Press Kit
“Harmonic Dirt’s debut album (Anthracite) has an Alt-Folk sensibility highlighted by forthright vocals, complimentary harmonies, unpretentious well-crafted lyrics and simply effective and adroit instrumentation.” – Dave Frisina, Program Director, WXTL-Rebel Radio
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Short bio
Harmonic Dirt is a collaboration of multi-instrumentalist Mike Gridley and lyricist and bassist Susan Coleman based in Central New York. They are joined by Taylor Bucci on banjo and vocals, and James DaRin on percussion. The husband and wife duo of Coleman and Gridley are prolific songwriters, developing stories that draw from the rich heritage of American folk and roots music, but also weaving themes from literature, historical events, and personal observations into the mix.
Their four albums “Anthracite”, “Live at the Ridge”, “Rhode Island Street”, and “Blame the Horizon” contain a variety of original songs which showcase the breadth of their musical and lyrical work, while providing familiar reference points to sixties folk-rock, Harvest-era Neil Young, as well as alt-country in the vein of Son Volt and the Jayhawks.
Long bio
In February of 2016, Mike Gridley and Susan Coleman decided to experiment with a musical idea: On a cold winter afternoon, Susan, a non-musician (but a diehard fan), wrote what became the first of many lyrics to a song that began to take shape in her head. Husband Mike, an accomplished local musician and songwriter himself, took her lyrics and basic ideas and brought them to life! Amazed and energized by the creation, they collaborated on another song…and another. Many others. They began sending rough tracks to their close friend and fellow musician Taylor Bucci, who immediately felt the potential for a real collaboration. Further encouragement and songwriting approval by other friends and musicians gave Susan the confidence to continue.
Before long, Susan and Mike completed a repertoire of dozens of songs, the best of which were selected for their debut album Anthracite. The new group, Harmonic Dirt, recorded at Greywood Studio in Jamesville, NY. With mastering at Subcat Studio in Syracuse, NY and the album was released in December 2017. A SAMMY award winning live album followed in mid-2020; a second studio album “Rhode Island Street”, dropped in January 2021, and EP, “Blame the Horizon” in September 2021.
Beginning in 2018, James DaRin joined the band as a percussionist, and the band has performed live as a quartet ever since, with Mike on lead vocals, guitar and mandolin, Susan on bass, Taylor on banjo and harmony vocals, and James on drums and percussion. The group has performed at the Center for the Arts in Homer, NY, the Brewerton Center for the Arts, the Nelson Odeon, the Westcott Theater, Chevy Court at the NY State Fair, and a variety of other local venues in CNY. This endeavor is a testament to the power of confidence, the magic of compatible musical visions, and blind faith!
