From The Heartland profile picture

From The Heartland

The bells of the basilica, they call to us...

About Me

‘From The Heartland’ was formed in 2008 when a rag-tag group of like-minded Perth musicians and friends banded together, drawn by a shared love of eclectic music, tempered by a shared love of fine wine, good conversation, and adventurous spirit. It is this foundation upon which the organic sound of the band grew, fueled as much by the experiences and imagery of travel as by the talent and willingness to experiment displayed by every band member, across a vast range of instruments and styles. The resulting fusion of new ideas with antique traditions gave birth to the band as it is today.
The music blends modern song writing form with stylized instrumentation influenced by the traditional folk sounds of Europe, from an accordion on the French Riviera to a trumpet on a Serbian mountainside. This is music designed to paint a scene or tell a fable, equally at home around a smoky campfire as it is in a smoky bar. The lyrics relate tales of love, adventure and an open road that leads the listener back to the ancient European heartland; where gypsies roam, poets lament, and where the only universal truth lies in a bottle and a song.
Equal parts rousing, soulful and evocative, the songs of the Heartland take the acoustic folk you know and turn it into something captivating and new, and, above all, damn good fun.
So top up your glass, don your dancing shoes, and you might just find that there’s a little bit of the Heartland spirit inside all of us...
FROM THE HEARTLAND ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING!
We are in need of an accordion player and a dedicated brass player. Contact us for more details...
UPCOMING SHOWS:
We won't be playing any more shows in June. Stay tuned!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/9/2006
Band Website: songsfromtheheartland.com
Band Members: The Heartlanders:
Andrew Maher - guitars, sax, ukulele, accordion (badly), backing vocals.

Nat Edmondson - lead vocals, trombone, shaker, glockenspiel.
Stafford Smith - upright bass, backing vocals.
Erin Gordon - drums, percussion, trumpet, backing vocals.
Influences: Beirut, Taraf de Haidouks, Kocani Orkestar, The Decemberists
Sounds Like: Old world rhythms that transport you to the deep heart of Europe's past and seat you round a roaring fire where gypsies dance, bohemians drink and lost souls lament - a place of mysticism, revelry and spirit that will not go quietly...
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Live shows

Thanks to everyone who made it down on Thursday night to our first live performance at the Norfolk Basement - it was a great evening and we all had a top night. Thanks also to Gosia/Natalia and to Sev...
Posted by From The Heartland on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:00:00 PST

Brass Player Needed!

'From The Heartland' are currently a 5-piece acoustic indie/folk outfit ready to begin gigging around Perth, and we are looking to complete our core line-up with a dedicated brass player. Our current ...
Posted by From The Heartland on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:39:00 PST

New website + songs

Nat and I stayed up quite late last night working on our brand new website. And we think our efforts have paid off, big time! It's looking awesome and once we fill it with content, it will be a hub fo...
Posted by From The Heartland on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:58:00 PST

Welcome Erin

What a huge month for the band! After a couple of solid rehearsals we're now very proud to welcome Erin on board as percussionist for the band. The elements he adds to the sound are so important and s...
Posted by From The Heartland on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:42:00 PST

Welcome Staf

We’re very pleased to welcome Staf on board playing the upright bass! He’s a huge leap forward for the band, and we’re really looking forward to playing live in the not-to-distant fu...
Posted by From The Heartland on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:40:00 PST

FtH Updates!

Yes, they're coming thick and fast! Today's update is particularly enormous.We've been sitting on it for some time, but we'd like to officially welcome the amazing accordion player, Cathie Travers, to...
Posted by From The Heartland on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:05:00 PST

Not Dead

From The Heartland (no longer Lions Of Sight!) is not dead... nor are we sleeping. Though we're waiting to launch a new website with new tracks and an exciting new look, I think it is enough to say th...
Posted by From The Heartland on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:58:00 PST

The Wind And The Rain, It Howls

Picture a tiny shack adrift from civilisation, standing ramshackle in a grassy valley adorned with ghostly trees. It is dark, and two solemn figures sit punctuated by a roaring fire, which crackles pr...
Posted by From The Heartland on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:41:00 PST

The August Garden Tea Party

"We found a meadow to lay in..."- On The Open RoadIt was a sunny, agreeable August 13th when the Lions of Sight donned their finest bohemian attire for the August Garden Tea Party. With swords unsheat...
Posted by From The Heartland on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:42:00 PST

A Toast To Good Fortune, New Music & The Open Road

Good morning/afternoon/evening, peoples of the world!It has been quite some time since you've heard any news from Lions Of Sight land, and maybe you thought we'd given up the ghost, or perhaps develop...
Posted by From The Heartland on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 05:47:00 PST