Fairground Saints
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Fairground Saints
| image =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| origin = Santa Barbara, California, United States
| genre = Country
| years_active = {{Start date|2014}}–present
| label = The Orchard
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|http://www.fairgroundsaints.com/}}
| current_members = Megan McAllister, Mason Van Valin, Elijah Edwards
| past_members =
}}
Fairground Saints are a country music trio from Santa Barbara, CA. Their singles include "Somewhere Down the Line”, “California”, “Turn This Car Around” and “Can’t Control the Weather.”
Origin
The band was started by Mason Van Valin who wanted to expand from a solo act to a group. He posted an ad on Facebook and Elijah Edwards answered the ad. They eventually would meet Megan McAllister through YouTube. They were signed initially to Verve Records in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/blog/medium/2016/02/fairground-saints-qa|title=Q&A with Americana trio Fairground Saints|website=The Daily Tar Heel|accessdate=2017-11-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-bialas/watch-fairground-saints-g_b_7884048.html|title=Watch Fairground Saints Go Marching Into Heavenly Territory|first=Michael|last=Bialas|website=HuffPost|date=28 July 2015|publisher=}} After the label changed leadership they released new music through The Orchard.
Albums
They released their self-titled album for Verve in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/196425-fairground-saints-self-titled-2495496292.html|title=Fairground Saints: Fairground Saints|date=17 August 2015|publisher=}} The album includes the hit “Turn This Car Around” which was premiered on NPR.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2015/06/17/414979573/song-premiere-fairground-saints-turn-this-car-around|title=Song Premiere: Fairground Saints, 'Turn This Car Around'|website=NPR|publisher=}}
The album's second single “Can’t Control the Weather” was premiered on Paste Magazine on September 21, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/09/video-premiere-fairground-saints---cant-control-th.html|title=Video Premiere: Fairground Saints - "Can't Control the Weather"|publisher=}}
In Dec 2016, the Huffington Post listed the trio as one of ‘Music’s Fantastic 15 of 2015.’ {{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-bialas/musics-fantastic-15-of-20_b_8775286.html|title=Music's Fantastic 15 of 2015: Here's Wishing These Top Performers a Very Best Fest|first=Michael|last=Bialas|website=HuffPost|date=11 December 2015|publisher=}}
In 2017, the group toured with former American Idol winner Scotty McCreery.{{cite web|url=http://www.sj-r.com/entertainmentlife/20170503/former-idol-scotty-mccreery-to-play-at-boondocks|title=Former 'Idol' Scotty McCreery to play at Boondocks|first=Alan Sculley, Last Word|last=Features|publisher=}} They have also supported Bros Osborne, Kip Moore, Sara Evans, and Thompson Square on the road.
In 2019, [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/2019-c2c-festival-review-chris-stapleton-806437/ Rolling Stone] had this say "...their brand of breezy music and distinct Laurel Canyon vibe made the Saints instantly memorable".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/2019-c2c-festival-review-chris-stapleton-806437/|title=2019 Country to Country Festival: 10 Best Things We Saw in the U.K.|last=Gnad|first=Megan|date=2019-03-11|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-20}} Also, calling them one of The 10 Country and Americana artists you need to know.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/10-new-country-and-americana-artists-you-need-to-know-winter-2019-793958/|title=10 New Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know: Winter 2019|last1=Moss|first1=Jonathan Bernstein, Robert Crawford, Jon Freeman, Joseph Hudak, Marissa R.|last2=Bernstein|first2=Jonathan|date=2019-02-13|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-20|last3=Crawford|first3=Robert|last4=Freeman|first4=Jon|last5=Hudak|first5=Joseph|last6=Moss|first6=Marissa R.}} [https://tasteofcountry.com/fairground-saints-struggle-interview-magic-ep/ Taste of Country] said "think Little Big Town with a closer connection to West Coast sun and Surf"{{Cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/fairground-saints-struggle-interview-magic-ep/|title=For Fairground Saints, the Struggle Was Real|last=Dukes|first=Billy|website=Taste of Country|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}
Discography
- Fairground Saints (Verve Records, 2015)
- Magic (The Orchard, 2019)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.fairgroundsaints.com/ FairgroundSaints.com]
Category:Country music groups from California
Category:Musicians from Santa Barbara, California