The Americana band with folk and country influences based out of Mobile, Alabama, will return to Chickie Wah Wah on Friday, July 15, 2016. The band is touring in support of their second album, Via Portland.
The Mulligan Brothers took their name from the popular concept among amateur golfers that means, “taking a second chance.” No one in the band is named Mulligan and they are not even brothers in the familial sense.
Led by singer/songwriter and guitarist Ross Newell, the band also features Gram Rea on fiddle, mandolin, viola, harmonica and vocals, Ben Leininger on bass (a homemade instrument made from two old suitcases), and vocals and Greg DeLuca on drums and vocals.
The hard-touring band features strong harmonies backing Newell’s compelling lead vocal work. The group has honed their performance and instrumental dynamics over the course of the last several years. The new songs evolved in front of audiences, giving each musician time to develop their parts leading to an even tighter ensemble. “This album is honest and sincere from the ground up,” Newell said.
They have performed at festivals across the country including two appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (their debut album was in the Top Ten CD Sales in 2014). Their 2016 appearance at the renowned 30A Songwriter Festival in Florida was followed by a string of dates in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
A live performance on Dutch National Television led to both albums hitting the Top Ten on the iTunes charts in the Netherlands. They now have over 1 million combined plays on Spotify and continue to tour throughout the U.S. and Europe.
