Stone Senate set to charge up Owego’s Block Party on June 15  

The pre-fireworks show at the 38th annual Strawberry Festival’s Friday Night Block Party features Nashville, Tennessee-based, Stone Senate, who will perform at the Courthouse stage on June 15, from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Currently on their “Run for the Sun” summer tour, Stone Senate touched down in Owego during last year’s fest weekend where they played at Bill’s Restaurant.  

This year, Stone Senate’s pre-fireworks show is set to explode with their self-described southern rock sound, and while compared to the likes of the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd, features their own energetic vibe.

Front man Clint Woolsey (vocals and guitar), commented, “We always put on the best show possible everywhere we go,” and about the Owego show, added, “It will be a good, fun and high-energy time with original music, plus some covers like Waylon Jennings, the Rolling Stones and the Allman Brothers.”

Stone Senate, formed in January of 2010, takes inspiration from multiple genres such as hard rock, bluegrass, funk, metal and classic country.

The band has a full schedule in 2018 and will perform at more than 200 shows across the country. Signed on a few years back with the Erv Woolsey management group, a well-known Nashville company that manages several country superstars including George Strait, the five-piece southern rockers will play at fairs, festivals and bike rallies, among other venues.

In addition to Woolsey, Stone Senate consists of Marcus Brown (guitar), James Beau Edwards (guitar and vocals), Paul Zettler (bass and vocals) and David Zettler (drums and vocals).  Making a guest appearance by adding harmonica flair on selected tunes will be Owego native Chris Sauerbrey, who is the band’s tour and merchandising manager.

Over the course of the last four years, Woolsey remarked that the current ensemble has remained the same.

“It’s been a little bit of a ride, we had a few band member changes early on,” Woolsey said, but now sees the group really starting to gel.

Stone Senate released their first EP entitled “1” back in the summer of 2014, which introduced them to several radio markets across the U.S. and Europe, and followed up with a second record, “Star City,” in 2016. The band often heads to a studio rehearsal room in Nashville where they play and write together. 

Releasing seven singles in the last four years, Stone Senate’s music can be found on Spotify and Pandora, as well as Triple A and Indie radio.

Tunes like “Martha,” the video of which includes footage of the band on the road, is one of several on-your-feet and toe-tapping originals, while more mellow songs like “Lazy River” will leave you reminiscing about summer days gone by.     

“We put out music, promote it and play live,” Woolsey said.

Playing live also means a lot of road time. Prior to landing in Owego on June 15, the band will travel several hours after two shows in New Hampshire. Woolsey chuckled as he described a recent acquisition, a larger van they use to “burn up the road” while on tour. The added legroom is a plus, too.

While burning up the road, Stone Senate’s fan base has skyrocketed. Helping spark that exposure is playing alongside the likes of David Lee Murphy, the Davisson Brothers Band, Uncle Kracker and the Bulletboys, among others. Later this year, Stone Senate will play at an event with Kenny Wayne Shepherd. 

“We have a great following,” Woolsey said.

The catchy band name, however, didn’t come easy.

“Standing out is tough,” Woolsey said, and explained that choosing the right band name took some time.

One name put on the table, “The Shakers,” was already attached to another band, and, coincidentally, by a former member of Bruce Springsteen’s entourage.

No doubt, though, Stone Senate will have fans dancing and shaking at the Block Party on June 15.  Band merchandise will be available for purchase as well.

For more information along with links to their music, visit www.stonesenate.com. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.