A TALE OF TWO
The dynamic vocals of Stephanie Adlington and the guitar prowess of Aaron Lessard
RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM RENEGADE ON OCTOBER 4
FIRST SINGLE “RENEGADE” OUT NOW
https://open.spotify.com/track/1Dwx9iv2DboQfPEOuWT6dz?si=7bb1f98bd9e845a5
Official AmericanaFest Showcase Artist 2024 in Nashville
“The whine and grit in this duo’s vocals are gripping and noticeably timeless.” – Americana Highways
“It is inspiring to hear a Nashville band with old-time songs and genuine talent.” – Americana-UK
Combining the best of Americana, country and blues with timeless Southern storytelling, award-winning vocalist Stephanie Adlington and guitar virtuoso Aaron Lessard, as A Tale Of Two, draw influences from Tom Waits, The Lone Bellow, Ray LaMontagne, alongside bedrock artists like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr.
Their new album, Renegade, the duo’s first full-length release, is set to hit the streets on October 4, 2024. It was produced by Jon Estes (John Paul White, Mary Bragg) and recorded at Jon Estes’ Studios. Backing musicians are some of the top-tier players in Nashville: Billy Contreras (fiddle), Elizabeth Estes (fiddle), Jamie Dick (Percussion), Ross McReynolds (Percussion), and Jon Estes himself on bass and various other instruments. All songs are written by Stephanie and Aaron, with the exception of Tom Wait’s song, “Gun Street Girl.”
The first single, title track “Renegade,” is available now and blows out with its pounding drums, mimicking a train barreling fast down the tracks out of town. The song uses the spirit of the Appalachian terrain as it represents a shift, a changing of the tides of how music can be anything you want it to be.
“God help me if the mountain water
Don’t wash my fears away
Roll, roll thunder
Till I can see my fate
Don’t dare look yonder and back
From where I came
Cause I’m born again a renegade” – “Renegade”
Listen to “Renegade” here: https://open.spotify.com/track/1Dwx9iv2DboQfPEOuWT6dz?si=7bb1f98bd9e845a5
The new LP showcases A Tale Of Two’s eclecticism. Album track “The Devil Did The Deed” is a blues shouter as it steals a little from Johnny Cash’s version of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” telling the story of two lovers’ demise. It’s a “David Lynch mini-movie of a Jim Thompson book” that unfolds as we hang on to every word and note.
“Running scared, got a cross to bear
Praying for relief
Southbound, over hallowed ground
Hiding from the heat” – “The Devil Did The Deed”
The duo shows a softer side on “By The Light Of The Moon,” Stephanie explains it best: “… it’s a romantic and poignant song about a love that transcends life and death. The narrator reflects on moments with their beloved, who is now a ghost. They remember dancing under the stars and feeling deeply connected.
As the years pass, the narrator longs for their ghostly lover and recalls their promise to reunite “by the light of the moon.” The song portrays their enduring bond and the hope of dancing together again, forever linked despite the separation of life and death.”
In the past four years, A Tale Of Two has captured the attention of festivals like the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, venues like The Bluebird Café in Nashville, and spots as official showcase artists for AmericanaFest 2024, SERFA 2024 (Southeast Regional of Folk Alliance), and Folk Alliance International 2022.
Stephanie Adlington is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and vocal coach. Born and raised in Grafton, WV, Stephanie graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. She attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and (pre-college) Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. While in London, Stephanie recorded with the folk-rock band Renaissance, which produced three critically acclaimed international albums. “Her take on the great American songbook is unrivaled. Her sound stood up well when played next to iconic artists such as Ella Fitzgerald. Do yourself a favour and get to know and appreciate this ascendant music star” Leslie Stoval – NPR San Francisco.
Aaron Lessard is a versatile guitarist from Westport, MA. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music and earned his stripes in various bands. He moved to Nashville in 2017 before joining Stephanie Adlington in 2018 and continues his involvement in the Nashville jazz and Americana scenes today.
A Tale Of Two has opened for notable artists such as Mary Gauthier, Grayson Capps, and Peter Mulvey. Oozing an infectious stage presence and chemistry that carries over from the music to the back-and-forth banter between songs, A Tale Of Two offers a different kind of Americana – storytelling by a swampy pair of retro raconteurs spinning bluesy arias with soul, intrigue, and power.
Credit: Libby Danforth