River James + Mike Mangione & The Union September 29, 2011

Inspired by Earl Swift's collection of essays "Journey On The James" about a man's journey along the entire James River, from its trickling mountain origins in Virginia's Northwest corner to the mile wide mouth at Hampton Roads, four friends - Vintz, Scoops, Tyler, & Jacob sought to recreate the journey for themselves. Early in the summer of 2010, they packed up 2 canoes with camping supplies, food, & musical instruments and set out on a month long excursion along the 410 miles of the James. Along the way, they encountered landscapes & characters unique to the Lover's state, stopping often to take in the surroundings, strum guitars, and beat drums to the pulse of the waters.
http://riverjamesmusic.com/

Songwriter and musician Mike Mangione, along with his band The Union, embark on a new tour that will cover a lot of ground this year. Mangione has remained an independent touring artist for over seven years. Tenebrae, as the album was named, was released twice, once in 2007 just before the band embarked on a new tour, and then a second time after it was picked up for national distribution in 2008. All the while the band played non-stop on the road, often moving in oddly shaped orbits and crisscross patterns around the country.

In the years since its release, Tenebrae has outshined Mangione's debut in both the sophistication of its sound palate and its bottom line sales. The band has sold over 10,000 units of Tenebrae alone, all without any label or major management support. Equally notable, the album has been licensed by MTV, VH1, Lifetime and Oxygen networks, GMR Marketing, real estate websites, religious websites and podcasts, independent films, and is used by internationally renowned author and speaker Christopher West at his speaking presentations. The band has played over 250 shows in the time since its release, from coast to coast, including a tour of Australia.

Following the success of Tenebrae, measured on the scale of an independent release, Mangione and band decided that a new album became not only possible, but justified as well. The release also compelled Mangione's touring band to settle finally on a fitting band name, and as such, The Union was born. Mike Mangione & The Union will release their latest effort, Offering, in a newly signed development deal between Dualtone Records and their own imprint, RODZINKA Records in 2011.
http://mikemangione.com/

Official Website: http://www.jamminjava.com/