COPE offers an array of audial influences that recall the pleasures of yesterday while hinting at the promises of tomorrow. Roots-rock passages blend seamlessly with bluegrass, funk, reggae and electronic breakdowns accented by soaring vocal harmonies that provide a smooth swagger, seducing audiences to the dance floor. Dennis Stadelman’s aggressive runs on guitar and banjo intertwine with the complex flourishes of Juan Montero’s scintillating saxophone and layered keys that vary from honkytonk to new skruncher. Kenny Stadelman lays down complex harmonies on bumping bass beats driven by Dave Gerulat’s funky delirium powerhouse drumming, on one of the most sophisticated drum kits in the industry. COPE has humbly played with many great guest musicians, and at countless festivals including Wanee, Bear Creek, AURA, Blackwater and Orange Blossom Jamboree. Most recently, COPE was invited to play in their home state of Ohio at Rootwire 2012. Their albums “Going Home” (2009) and “See” (2011) were both nominated for Home Grown Music Network’s Album of the Year. The creative quartet offers a brilliant blend of melody and harmony balanced with tightly-arranged and well-composed numbers that demonstrate an appreciation for song craft…all while throwing the boogie down.

The seeds of COPE were first planted in Ohio as a family band featuring the brothers Stadelman and their cousin, guitarist Roger Pinkerton. Developing their core musical values over several years, the band relocated in the south in 2004 joining forces with drummer Dave Gerulat. Pinkerton departed, and COPE retooled with the advanced skillset of multi-instrumentalist Juan Montero, adding a dimension of sophistication. Dubbed the “Undisputed Jam Kings of Tampa Bay” by Skipper's Smokehouse’s talent agent, the band ventures forward into its second decade primed and ready for exploration and discovery. Joining forces with Hoplite and Brotherly Love Productions in 2012 has elevated the already steady buzz that permeates this family vibe. With an army of devoted fans, COPE gives everyone something new to fall in love with!

BIG Something is an alternative rock group with a BIG groove. A tight six-piece ensemble that brings arena sized grooves to every stage they play. This is funk, fit for the future, featuring crystalline synths, wailing saxes, and guitars that shred established musical boundaries. Their debut album “Stories from the Middle of Nowhere” was recorded in Raleigh, NC with Grammy-nominated producer John Custer and was named the Home Grown Music Network’s Best Studio Album of 2010. Each song is something special: catchy and charming, layered and soulful, with colorful characters that embody the best and worst in us all. One listen will lead to many and you’ll realize you’ve discovered that BIG Something. Winners of the Home Grown Music Network’s 2010 “New Band of the Year” award.

In December 2011 BIG Something released “Mad Science: Live at the Costume Ball”, a new live recording captured in front of 600+ fans on 10.29.2011 at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. Stream this album and the award winning “Stories From the Middle of Nowhere” free at www.BigSomething.net

“Comparing them to Rush, Widespread Panic, or Bruce Springsteen is lofty praise. For a band called Big Something, they surely live up to their name.” – PopBlend

“It’s not a good band, it’s a great band!” – Artie Kornfeld (co-founder of Woodstock ’69, former VP Capitol Records)