“If hurricanes could play music, they’d sound something like North Carolina’s Tan and Sober Gentlemen…”

Born and raised in North Carolina, the Tan and Sober Gentlemen began taking in the songs, stories, and tunes that make up their beloved state’s musical tradition before they could talk.
The music of the Carolinas (and Appalachia in general) stems from the marriage of the Irish fiddle and the African banjo, which first met in the South before the revolution. The Tan and Sober Gentlemen aim to bring these traditions full circle, blending Irish tunes, ballads, and pub songs with the Appalachian old-time and bluegrass music they grew up on. The result is a ruckus known affectionately as “Irish-American hillbilly music”.
Renowned as one of the South’s most electrifying live folk bands, The Tan and Sober Gentlemen are known for blazing tempos, raw energy, and unforgettable shows. Their performances are raucous celebrations of the Carolinas’ Irish heritage, filled with drinking, dancing, and downright joy, and have earned them a devoted following across the folk, bluegrass, celtic, and roots music scenes.