Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet formed Trout Fishing in America in 1979 as a means of survival. They traveled to California as a part of the Texas-based five-piece band St. Elmo’s Fire with hopes of being discovered and signed by a major record label. When no such opportunity arose, and the promising tour dissolved, Keith and Ezra peeled off from their bandmates to fend for themselves. Busking on the streets of Santa Cruz with an acoustic guitar, and an upright bass, the pair quickly learned that engaging listeners instantly was the only path towards dollars and coins in the open guitar case. When entry in a music contest required them to have a name for their act, they chose Trout Fishing in America as an homage to Keith’s love of writer Richard Brautigan and Ezra’s love of fishing.
They returned to Texas and continued performing as a duo, landing gigs in the southeast United States. For a band comprised only of a guitar, a bass, and two vocalists, Keith and Ezra could sonically fill whatever space they played. Trout’s genre-defying musical style and unique stage presence did not lend itself to standard marketing strategies so their following developed through word-of-mouth recommendations from fans and club owners. No one could explain what kind of music Trout played but would also tell you that theirs was not a show to miss.
Making moves and clearing paths for the future; pushing against borders and birthing space. Meadow Makers is a melodic and vocal driven folk duo from Northwest Arkansas. Comprised of Dana Louise and Noah Richmond, this pair has been building a house and a little human bean for the last couple years, writing songs and arranging old favorites. The two have been playing regionally under their given names, and are excited to take Meadow Makers on the road again this spring touring their freshman release. Their diverse musical backgrounds, and shared love of songwriting have brought them together to create a fresh, unique twist on the traditional folk sound. Bars, barns, theatres or house concerts, Meadow Makers strives to connect on a higher plane.
