CARRIE NATION & THE SPEAKEASY is a high-energy "Brass 'n' Grass" quintet from Wichita, KS. The band, whose sound has been described as “...a stagecoach in overdrive”, has brought their eclectic blend of bluegrass, ska, punk, and dixieland to packed clubs, basements, and festivals across the US since their inception in the spring of 2007. CNS has built a solid following playing 49 states and 8 countries with their energetic live show and ability to fit on the bill with acts ranging from bluegrass to rockabilly; punk to ska. Thoughtful songwriting is delivered through unique arrangements and unconventional instrumentation. Throaty vocals charge over percussive guitar rhythms. Breakneck mandolin solos melt into blaring trombone and trumpet lines, while the standup bass and charging drums churn out driving rhythms that carry the force of a Kansas freight train.
The band’s DIY mentality is shown through their self-recorded albums, self-published music, self-booked tours, and a community of local and regional visual artists that illustrate the band’s distinctly grassroots approach. CNS has been pounding the highways and byways of this great country (and others) for over 14 years now, bringing their songs and stories to thousands. Always providing a high energy, drink’em down atmosphere to any place they play, CNS has proven a dedication to their live shows with a solid understanding of what live entertainment really means.
