Shannon Vetter is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, their sophomore release and full album “Holding Pattern.” was released in March of 2024. They were born in Maysville, KY, and currently live in the Louisville area,
Shannon plays saxophone, guitar, keys, percussion, mandolin, clarinet, and most anything as long as you're not too particular about what it sounds like. In recent years, they have collaborated with bands like: Zu Zu Ya Ya, Mr Please, Vezl, Big Atomic, Solid Rock'it Boosters, Quite Literally, and Gideon’s Rifle.
Their current band The Sleepless Pilgrims consists of a an all-star team of Louisville musicians: Anna Blanton on fiddle, Steve Sturgill on guitar, Billy Lease on drums, Ben Vogelpohl on Drums, and Shannon switching between guitar and saxophone. The band gets rowdy. It’s americana, it’s folk rock, it’s blues, it’s southern music, it’s Kentucky music. You’re gonna love it.
Shannon Vetter
(they/he)
Songwriter &
Multi-Instrumentalist
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Some of the hardest working and best kept secrets within any music community tend to fly under the radar, establishing themselves as a side-person or other supporting role. It’s exciting to discover the totality of their talent when one of these multi-instrumentalists cracks out of their shell to release their own material.
The latest example of this sort of reveal out of Louisville, Kentucky is Shannon Vetter, of bands Vezl and Big Atomic. An accomplished saxophonist, guitarist, teacher, and songwriter, Vetter is releasing a new collection of songs titled “Holding Pattern.” Backed by a stellar studio ensemble, this sophomore solo effort includes a who’s who of Louisville talent, ten original songs, and collaborations with Scott. T Smith, Chris Radahaffer, Anna Blanton, Todd Hildreth and more.
Whether he’s in the driver’s seat, belting out his own emotion filled lyrics,or hiding in plain sight lifting up the folks around him, Shannon Vetter is always a torchbearer of honesty, taste, and tone.
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“Vetter’s music is revolutionizing the folk and Americana genres. The Americana genre, a conglomerate of various American music, forms from the amalgam of shared culture and tradition within the U.S. Specifically, Americana emphasizes the musical history created in the American South. Vetter adds emotional depth, musical diversity, and a queer flare to a genre embedded in rather heteronormative, intolerant roots. ”
“Kentucky’s Shannon Vetter released their album Holding Pattern came out in March. The album is a delightfully winding tour through the recesses of Vetter’s mind — whimsical, jazz-inspired, and just a little bit acerbic”
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Stepping out from his roles in the traditional bluegrass stylings of VEZL and the jazzy funk of Big Atomic, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Shannon Vetter stands in the spotlight on his sophomore solo album Holding Pattern, delivering a 12-song journey through the heart of Americana, ranging from the soulful album opener “Strange Year,” the bluesy rock of “Down Tonight” and “Great Divide,” the folk-tinged country of “Love You Better” and “Musician’s Lament,” the newgrass stylings of “Stone Age” and “Piney Mountains,” even experimenting with ragtime on “Ode to a Drunk Girl” and New Orleans-style jazz on “Boundaries Baby.”
The tremendous lineup of local talent — including Scott T. Smith, Chris Rodahaffer (Bonnie “Prince” Billy/Roadie), Anna Blanton (Arianna Barton & The Bourbon Britches/Jericho Woods), Todd Hildreth (Todd Hildreth Trio/Squeeze-bot), Ryan Nottingham (Bad Ass Brass), and several others — provides a rich foundation for Vetter’s expressive vocals. And it’s easy to get lost in the stories and melodies of Vetter’s emotion-filled lyrics, which explore themes of love, longing, and the human condition. Holding Pattern is a wonderful work of art that showcases Shannon Vetter’s songwriting and musical talents. With its evocative lyrics and an ensemble of top-notch musicians, this album is a must-hear for anyone who appreciates emotional depth and musical diversity within the Americana genre.
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The name Shannon Vetter is so synonymous with music that it is nearly shocking to hear that his upcoming release, Rapid Cycle, is his first solo album
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