Travis Book, founding member of the GRAMMY award-winning band The Infamous Stringdusters has announced a set of final tapings for the pilot season of The Travis Book Happy Hour, a musical variety show, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. Spanning four dates during July and August, Book’s musical contemporaries will join him for an evening of collaboration and conversation presented in front of a live studio audience and broadcast online. Guests include Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman taking stage tonight (July 14), fast-rising blues singer/songwriter Cristina Vane and Asheville staple Mike Ashworth (July 28), Aquarium Rescue Unit founding member Jeff Sipe and Fireside Collective dobro player Tommy Maher (August 11), and fellow Stringdusters collaborator Andy Falco (August 25).
The Travis Book Happy Hour, which debuted last year in response to the pandemic, aims to provide a platform for musicians to share their artistry in a new and more intimate way. With a relaxed, conversational format, Book connects with his guests as if catching up with an old friend – many of which, in fact, are. Reminiscent of syndicated programs like eTown and Live From Here, The Happy Hour marries performance with storytelling for a unique glimpse into the human side of creativity. “The biggest takeaway so far has been getting to know more about the interior lives, the motivations and perspectives of such interesting and thoughtful musicians. It's incredible how much beauty there is in the experience of making music with open and honest people,” shares Book. “The hope is that this connects us all – the guest, the host, audience, and crew, and helps us become more compassionate, lighter, and happier people.”
With just a handful of performances left in the 2021 season, Book has his eyes set on a long and robust future for The Happy Hour. In addition to previously streamed episodes – the archives of which can be accessed on the artist’s website – Book has launched a companion podcast featuring highlights from his most memorable conversations. The first eight episodes of The Travis Book Happy Hour Podcast are available on all streaming platforms now, with additional episodes to be released later this year. This summer, fans can look forward to The Travis Book Happy Hour House Band Vol. 1, a compilation album of live tracks culled from Happy Hour performances to be released via The Infamous Stringdusters’ Americana Vibes label. Following a successful pilot, The Travis Book Happy Hour will return in 2022 with a new format. Episodes will be pre-taped monthly in front of a studio audience and edited for future distribution. Additional segments of the Happy Hour podcast and a Volume 2 of the House Band compilation are also on the horizon.
Tickets for the July and August tapings of The Travis Book Happy Hour are on sale now via The Grey Eagle. A complete lineup is below. For more information about Travis Book, and to keep up-to-date on all things Happy Hour, visit www.thetravisbook.com.
The Travis Book Happy Hour Season Finale Lineup
July 14 - The Travis Book Happy Hour ft. Vince Herman w/ Lyndsay Pruett
July 28 - The Travis Book Happy Hour ft. Cristina Vane w/ Mike Ashworth
August 11 - The Travis Book Happy Hour w/ Jeff Sipe, Mike Ashworth, & Tommy Maher
August 25 - The Travis Book Happy Hour ft. Andy Falco
