Eliza Wren - ELiZA WREN Band

ELiZA WREN Band

ELiZA WREN was established in 1999 in Austin, Texas. The first musician line up included: Eliza (vocals, guitar, banjo), Justin VonKennel (guitar, mandolin, electric sitar, pedal steel), Adam Crowell (electric and stand-up bass) and Bobby Miller (drums). The first album was recorded by Jim Eno of Spoon, in his studio and included the talents of Spoon bassist, Josh Zarbo and Justin VonKennel.

The group then went through a number of band-member changes. Such an example includes thirty-two bassists in two years time. ELiZA WREN performed at the 2001 North by Northeast Music Festival in Toronto, Canada and the Anti-Folk Festival in New York, New York. In this time Eliza met Wes French who asked Eliza to join in his group Hallicrafters. He also took on recording the ELiZA WREN band. Official bandmates at this time became: Eliza, Justin VonKennel, Nathan Aloysius (bass), Chris Stelly (drums). The group recorded the album, Peradventure with Wes French. ELiZA WREN went on to perform in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah and the 2003 South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas Eliza then moved to Utah and reformed the band to eventually include members: Nord Anderson (guitar), Mike Crandall (bass), Dan Pectol (drums). Other notable bandmates from this era include: Barrett Ogden (bass), Linwood Bidoulph (drums), Justin Taylor (drums), Catherine Allred (violin, tamboritza), and Jon Minor (bagpipes). The group performed at the Utah Arts Festival, The Brown Bag Concert Series and for President Grimsson of Iceland. ELiZA WREN then began recording with Hyrum Summerhays and Eden's Watchtower. The group spent three years in the studio recording a double album that syncs with the film, Return To Oz, as influenced by Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Rainbow project. The album and performance premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Actress and star of the film, Fairuza Balk attended and hosted the event. The event continues to tour the country.