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Out Today! STONE IRIS New EP “Illuminations” It’s James Brown Proud!

If James Brown had love children and they created a blues, rock, soul and reggae inspired band, Edmonton based STONE IRISwould be 1st place for the title as the seven member groove entourage bring a diverse sound in their newly recorded EP,“Illuminations” that releases today on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 on Kamelcorn Records and is available here.

‘Illuminations’ is the follow up to Stone Iris’, 2011 twin-EPs The Boo Box and Serene Machine, which followed the 2010 Silhouettes EP and 2008 debut Ezperanza.

“The release of ‘Illuminations’ marks a fresh, new and exciting time for Stone Iris. We believe the EP is a solid representation of the passion, skill and diversity of our seven-piece lineup. We hope that when listening, one can expect their ears and minds to become illuminated from the five songs and left in a state sure to be asking for more.. Our reply… ‘there is a lot more where that came from.’ So hold on tight, there will be more to come.” says guitarist Garret Niven.

Recorded with Stew Kirkwood at Sound Extractor Studio, Illuminations captures Stone Iris as they’re starting to truly come into their own. It all began as Monzmeg, a basement project in the Calgary home of brothers, songwriters and guitarists Garret and El Niven.Stone Iris didn’t fully begin to take shape until they recruited drummer Jeff Burwash, who had been banging the skins with blues outfit Straight Jacket before he was even legally allowed in bars. It was the move to Edmonton to attend Grant MacEwan’s music program that solidified the group, though, first with the addition of Regina-born and Grant Mac-trained bassist Ryan Ast (ex-Without an End), and then adding Trail, BC-bred percussionist Juice Jensen in early 2010. in 2011, keyboard player Stephen Robinson and vocalist Kari James joined the ranks of the band, completing what is the current roster of Stone Iris.

Blending their disparate musical backgrounds–everything from hooky pop music to sunbleached reggae to hip-hop and rap–the influence of seven minds has created a mature sound that isn’t easy to pin down, but is very easy to love.

Illuminations – EP (2012)

1. Hide and Seek
2. Blood Clot Sunrise
3. Wicked Start
4. Palm Bay Blues
5. New End

Single Stream – Hide & Seek

http://soundcloud.com/stoneiris/hide-and-seek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_8iIGj737I

Stone Iris will be on tour for the month of May in Western Canada in promotion of ‘Illuminations’ and can be seen in the following cities:

Tour Dates

May 3, 2012 – Lydia’s Pub – Saskatoon SK
May 5, 2012 – Double Decker Pub – Brandon MB
May 6, 2012 – 23 Main Street – Moose Jaw SK **ACOUSTIC SHOW**
May 11, 2012 – Rockwater Grill – Golden, BC
May 12, 2012 – Lanalou’s – Vancouver, BC
May 13, 2012 – Cuppa Joy Coffee House – Vancouver, BC
May 15, 2012 – O’Flannigan’s – Kelowna, BC
May 16, 2012 – Caribou Hotel – Quesnel, BC
May 17, 2012 – Nancy O’s – Prince George, BC
May 18, 2012 – The Valley Zoo – Hinton, AB
May 25, 2012 – Canmore Hotel, Canmore, AB *venue changed from Carstairs, AB
May 26, 2012 – The Blind Beggar, Calgary, AB

Videos

Stone Iris – Live In The RV – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkVfp_iR-Rs

Balcony TV Performance – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtM1yOQbUAk

Stone Iris – I Am Autumn – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7MnwU8o-7E

Press Photo – https://ashermediarelations.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/stone-iris-tour-bus.jpg

EPK – https://ashermediarelations.com/epks/epk-stone-iris-illuminations-2012/