This Frontier Needs Heroes

This Frontier Needs Heroes

This Frontier Needs Heroes is a folk and Americana group originally from Brooklyn, New York, and now based in Jacksonville, Florida. The group centres on singer-songwriter Brad Lauretti, with Sadie Frederick on vocals and violin, Cash Carter on drums, Ryan Vogel on bass, Adam Kurtz on pedal steel, and Jon Loyd on keys. Their sound is described as moving from an earlier eclectic indie rock mix toward a more direct folk/Americana approach, while still drawing on indie folk, acoustic and alternative elements.

The band releases have included a self-titled debut, The Future, Hooky and Real Job, which is identified as their fourth studio album. Real Job is recorded by Jesse Mangum at Glow Studio in Athens, Georgia, and features additional instrumental support including guitar, violin, drums, bass, pedal steel and keys. The album is associated with a more concise, straightforward folk sound than earlier work.

Lauretti writes the songs over a two-week period in October 2015 during the Stetson Kennedy Songwriting Residency at Beluthahatchee Park in Fruit Cove, Florida, a place linked with Woody Guthrie and Stetson Kennedy. The songs are presented as lyrically detailed and politically engaged, with titles including “It Don’t Make No Sense,” “I Love Immigration,” “My Heart Tells Me Yes,” “Colorado Camping Catastrophe,” “Don’t Let the Dreamers Die,” “Never Gonna Be The Same” and “Everyone’s In My Dreams.” The group is described as a protest-oriented act with songwriting at the centre of its work.

This Frontier Needs Heroes also builds a live reputation through extensive touring in North America and Europe, performing in clubs, houses and festivals. Their appearances include Folk Alliance International, Magnolia Festival, Hickey Fest, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, Gram Parsons Guitar Pull, Jazz Fest After Dark, One Spark After Dark, Athfest, Clean Water Music Festival, Connection Festival, Daytrotter, Savannah Stopover, WDVX Blue Plate Special and the Stetson Kennedy Foundation Literary Landmark Celebration. The group also wins the Artsville Songwriting Contest.