliver a Live Concert & Art Exhibition at the end of the week. The resulting album contains brand new material that was recorded live with the same raw energy and passion KHS has been delivering across the country during their busiest era of touring to date.
Homegrown in the rich music scene of Virginia, The Wilson Springs Hotel is a 5-star quintet brought together within a union of genres – a high-energy folk act committed to rock & roll, bluegrass and classic country. Forming in 2021, the band released two albums in quick succession, while growing a steadfast audience from their fiery and memorable performances out on the road. The group is named after a historic hotel in Lexington, Virginia, home of lead vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Jacob Ritter. 2024 found the band releasing a handful of singles that showcase an even more thoughtful and driving sound. Ritter’s lyrics cover a plethora of subjects, from love and loss, and one’s internal growth as a result, to the relatable woes of the modern working man. Songs such as “Pulling Weeds” (featuring sweeping melodies from fiddle player Brendan Boylan and guitarist Victor McManus), explore the struggle with repetitive mental loops, much like attempting to get nutrients out of the same-old spent garden. The bouncy, danceable, and crowd-pleasing sound of “Two Step Man” takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to noting the finer aspects of a new relationship, while being driven by a toe-tapping country shuffle courtesy of drummer Stephan LaRue and bassist/backing vocalist Andrew Carper. Through its constant growth, the band remains unwilling to conform to a single genre, as is evident in the way that this newer material celebrates the many influences instilled by the variety of sonic backgrounds each band member brings with them. Having had multiple appearances at wonderful regional festivals such as DelFest, FloydFest and Rooster Walk, it’s no secret that The Wilson Springs Hotel is best experienced in a live setting. They expertly package dynamic performances full of raw emotion, humor and storytelling, with song-by-song showcases of each player’s talents. You will undoubtedly enjoy the many lovely amenities offered to you during your stay with The Wilson Springs Hotel.