Eli Gardiner and Samuel John

Eli Gardiner

Eli Gardiner is a songwriter from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, currently located in Minneapolis Minnesota. Coming of the 2020 release of his album, The Fire and The Medicine, he formed his full band comprised of drummer Greg Schutte (Mickey Hart, Ryan Bingham) lap steel/electric guitarist Dan Schwartz, keyboardist Kevin Gamble and bassist Nick Salisbury (Ryan Bingham, Brian Fallon).

Eli grew up in musical household. His mom played flute and piano and his dad classical guitar. Music was always on, James Taylor, Jim Croce, and Bonnie Raitt would be playing as dinner was made and the dishes were washed. Eli’s music is always changing, morphing to the mood and groove. It can be described as Americana or Rock, but the themes are deeply rooted in our lives in present day, what it means to be a human and to be sympathetic to other people. Its also about our connection, how we are all the same and crave that understanding that music can bring at its most transcendental times.

Samuel John

Hailing from the small town of Braham, MN, Samuel John found his musical calling through the inspiring performances of his mother, a pianist and vocalist, and witnessing his brother Ben drum for a touring country band. Samuel, also a frequent concert-goer, drew inspiration from watching his favorite songwriters in the independent country and rock scene.