Pokey LaFarge
Dusty, sun-drenched swing and ragtime blues that feels like a lost radio broadcast from 1935. Spirited acoustic music for front porches and slow riverboats.
Dusty, sun-drenched swing and ragtime blues that feels like a lost radio broadcast from 1935. Spirited acoustic music for front porches and slow riverboats.
Pokey LaFarge sounds like a technicolor daydream of the American Midwest during the Great Depression. His music is a vibrant tapestry of ragtime, western swing, and country blues, all delivered with a distinctive, slightly nasal croon that feels both ancient and immediate. It is the sound of a traveling medicine show that actually has the cure, full of rhythmic vitality and melodic charm.
What truly sets him apart is his commitment to 'riverboat soul,' a self-coined term that captures the fluid, syncopated energy of his arrangements. While many roots artists aim for grit, LaFarge aims for a specific kind of artful dandyism. He uses instruments like the washboard and upright bass not just for historical accuracy, but to create a propulsive, danceable swing that feels light on its feet despite its deep historical roots.
Start with 'Something in the Water' for a perfect introduction to his infectious energy and clever songwriting. If you prefer something a bit more lush and tropical, his later work like 'In the Blossom of Their Shade' shows how he can stretch his vintage aesthetic into soulful, sun-soaked territories without losing his signature charm.
Pokey LaFarge (born Andrew Heissler, June 26, 1983) is an American musician and singer-songwriter.
Shares bluegrass, swing, rockabilly, bonfire (subgenre)
Shares swing, bluegrass, trumpet, americana (signature)
Shares bluegrass, swing, trumpet, americana (subgenre)
Shares swing, rockabilly, upright bass, sunday morning (signature)
Shares swing, rockabilly, harmonica, bonfire (subgenre)
Shares bluegrass, swing, upright bass, sunday morning (subgenre)
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