Artist To Watch: Fairground Saints
If you haven’t yet heard the name Fairground Saints, you’re going to want to familiarize yourself with the music from their recently released self-titled debut album. The Los Angeles trio, made up of Mason Van Valin, Elijah Edwards and Megan McAllister, are equally talented songwriters as they are performers and musicians. I recently got a chance to chat with FS about their music, how they became a band and working with notable producer Matthew Wilder on their LP.
Fairground Saints are bringing their alternative folk pop on the road, as they make their way across the US on a fall tour. With an upcoming stop at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on October 16th, Listen! It’s Vetrano is giving one lucky viewer the chance to see this Artist to Watch free. In order to win, you must be following @CMVetrano and @FGSaints on Twitter and tweet the following text (each tweet counts as 1 entry, so tweet as many times as you’d like):
“I entered to win tickets to see @FGSaints at @3rdandLindsley on @CMVetrano’s ‘Listen! It’s Vetrano’! Get yours here: http://bit.ly/ListenItsVetrano”
The winner will be selected and notified via Twitter on October 14th. Read my full interview with Fairground Saints below and check out their website for more information and dates on their current US tour.
Q&A with Fairground Saints
Chris Vetrano: You recently released your self-titled debut album in which you all shared songwriting credit. What was the biggest inspiration for this record?
Mason: Probably love. Or lack thereof. We were all going through pretty rocky relationships at the time when we first started writing, which is also when we first met, but we didn’t talk about it much personally. So the unspoken truths came through in a lot of the writing we were all doing.
Chris: How did the three of your come together to become Fairground Saints? And where did the name come from?
Mason: We all met through various social media platforms. I met Eli through a Facebook post that I put up and we started playing shows together in Ojai, California at The Deer Lodge and started gaining a following. After we captured the attention of Matthew Wilder we found a YouTube video of Megan and were really taken with her. So we invited her out to hang and I guess the stars kind of aligned cause it immediately felt like a family. Still does.
Chris: As you mentioned, you worked with Matthew Wilder on your debut album, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business. What was it like working with him?
Megan: Matthew was a great teacher and friend to us during the process of making this record. It was a humbling experience to work with someone who, even after all the success and praise he has received over the years, is still such a down to earth human being. He helped us as songwriters and as people to prepare us for the road ahead in the music business.
Chris: You’re stopping in Nashville in October. Have you been to Music City before and if so, what’s your favorite place to visit in town?
Fairground Saints: We were in Music City this last summer. We fell in love and cannot wait to be back there in mid-October. We really had a blast playing at The Basement and it actually became our favorite spot we’ve played thus far. Also, being the major foodies we are, we got some great BBQ from some local spots!
Chris: Being so heavily influenced in a variety of musical genres, how would you describe your sound in one or two words?
Eli: Stylistic confluences
Chris: What’s your favorite song from your debut album and why?
Eli: Our favorite song is “All For You” because it has such a beautiful dynamic crescendo and we think has a very compelling melodic structure.
Chris: If you could share the stage with anyone –living or dead– who would it be and why?
Mason: I’d love to share the stage with Ben Howard because I was going to quit doing music and somebody showed me Ben Howard and it made me wanna keep going.
Chris: You’re touring through most of the fall. What’s next for the band?
Fairground Saints: More & more touring. We love being on the road. We just want to play as many shows as possible. We’ll also keep writing and creating as usual.
