The Valhalla Art, Music & Theatre Festival begins a new chapter with The Novelists.
A four-piece band that formed 10 years ago in Reno, The Novelists feature harmonies and vocals from each member, most conducive to the acoustics in the Boathouse Theatre. The band also played in the venue in 2017.
“Right behind the stage is the wonderful Lake Tahoe,” keyboardist Eric Andersen said. “It’s really a beautiful spot. I don’t know when they built the Boathouse, but it just has that concert, old-school vibe. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
“We’ll use amplification in there. The trick will be using just enough so you can hear the vocals out in front of the band and balance the sound. It’s just a little too big to go totally acoustic but we will do what we can to create that vibe with just a little bit of amplification.”
The Novelists have made two national tours since releasing their third album last year. The title, “With Drawl,” can be interpreted a couple of ways. It has an Americana-country sound, a departure from the first two records.
“It’s fun. We like to stretch and do something different every time,” Andersen said. “But it’s always about the dual lead singing and the vocals. That’s the element that’s consistent throughout all the works.”
An audience favorite is The Novelists’ take on Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which features four-part harmonies. However, most of the songs in The Novelists’ library are originals. In the early years, individuals in the band would write a song and everyone would contribute in the production. But lately, everyone usually works on the songwriting in a collaborative effort,” Andersen said.
The Novelists include guitarist/mandolin player Joel Ackerson, bassist Zack Teran and the newest member and a familiar player to North Tahoe music lovers, Miguel Jimenez-Cruz.
A summer concert series highlights The 40th Valhalla Art, Music & Theatre Festival. Most of the concerts are on Wednesday nights. However, there will be show on Tuesday and Thursday, as well as free Sunday concerts on the Grand Lawn.
- The Novelists
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19
Where: Valhalla Boathouse Theatre
Tickets: $22 -$34
Website: LINK
