New Music Showcase

Free To Grow bring new music to the stage this week.

Since coming together back in 2013, Fredericton prog-folk ensemble Free to Grow have carved out their own unique place within the city’s diverse music community. They sound like no one else, look like no one else and with anywhere from eight to eleven performing members on stage at any one time, their heavily orchestrated sound stands alone among other New Brunswick acts.

In 2014, the band released its acclaimed debut album and the following year they won the Stringray Music Rising Star Award as part of the 25^th anniversary edition of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. Following a busy summer/fall season that included performances throughout the province, the band returns to the stage this week to road test a slew of new material.

“We have been working on new original material since we released our debut album two years ago,” said Free to Grow founder and frontman, Jeff Patch. “In April 2016 we gave CHSR FM and EGH Radio (internet radio based in the U.K.) a preview three song EP called Launch Codes. Launch Codes debuted at number one and charted in the CHSR top 30 for ten weeks. The songs continue on rotation on EGH radio.”

Often drawing comparisons to 70s folk-rooted prog-acts like Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues, Free to Grow’s music is equal parts revival and innovation which has helped the group draw attention from music fans of all ages.

“We have over 15 songs that are currently in various stages of production, with more songs on the back burner,” said Patch, while outlining the band’s plan for sharing their latest recordings. “We are very pumped about the songs and plan to release a series of three song EP’s and then a full compilation CD in 2017. We have enough material for a third Free To Grow CD by 2018, so there is much work ahead for us.”