The Delta Troubadours, a rock ‘n’ roll band signed to Swamp Records, will be performing in the 2017 Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival, which runs from March 2 to March 5. The band landed this spot through the “Destination Okeechobee” competition, put on by ReverbNation.
After a busy social media campaign that prompted band member Gytis Garsys to get locked out of Facebook and Instagram messaging for 24 hours, the band beat out 3,200 other bands by winning the popular vote. This victory allows The Delta Troubadours to have their names listed on the same lineup as The Lumineers, Kings of Leon, Flume and Wiz Khalifa, among others.
The four members of The Delta Troubadours are Gytis Garsys (vocals, guitar, keys), Jon Franklin (bass, vocals), Ian Heausler (lead guitar, vocals) and Max Rowe (drums). All Tampa natives, the men knew one another in high school, but they did not join forces and start performing together until just about two years ago.
Since then, the band has performed regional gigs, including Gainesville’s High Dive just last Friday and larger events like Tampa’s 2016 Gasparilla Music Festival.
On playing such a huge show in the band’s hometown, Garsys said “(Playing Gasparilla) was a treat … it was special.”
Since it originally came together, Garsys said the band is “still steeped in the blues,” as they have been, but they are “opening (themselves) up to stylistic opportunities” as well.
According to Garsys, the band has been busy writing new music over the past year and has hours of studio time lined up for the weeks ahead. Fans can expect new releases from The Delta Troubadours this spring and more live performances in the coming year.
For now, of course, the band is looking forward to the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival. For fans coming out to the festival, Garsys “promise(s) to put on the best damn rock-n-roll show they’ve ever seen.”
