Bio Singer/songwriter, bandleader, and human being Samantha Bowers was born in the small town of Derby, Connecticut. Sam first began writing songs at age 12 while taking piano lessons and listening to Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Freddie Mercury playing on the family stereo. By 16, Sam developed a love of jazz and began to study the great female vocalists of the century (mainly Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Sarah Vaughn) as she started to perform original compositions in local Connecticut and New Jersey venues. She would go on to release the LP ‘Hopeless’ (2010, age 15) and EP ‘Celebrate My Heart’ (2012, age 18).

In short, The Friends are the band. A rotating cast with some core all-the-time members. (Pictured below, we are gorgeous)

Most often, we are an 8 piece band consisting of a rhythm section, a horn section, keyboards, and two back up singers. On a grander scale, The Friends is the community of followers, artists and creatives who help us in the creation of these songs and this world. Our mixing engineer, band photographer, graphic designer, budget manager, and everyone who hangs around our shows supporting our vision.

https://www.sammyrae.com

Esor Rose is an eclectic indie neo-soul band based out of Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 2018, Esor Rose consists of Tekowa Lakica on vocals, Tristan Sayah on guitar, Jordan Aaron on drums and Benjamin Gelfand on bass. They have played such venues as Real Art Ways in Hartford, Wherehouse in Hartford, and NuBlu 151 in New York City, as well as a live session at the University of Connecticut which was broadcast on the Connecticut radio station: WHUS. They are currently in the process of recording their debut album.

https://www.facebook.com/esorrosemusic