Twenty years ago, Wesley Schultz saw the future.

Back then, growing up in the New York City suburb of Ramsey, New Jersey, Wesley spent his days drawing side by side with his best friend, Josh Fraites. Today, as bandleader of The Lumineers, Wesley’s replaced his pencil with a guitar, his drawings with songs, and plays side by side with Joshua’s younger brother Jeremiah. He still practices a lot, and it still turns out good.

But The Lumineers’ story didn’t come so easily.
It begins in 2002, the year Jeremiah’s brother, Josh, died from a drug overdose at 19. Amidst the loss and grief, Wes and Jer found solace in music, writing songs and playing gigs around New York. After battling the city’s cutthroat music scene and impossibly high cost of living, the two decided to expand their horizons. They packed everything they owned—nothing more than a couple suitcases of clothes and a trailer full of musical instruments—and headed for Denver, Colorado. It was less a pilgrimage than act of stubborn hopefulness.

The first thing they did in Denver was place a Craigslist ad for a cellist, and the first person to respond was Neyla Pekarek, a classically trained Denver native. As a trio, they began playing at the Meadowlark, a gritty basement club where the city’s most talented songwriters gathered every Tuesday for an open mic and dollar PBRs. Neyla softened Wes and Jer’s rough edges while expanding her skills to mandolin and piano. And so The Lumineers sound took shape; an amalgam of heart-swelling stomp-and-clap acoustic rock, classic pop, and front-porch folk.
In 2011, an eponymous, self-recorded EP led to a self-booked tour, and before long The Lumineers started attracting devout fans, first across the Western US, then back in their old East Coast stamping grounds. Young, old and in-between, they’re drawn by songs like “Ho Hey” and “Stubborn Love,” Americana-inflected barnburners in the vein of the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons. They’re drawn by songs like “Slow it Down” and “Dead Sea,” slow, sultry ballads that suggest the raw revelations of Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams. They’re drawn by the live Lumineers experience—a coming-together in musical solidarity against isolation, adversity, and despair.

The roots revival of the last few years has primed listeners for a new generation of rustic, heart-on-the-sleeve music—the kind that nods to tradition while setting off into uncharted territory. The Lumineers walk that line with an unerring gift for timeless melodies and soul-stirring lyrics. It will all be on display soon, on the band’s first full-length album, due in March.

Born out of sorrow, powered by passion, ripened by hard work, The Lumineers have found their sound when the world needs it most.

Like all families, Kopecky Family Band beats with the same heart and writes in the same blood. 'The Family' began creating music together in Nashville, Tennessee in the Fall of 2007. What began as late night talks about life and dreams gradually flowed into eccentric and beautiful music that has led to numerous tours, including adventures to CMJ, SXSW and Bonnaroo, three EP releases and friendships across the country.

Meet the Kopecky Family Band from Nashville:

Leading the family are singers Gabe and Kelsey, along with Steven (lead guitar), Corey (bass), Markus (cello), and David (drums). The music is emotive, and evokes raw honesty and vulnerability, whilst capturing your attention through its unmistakable power and presence. The sounds created by the booming and orchestral-like 6-piece challenge the listener's ear while still offering sweet melodies to sing along with.

The family has a time-line with oodles of notable events including their 2008 CD release party for the Embraces EP. The party was the talk of the town with its theatrical décor, black tie dress code, and opening act of a string quartet. Excitement continued into the fall of '09 when the Kopecky Family's performance took the Next Big Nashville Music Festival by surprise.

In the spring of 2010, it was time for the family to pack into their 15-passenger van (which was lovingly called "The War Wagon") and head to Austin, TX for their showcase at SXSW as one of ASCAP's notable bands to watch. A follow up performance at Next Big Nashville in 2010 had A & R reps scurrying to put their Blackberrys away and listen. When in the studio with Partners in Crime, Russ Long and Chris Grainger (Wilco, Sixpence None the Richer), the Kopecky clan produced The Disaster EP which was released in August 2010.

The Kopeckys followed up SXSW with a mammoth CMJ 2010, where they won over NPR's own Bob Boilen and were invited to play at the official Paste Magazine showcase before becoming the darlings of 'Store-Cute' and online retailer, Fred Flare.

Straight back into the studio after CMJ, the band produced the follow up to The Disaster, the perfect compliment entitled Of Epic Proportions. The EP is comprised of digital B-Sides & rarities, featuring crowd favorite "Howlin' at the Moon", and a remix of "God & Me" that explores the band's varied and broad scope to produce amazing and diverse sounds.

Since then, the band released a limited edition split 7″ vinyl with Seattle friends Ivan & Alyosha, and returned to Austin yet again for SXSW. The band played the infamous Paste Magazine showcase, Schubas Day Party, Next Big Nashville and performed for Austin's KUT during the festival. And to keep themselves really busy in 2011, the band attended Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival for the first time as performers. Notching up 3 amazing sets during the festival and amassing several new friends and fans along the way.

Kopecky Family Band at Bonnaroo - view from the drumkitBack again in the studio in 2011, the band is writing and recording new tracks, so ready yourself for a new release later in the year. Anyone who encounters the Kopeckys will testify there is never a dull moment in this family of six.