MERRY RUN AROUND - the new live album from South Carolina’s George Fetner and the Strays - was released on August 6, 2021. 

Following their 2018 self-titled EP - “a rollicking, raucous (and brassy!) joyride” (SC Music Guide) - and 2020’s LP Longer Like This- “an impromptu dance party with nine of Columbia’s most daring musical exhibitionists” (The State) - GFATS returns with a tribute to their roots in Merry Run Around. Tracked live by Matt Buck at 2020’s virtual Jerry Fest in Columbia, SC the album showcases bright new arrangements of Dead favorites augmented by GFATS’ signature horn sound. Merry Run Around was mixed and mastered by Zac Thomas at Columbia’s Jam Room Recording Studio. 

Though primarily focusing on Fetner’s originals, the band initially formed for a one-off appearance at the city’s Jerry Fest in 2013. With repeat appearances in the years since, GFATS established themselves as masters of the Dead repertoire, and adding horns and percussion further distinguished the band as a reliably-evolving live act not to be missed.

That opinion of the band was shared by Jerry Fest producers, who asked GFATS to perform virtually in 2020. Assembling a group of nine musicians for a brief, albeit live appearance proved challenging during the pandemic, but it’s a testament to the band’s hard work and musicality that they could nail a one-off broadcast given those constraints. Fetner recalls the energy of that night: 

“Performing music is like dreaming, getting lost in conversation, or anything where you feel the pull of time so viscerally that you begin to operate outside of it. Our set was no exception, but to suddenly be in the middle of making music after not being able to for so long was almost unbearably joyful. By the time we began our last song, “Sugaree,” I was so emotional that I almost couldn't sing. Ultimately we were honored to help the show go on, so to speak, even if that meant us traveling to our audience rather than the audience traveling to us.

To celebrate Merry Run Around (as well as last year’s Longer Like This), the band is happy to announce their return to the stage this summer:

Fri, Aug 20 – Indah Coffee, Columbia, SC (two sets)

Sat, Aug 28 – Grateful Dog Festival, Florence, SC

Fri, Sept 17 – Fr8Yard, Spartanburg, SC

Sat, Sept 18 – 185 King St., Brevard, NC (two sets)