Fellowcraft

Fellowcraft is an indie progressive rock band from Washington DC, formed in 2014 by guitarist and lead singer Jon Ryan MacDonald, and former drummer Brian Nelson-Palmer. Their style and sound has evolved over time, spanning genres like Grunge, Blues, Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, and Progressive Rock. 
== History ==
=== Formation and ...the Singles (2014-2015) ===
Fellowcraft was formed in the summer of 2014 by guitarist and lead singer Jon Ryan "JR" MacDonald and former drummer Brian Nelson-Palmer. In the fall of 2014 Matthew Febles, a veteran member of DC's local music community and Flashband, joined as the band's first bassist. Fellowcraft started as a cover band playing songs by Led Zeppelin, the White Stripes, Weezer and Radiohead in bars and small local venues in the Washington DC area. The band began writing original material in the fall of 2014. In the winter of 2014, in his own studio apartment, JR MacDonald tracked and self produced a series of songs. These tracks were mixed and mastered by a producer and engineer from Maryland, Noah Silver of Silver Jukebox Recording Studios. Of the five songs that were considered, "Long Gone", and "Learning to Love Again" were the only two that were mastered. They were released independently in March 2015 via Soundcloud, and as a DIY CD that JR MacDonald made on his personal computer. They were later uploaded to digital streaming platforms and Bandcamp. Following the release, Matthew Febles left the band to focus on other projects in the DC area. He was replaced by Lawrence Proudfoot. 
=== Get Up Young Phoenix (2015) ===
in 2015, Fellowcraft began re working the same material considered for ...the Singles, and began working on a full length record. Before recording took place, Lawrence Proudfoot left the band and moved to the UK. Following his departure the band posted a wanted ad in Craigslist seeking a new bassist. Brandon Williams replied, and joined the band in the summer of 2015. That winter, the band recorded Get Up Young Phoenix, an 11 song LP, featuring re recorded versions of "Long Gone", and "Learning to Love Again" at Inner Ear Studios with Don Zientara, who had previously produced and engineered Bad Brains, Fugazi, John Frusciante, and Scream. The album was self-released on a limited run eco-friendly CD along with a four panel fold out insert. Only 100 copies were made. It was later released on streaming platforms and Bandcamp on New Years Day 2016. Reviews noted the Blues, Grunge, and Alternative influences on the record, . 
=== Three (2016-2019) ===
Immediately following the release of Get Up Young Phoenix the band began working on new material and played regularly at different venues and bars in DC, . Over a period of roughly three years, they completed nine songs. The first recording session was in the summer of 2017, with Jason Mendleson at Undisclosed Location, a studio in Alexandria, Virginia. Five songs were tracked over a weekend. These tracks were mixed and mastered by Sean Gotkin, of Blue Hippo Recording Studios. Limited overdubs were performed at his personal studio in Centerville, Virginia. Roughly one year later, in the spring of 2018 a second recording session was added at Bias Studios in Arlington, Virginia, with producer and engineer Mark Reiter. Three local DC musicians were guest featured on the record: Ardamus joined as an Emcee, Gordon Sterling as a guest guitarist and singer, and Mitchell Bass on percussion. Three was unofficially released on Aug 18, 2018 with a co-headlining performance at the 9:30 Club, during the second annual DC Music Rocks Festival. Roughly one month later, Three was made available on streaming platforms and Bandcamp. Following its release, Fellowcraft was nominated for four Washington Area Music Awards (also called 'The Wammies') in 2019, . They went on to win in the Best Rock Song category, for their song "Hold the Line"
=== Glimmer of Faith (2019-Present) ===
In the fall of 2018 founding member and drummer Brian Nelson-Palmer left the band for personal reasons. The band solicited the help of a new drummer, and a second guitarist, and started an ambitious rebranding effort. Pablo Anton-Diaz, formerly of Hundredth Nomad and Black Dog Prowl, joined as a lead guitarist. Zach Martin, formerly of Hundredth Nomad and Whiskey Pull, joined on drums. The band immediately began working on new material, and also re worked older material to incorporate a new progressive rock sound. In the summer of 2019 the band released "Glimmer of Faith", the first single to feature the new lineup. The song was tracked, mixed, mastered and produced by Tonio Ruiz, a Latin American rock producer and founder of Mexican rock bands Coda and Qbo. Following its release, Fellowcraft received another nomination for a Washington Area Music Award in 2020, this time for Best Hard Rock Band. Fellowcraft completed a promotional tour for the single that included dates along the US East Coast and also Mexico City, where they opened for Qbo at El Plaza Condesa, . In March of 2020 they played at the Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in Toluca, Mexico, where they shared the festival bill with Deep Purple, Manowar, Amon Amarth, Asesino, Phil Anselmo, Static-X, and others. Fellowcraft and Tonio Ruiz are currently working on a new EP release that the band has planned for the summer of 2020. 
== Discography ==
List of studio recordings
Title 	Album details
...the Singles 	Single, B-Side
Released March 28, 2015
Format: DIY CD, digital download
Produced by: Fellowcraft
Get Up Young Phoenix	LP
Released Jan 1, 2016
Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Produced by: Fellowcraft and Don Zientara
Three 	LP
Released Sep 18, 2018
Format: DIY CD, digital download, streaming
Produced by: Fellowcraft, Jason Mendleson, Sean Gotkin, and Mark Reiter
Glimmer of Faith 	Single
Released Aug 30, 2019
Format: Digital download, streaming
Produced by: Tonio Ruiz
== Awards and recognition ==
Year	Organization 	Title 	Award 	Result 	Ref
2019	Washington Area Music Awards	Hold the Line 	Best Rock Song 	Won 	
2019	Washington Area Music Awards	Three 	Best Rock Album 	Nominated	
2019	Washington Area Music Awards	Proliferation Nation	Best Hard Rock Song	Nominated	
2019	Washington Area Music Awards	Three 	Best Rock Band 	Nominated	
2020	Washington Area Music Awards	Glimmer of Faith 	Best Hard Rock Band	Nominated	
==In the media==
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== References ==
== External links ==
* Fellowcraft facebook page
* Fellowcraft instagram page
* Fellowcraft twitter page
* Fellowcraft on apple music
* Fellowcraft on spotify
* Fellowcraft youtube channel
* Fellowcraft on bandsintown
* Fellowcraft on soundcloud
Category:Musical groups established in 2014
Category:American rock bands
Category:American rock music groups
Category:Progressive rock
Category:Progressive rock groups
Category:American guitarists