Unsigned Band of the Week: Jason Spooner Trio

Maine has historically proven to be a fruitful breeding ground for buzz-worthy and prolific songwriters who garner national attention. Both classics like Noel Paul Stookey and Don McLean and contemporaries like Patty Griffin, Slaid Cleaves and Grammy winner Ray LaMontagne, represent only a small cross section of Maine's rich heritage of sourcing a special breed of thought-provoking artist. Maine's most recent emerging heirs to the musical throne come in an impressive pack of three; Portland's own Jason Spooner Trio. Their latest album, Sea Monster, has received acclaim from both critics and audience members alike. Their tireless work ethic is starting to yield a bountiful harvest extending well beyond the borders of their home state.

In addition to widespread national airplay on more than fifty Triple A and satellite radio stations, their music has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered,” The Food Network and in over 11,000 Starbucks retail locations across the country. Their last single reached the Top 20 on the Triple A singles chart early in 2011 and their latest track debuted as the third most added Triple A track behind Radiohead and Los Lonely Boys. They have shared stages with the likes of Blues Traveler, Susan Tedeschi, Ray LaMontagne, Brandi Carlile, Martin Sexton, Guster and Peter Rowan to name a few, and their upcoming summer tour already boasts a coveted featured slot at Targhee Fest in Jackson Hole, WY (headlined by the Funky Meters, Little Feat, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Michael Franti) and an opening slot for the legendary B.B. King in North Carolina in June.

An ambitious resume for sure but what might surprise you about the Spooner Trio's back story is the fact that they have started to make a very visible national dent without the help of a label, a manager or even a booking agent: the band is 100% independent.

Whatever you'd like to call it, “big label paranoia,” “fierce independence,” or simply “staunch realism,” the recipe is clearly working for the Spooner Trio as their list of accolades, along with their growing national fan base, is the clearest of evidence.

Click here to Submit a Band