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New Single 'Oh Dakota' Available Everywhere

About

Stellar Jays

Bittersweet but infused with a determined optimism, Stellar Jays bring a shine to their jangly Americana roots rock with sweet vocal harmonies and shimmering reverb. Crunchy blues leads dance with sparkling acoustic chords, while an in-the-pocket rhythm section drives the music forward. 

Brian Siems (vocals & guitars), Brian Besand (guitar & vocals), Bob Congleton (bass), Alison Perkins (keyboard & vocals) and Tim Schuringa (drums) came together in 2022 as the world emerged from pandemic-induced stasis. Originally hailing from Virginia, Texas, Washington and California, the quintet was born from the perpetually simmering Seattle alt-rock and Americana scene. 

Following the release of their first album ‘Early Winters’ in 2023 (“A superb debut album… Siems has an interesting somewhat world-weary voice that at times has echoes of Lou Reed and Jeff Tweedy” – Americana UK) and their 2024 EP ‘Mojave’ ("Stellar Jays tap into catchy West Coast Americana roots rock energy” – Music Mecca), the band is back with ‘Merit Badge,’ their second full length album and a solid collection of distinctive new songs. The group returned to the production team from their debut, recording and mixing with Don Farwell (Foo Fighters, Ginger Baker Trio) at Earwig Studio and mastering with Rachel Field (Pearl Jam, Brandi Carlile) at Resonant Mastering.

At its heart Merit Badge is a record about the ways relationships push, confuse, steady and reshape us. Across eight tracks Stellar Jays explore the first sparks, mixed signals, long‑distance longing, late‑night regrets, and conflicting perspectives that become turning points in our closest relationships. According to Siems, “You could call each song on ‘Merit Badge’ a kind of love song, and what I was trying to do with each is to capture a different facet of falling into, out of, or sideways in love.”  

The band threads these stories through ‘Merit Badge’ with their signature blend of Americana, alt‑country, and jangly roots rock, pulling imagery from cross‑state road trips, late‑night Seattle streets and the emotional corners we don’t always admit out loud. It’s also the band’s most sonically diverse record – touching everything from Tom Petty heartland rock to Son Volt’s electric alt‑country grit to hook‑driven indie rock in the early‑Killers vein – but the through‑line is clear: lived‑in stories about the relationships that leave a mark.

Stellar Jays remain anchored in their shared love of energetic, roots-leaning rock and roll, and Merit Badge captures the band at their most focused and adventurous. The album arrives Fall 2026 and the band is proud of where these songs landed – and where they’re headed next.

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Shows

Previous events

Stellar Jays at Old Stove Ship Canal - we'll be on from 4:00p to 6:00p and have lots of songs from our forthcoming album "Merit Badge" along with some surprises! Free show - kids and dogs welcome. Come on out and enjoy the summer vibes!

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Come on out to what’s gonna be a great show @bluemoonseattle on Friday, Nov 7! Thrilled to be sharing a bill with our friends @boxcarband who’ll be in all the way from St. Louis and new friends @wren_hollow from right here in Seattle. Mark your calendars! $10 at the door

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Stellar Jays are honored to perform at QAFM Opening Day for the 2nd year in a row! Free show, all ages, and we'll be on from 5p to 7p. Great way to kick off your summer season!

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Stellar Jays are reuniting with our friends Shaker Bloomheart and our new friends Panic Fancy for our first show at High Dive! We go on first so be on time! :) High Dive Presents: Shaker Bloomheart Panic Fancy Stellar Jays $12adv / $15dos 8PM doors 8:30PM show 21+

$12 advance / $15 dos

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Brian & Brian Acoustic Set at Rendezvous

The Rendezvous, 2322 2nd AVE , Seattle, WA

Excited to announce we'll be playing a rare acoustic set (or Brian B just on acoustic and Brian S with a tele) as a duo this Wednesday 1/29 at @therendezvous.rocks in Belltown! Expect a collection of old favorites, at least one brand new one and a couple surprise covers - see you there!

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The Stellar Jays with no repro 'Mojave' EP Release Party! Doors 6:30pm - Show starts at 7:30pm

Well have we got a show for YOU! We’re thrilled to announce your one-and-only Stellar Jays will be hosting our ‘Mojave’ EP release show @rabbitboxtheatre on Thursday October 17th, AND we’re doing something sorta crazy: since it’s almost Halloween, we decided it should be a Wes Anderson-themed costume party! Cause why not 😊

Expect to see Stellar Jays in our best Royal Tenenbaums getups, as well as some surprise covers from the iconic movie’s soundtrack.

And we’re thrilled to share the stage with the amazing @noreproband a voice and guitar duo focused on Brazilian pop/rock from the 80/90s, who’ll be playing – wait for it – a handful of David Bowie covers in Portuguese a la “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” along with some of their favorite Brazilian relics.

https://www.instagram.com/noreproband/

$15 adv. / $18 dos

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Ballard Reuse 10th Anniversary Party!

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Ballard Reuse, 1440 N.W. 52nd St. , Seattle, WA 98107

We're delighted to be invited to add some live music to the @ballard_reuse 10th Anniversary Party this Saturday! We'll be embracing our summer market vibe and will be largely guitars and vocals (ie our drummer Tim is out of town!). Come check out some new songs on your way back from the Solstice Parade - we go on at 2p. And grab some great food from @secretsausage and @deepseasugar!

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Come see Stellar Jays at one of our favorite venues in Seattle at Conor Byrne! We're thrilled to be playing with the great Oh Wells and Jon Hyde- gonna be a great evening in Ballard! We're on last at 11p, $10 advance / $12 door / 21+ / doors 8p / music 9p

$10 advance / $12 door

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Come join us to celebrate the vinyl release of American Flats' new album 'Nevada'! Stellar Jays will open (and we have a set of new songs to debut in addition to the classics!) + the lively and harmonic The Mrs Bill Larsens - don't miss it! We're on first at 8p. Doors: 7pm; Tickets: $15 advance, $20 doors

Tickets: $15 advance, $20 doors

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Doors at 7p; Music at 8p; $12 adv/$15 door; 21+

Stellar Jays Bittersweet but infused with a determined optimism, Stellar Jays bring a shine to their jangly Alt-country American rock and roll with sweet vocal harmonies and shimmering reverb. Crunchy blues leads dance with sparkling acoustic chords, while an in-the-pocket rhythm section keeps things trundling along as we head off on our melodic journey into the great unknown.

Brian Siems (vocals & guitars), Brian Besand (guitar & vocals), Bob Congleton (bass), Alison Perkins (keyboard & vocals) and Tim Schuringa (drums) came together as the world was emerging from pandemic-induced stasis. Originally hailing from Virginia, Texas, Washington and California and holding down quintessentially Seattle day-jobs across global philanthropy, software, water quality, library sciences and consulting, the quintet was born from the perpetually simmering Seattle country-Americana scene.

Stellar Jays released their debut album ‘Early Winters’ in August 2023, which was recorded and mixed at Earwig Studio in Seattle with engineer Don Farwell (Foo Fighters, Ginger Baker Trio) and mastered at Resonant Mastering by Rachel Field (Pearl Jam, Brandi Carlile). Americana UK calls it “A superb debut album from the Seattle-based band that has something for everyone… As well as writing some fascinating and evocative songs, Siems has an interesting somewhat world-weary voice that at times has echoes of Lou Reed and Jeff Tweedy.”

Stellar Jays are firmly rooted in a shared, profound love of energetic live rock and roll. There is joy to be found in the creation of music, and that joy is palpable in the ringing chords and catchy hooks of the record. “We collectively spent enough time depressed and crying in our beers during the pandemic” says Siems. “We’re hoping this album just delivers a bit of the happiness we had creating it to anybody listening.”

The Drive Through The Drive Through" is a Seattle-based group bringing their individual alternative styles together to create an energetic live concert experience. Formed in 2017, The Drive Through takes listeners on a musical joy ride across genres, crafting songs with a pop sensibility that talk to a spectrum of collective experiences.

http://thedrivethrough.com/ https://thedrivethrough.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thedrivethroughband/

Peter Donovan Peter Donovan is an astute musical storyteller. His perceptive songs span multiple genres and feature narratives inspired by both real-life and fictional characters, all crafted with a contemplative heart. With his debut album, "This Better Be Good," Donovan expands his creative scope by seamlessly blending the plaintive soul of indie rock, the heartfelt sincerity of Americana, and the stirring studio pageantry reminiscent of 1970s singer-songwriters. This amalgamation serves as a vehicle to explore more intimate emotional depths.

In addition to his solo work, Donovan also composes music for films. His most recent contribution includes composing three original tracks for the upcoming movie "Red Right Hand," starring Orlando Bloom and slated for a 2024 release. The new year will also see the release of Donovan's second album, "Community Theatre."

https://www.instagram.com/peterdonovanmusic/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/63q4ec7GmIfOuO4Nvu27Vv?si=NBNF8SAeSCu4qF86b8QuWA

$12 advance / $15 door; 21+

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The Rabbit Box welcomes the Stellar Jays' release of "Early Winters", Friday August 18th with the Brittany Collins Band.

Stellar Jays are a rock band with an alt-country twang from Seattle. Originally hailing from Virginia, Texas, Washington and California, Stellar Jays bring a variety of rock, Americana, country and indie musical influences together into melodic and energetic original songs. The band’s influences include Wilco, Turnpike Troubadours, Old 97s and Neil Young among many others. https://stellarjaysmusic.com/

Soulful Americana artist Brittany Collins writes songs that are equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. Her hauntingly powerful voice evokes imagery of the rugged mountainous landscape where she was raised and still lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her performance will hit you like a lightning bolt and leave you begging for more. https://brittanycollinsband.com

Doors at 7pm ~ Show starts at 8pm

Tickets $18 adv. / $20 door: https://givebutter.com/StellarJays-BrittanyCollinsBand

Tickets $18 adv / $20 door

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