A few days ago I had the opportunity to stop and chat with Mr. Eric Bolander who hails from the small town of Garrison Kentucky, and brings a colorful flavor of acoustic folk and Appalachian Americana.
We are both preparing ( in our own ways for ) the upcoming Master Musicians Festival that is about to transpire July 13th and 14th. We are both excited to be a part of this hallowed event, that has continued for twenty five years now. The hotel staff here are WELL AWARE of the festival, and it’s importance to the community.
GHC:
How are you Mr. Eric?
Mr. Eric:
I’m good man, I’m about to play the Southgate House right now with Arlo McKineley.
GHC:
Yeah I want to get to interview him too, I have to get with Miss Julie because they are going to provide a quiet spot for the media to conduct them with y’all. So let’s see, how did you get started in music?
Mr. Eric:
Well, that’s kind of a complex question and to be honest if you interviewed me tomorrow, it might be a different answer every time. I didn’t actually try to start playing guitar at all until I was eighteen, I went to college at for a year until I came to UK. But I met this friend and I bought a guitar, and he taught me some chords, and I watched a lot of bands and started singing along.
Next thing you know I’m in a band in my twenties playing all kinds of music..and here I am!
GHC:
What inspired you to write your newest album “The Wind”, let’s talk about that?
Mr. Eric:
Well, the track off that album “The Road” I had that song written, and honestly I had that one when my first album came out called “Postcards To Myself”. I already had that one written as some of the new material I was working on, and I had lot of things that spawned from that song.
I would say that was my biggest influence, sort of a self influence there to a degree. Just mainly from subject matter like that.
GHC:
Who influenced you the most out of any genre?
Mr. Eric:
Man, with what I’m doing the Americana and Folk thing, I would have to say John Moreland. He is one of my biggest influences because of the way he approaches songwriting.
GHC:
What do you plan on bringing to Master Musicians Festival, like as far as a band setup?
Mr. Eric:
My trio, Seth Murphy plays cello, and we’re going to have Ben Caldwell on drums.
GHC:
Besides the Southgate House, what have you got going on lately?
Mr. Eric:
A handful of things actually, besides tonight I’ll be on the bill at Kickin It On The Creek out in Irvine Ky. I have a handful of things that are shaping up right now, like a few more dates out in Missouri. And then the trio is doing a nice run around the first week of October, I’ll be updating the website in the next week or so with more tour dates and things like that.
GHC:
Good deal, I had your poster with some dates on it on the side bar for a while.
Mr. Eric:
I have got quite a few dates that I’m still getting confirmed, and next week I’ll be ready to roll on that.
GHC:
Just like Mr. Coby Langham I also found out about you as well from my friend W.B. Walker.
Mr. Eric:
That’s awesome, the recorded stuff or the live stuff?
GHC:
The live one.
Mr. Eric:
Yeah that was fun, and it was nice to finally get to meet him. He’s a good heart, just a big music fan pretty much.
GHC:
Same with me, I’m just an ordinary guy with a website. I had a bad past, and I just figured out how I can contribute to it as best as I can.
Mr. Eric
Well I appreciate it, Gary.
GHC:
Alright buddy well it looks like I’ll see you in a few days at the festival. You take care and travel safe.
Mr. Eric:
Thanks Gary, you do the same.
