The Wiyos

The Wiyos have been rolling for over a decade. They were one of the first ‘old-timey’ bands to emerge on the American scene in the first wave of acoustic bands riding the renewed popularity of early swing jazz, rural folk, old-time blues and Appalachian music. Their relentless touring in the US and Europe, and numerous critically acclaimed albums and EPs landed them a full 28-day summer tour as openers of the 2009 Bob Dylan Show. The Wiyos were also featured in the BBC television documentary, Folk America – Hollerers, Stompers and Old-Time Ramblers. In 2010, they were featured in the BBC television special No Sleep 'Til Yell. In 2012, The Wiyos released their fan-funded concept album, Twist, a 14-track eclectic musical collage loosely based on The Wizard Of Oz which went on to win the international Independent Music Award for Best Concept Album. Scotland's The Herald reviewed a performance of Twist in Glasgow and called it [everything from] "junkyard blues to Cuban neighbourhood via surf song harmonies and backwoods Appalachia... a fascinating travelogue." The Chicago Tribune called the album full of "revelatory original songs".