New York Songwriter Round Feat. Andrew Pierson, JR Atkins, Sidney Bird

Andrew Pierson is a songwriter, vocalist and rhythm guitarist in the folk rock band Mountain Laurel, the oft told tale of a college cover band turned indie rock group. In the fall of 2014, the band began playing bars and rooftop parties alike in their beloved Bronx, New York as a cover band called Seabass and the Fellas. After graduating, the group stuck together to continue playing shows in the New York City metro area, and embarked on their foray into original music in the Fall of 2020 with the release of their debut single, The Weather. Informed by Phish and Dave Matthews Band shows at the Hartford Meadows, classic rock on FM radio’s 95.9 the Fox, and their parents’ Stevie Wonder and Fleetwood Mac records, Mountain Laurel’s sound transcends the typical indie rock genre to include influences of folk, jazz, rock, pop, and country music.

JR Atkins continues in the tradition of the American singer-songwriter, delivering songs of living and loss with unfiltered joy and abandon. Combining elements of country, blues, and folk with soulful vocals and powerful arrangements, his music earns comparisons to the troubadours of today (Jason Isbell, Blake Mills) and yesterday (Warren Zevon, The Band). JR is known for his earnest, emotionally charged live performances.

Sidney Bird is a southwestern darling making a name for herself in Brooklyn. Born and raised in Arizona, Bird holds her own in the scene of western pop artists like Kacey Musgraves and Leon Bridges. A true crossover act, Bird feels a strong creative impulse when home in Arizona, writing all of her songs there before fleshing them out with producers in Brooklyn. “I grew up listening to Barenaked Ladies, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell,” says Bird. “Then became obsessed with Katy Perry, Britney Spears––all the popstars.” Bird’s background in comedy and musical theater fuels a deep love for world-building and storytelling: “Sometimes I feel like I’m playing characters through my music, using them as a vehicle to express honest and genuine feelings.” Her 2020 debut album “Bad Timing,” featuring singles like “Kisses” and “Wild,” has garnered over 1.7 million streams on Spotify to date. In 2021, Bird followed up with her EP “Big Heart,” debuting the project live at Rockwood Music Hall at the end of the year. With a wealth of music ready for release and a dedicated community of listeners, Bird is well-positioned to make 2022 her year.