Cereus Bright

Overview

CEREUS BRIGHT FINDS ITS MUSE—and its name—from the Cereus: a white desert flower that blooms only at night. This flower, blossoming in the most desolate of places, is a symbol of art and story, which draw their beauty from brokenness and heartache. In their lyrics and melodies, Cereus Bright aims to embrace life as both messy and beautiful. THEIR SONGS SHOWCASE STRONG, PASSIONATE HARMONIES telling stories of real life—hope and heartbreak, adventure and stillness.Tyler Anthony plays guitar, piano, and sings, Evan Ford layers harmonies while playing mandolin and lead guitar. Bassist Matt Nelson and drummer Luke Bowers provide driving rhythm and nuanced texture, and multi-instrumentalist Gideon Klien layers texture and melody onto the songs. On special occasions, they are joined by violinist Kaitlyn Ferry. IDEOLOGICALLY, CEREUS BRIGHT MAKES A STRONG CASE FOR FOLK MUSIC. Recently the genre of folk has come to mean “acoustic pop”, blending together into a sea of kick drums, hand claps, and escalating banjo riffs. In its roots, Folk music is meant to communicate; to use simple, melodic music to tell stories of success and heartbreak, to transport and convict listeners. This is Cereus Bright’s goal—drawing you in with beautiful melodies so they can move you with poetic yet direct lyrics. Connections with bands like the Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes, and the Head and the Heart are apt comparisons and major compliments. CEREUS BRIGHT SELF-RELEASED THEIR SECOND RECORDING, the five song EP Happier Than Me, on November 12, 2013. Their first recording, Goldmine EP, was released exactly one year earlier on November 12, 2012. They are currently touring throughout the southeast and around the country, with a growing following in Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia. They will be on tour with Jackie Greene in early summer and Count This Penny in August (for more information, check out the "Shows" page). They are excited to get their unique brand of modern folk in front of larger audiences.