By Aimee Jewell–

“A Lion Named Roar” has begun 2013 with a bang. These five local musicians are booked to kick-off 91.9 WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday series in May and are on the line-up for the Forecastle Festival.

As independent singers/songwriters and folk music thrive in the Bluegrass, A Lion Named Roar, backed by lead singer Chris Jackson and guitarist Tyler Anderson, has proven that pop bands can also flourish in Louisville. After the disbandment of Jackson’s and Anderson’s first band, waketheday,  they were left with a choice. “We still had a lot of songs that we had written but weren’t released […] so we started A Lion Named Roar because we weren’t ready to stop,” Anderson said. “Our first show out was Ear-x-Tacy and we had a really good turn out,” Jackson added. “We were like ‘Maybe we should keep doing this.’”

Founded in 2010, the boys from A Lion Named Roar came out with their EP, “Foreign Land” last November. Featured as an MTV Buzzworthy band, Anderson and Jackson are ready for their big break, despite the current transition in members.

Each year, the Forecastle Music and Activism Festival, in Louisville, features a line-up of national and local acts to play during their waterfront stages for three days. This year, A Lion Named Roar has been named one of the few acts from Louisville to perform alongside the eclectic national line-up. Playing with bands such as The Black Keys, the Alabama Shakes, and Young the Giant, A Lion Named Roar is honored to be one of the best acts in Louisville.

“It opened up such a new slew of resources with AC Entertainment getting involved,” Anderson said. “They’re helping to get more acts from a wider genre. It’s leaning a lot more pop than it ever has. We’re honored to be a part of it.”

With Louisville’s local pop music scene being less developed than the singer/songwriter and dance/DJ genres, the guys in A Lion Named Roar have had a tough time breaking into the local scene. “Louisville’s a little tougher to win over in a pop-leaning genre,” Anderson stated. “Pop bands really have to work overtime to get people to pay attention.”

Also on their spring line-up is a show at the Red Barn on April 17 and opening 91.9 WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday Series on April 24 with Ra Ra Riot and Leagues at Waterfront Park. For more information on their spring shows around Louisville, check out their website at ALionNamedRoar.com.

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Photo courtesy of forecastlefest.com