Cherry Suede

Cherry Suede

Cherry Suede is a group led by Randy Scott and Randy Young. The band is built around a close relationship with its audience and a view of music as a shared experience rather than a one-way performance. Scott has described success in terms of hearing people in the crowd sing along, seeing that the songs have connected with listeners in the same way they connect with the band.

Background and influences

Before becoming musicians, Scott and Young are fans of pop and rock artists including the Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams and Tom Petty. That fan-first outlook shapes how Cherry Suede presents itself, with an emphasis on the bond between performers and listeners.

Music and release model

After playing six nights a week and releasing a well-received disc, the band reassesses how it operates and moves away from more traditional music-business approaches. Cherry Suede chooses to give away its music under a Creative Commons licence, allowing fans to download, distribute and remix the songs as long as the band is credited and the music is not resold. This approach helps the group build a wider fan base, with listeners sharing the music and bringing new people to the band.

Fan community

A dedicated fan community develops around the group, known as the Cherry Suede Brigade. The band organises special trips and events for these supporters, and the community continues to grow through live shows and online activity.

Live shows and Hometown Tour

Cherry Suede is also known for its live performances and for trying to involve fans directly. To create a different kind of concert experience, the band develops the Hometown Tour. Through this, supporters host acoustic Cherry Suede performances in homes, back yards and camp-outs, then show the band members local places of interest. These shows are recorded, and parts of them are posted on the band’s website. The group also arranges road trips to shows, all-night events and giveaways, treating live appearances more like hosted gatherings than standard concerts.

Approach

Cherry Suede presents itself as a band that puts connection, participation and reciprocity at the centre of its work, combining songwriting and performance with an unconventional model of fan engagement.