Led by kindred spirit songwriters Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez, Blue Cactus got their start among the active honky-tonk circuit of North Carolina, developing an electrified twang that now branches out effortlessly into folk, alt-country, and psychedelic-tinged rock. Blue Cactus has supported a diverse set of artists over its eight-year history (The War And Treaty, Town Mountain and Steve Gunn among others), with Stewart’s introspective lyricism and Arnez’s skill for lush arrangements fueling the band’s potency in-studio and onstage. On their third full-length album Believer, the duo’s sound ascends to new heights with a collection of piercing songs penned and sung primarily by Stewart, her rich voice narrating explorations of chronic illness, ruptured dreams, and the potential of hope - with the help of an all-star cast of harmony singers (among them Erin Rae, Brit Taylor & Kate Rhudy.) Praised by No Depression for their ability to paint “beautiful pictures of limitless possibility” in roots music, the duo has drawn comparisons to Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris. On Believer, Blue Cactus continues to showcase skillful and adventurous roots music with a deeply personal heart.

Boulevards, Blue Cactus, Charly Lowry, Boulevards (Raleigh)

Blue Cactus

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