For the past two decades, Atlanta native Ed Roland has been the front man and heart of the platinum-selling rock band Collective Soul. He has written seven #1 radio hits, and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. For Roland’s new project, Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project, he teamed up with a group of friends and musicians for a new approach to his classic hit-making style. The band plans to embark on a U.S. tour kicking off in April in the Southeast market in support of the debut album, Devils ‘n Darlins due to release later in 2013.
“The Sweet Tea Project started as a bunch of my friends coming over after gigs and listening to new songs I had written, but not with Collective Soul in mind,” said Roland. “Everybody sat around my studio with different instruments –banjo, mandolin, steel guitar, and ukulele – and just had a lot of fun.”
Indeed, Roland suggests that the main difference between The Sweet Tea Project and Collective Soul is in the instrumentation. “At this point in my life, the main focus will always be in writing the best songs I can write or co-write with my band mates,” he said.
After kicking off 2013 with “Rooted in Georgia” residencies in Atlanta and Athens, Ed Roland the Sweet Tea Project won ESPN’s contest to reimagine its NBA theme music, an initiative driven by fan voting. The band was featured on the SportsNation section of ESPN.com, and their version of the song aired during ESPN’s exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star weekend.
Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project’s debut album, Devils ‘n Darlins, is due for release in 2013, and the band will be bringing its live show to select U.S. cities throughout the year to support the new album. The idea is to break the band the old school way, by building its fan base close to home first, and then by kicking off what Roland suggests “will be a solid two years of touring” to support the debut.
For more information, including all upcoming tour dates, please visit sweetteaproject.com and www.facebook.com/sweetteaproject.
Ed Roland & The Sweet Tea Project Concert Calendar
APRIL 2 – Athens, GA
Tuesday Night Confessional
Nowhere Bar
https://www.facebook.com/events/428651977190767/
APRIL 5 – Atlanta, GA
Southwest Porch at Park Tavern
Piedmont Park – 500 Tenth Street NE
thesweetteaproject.com
APRIL 9 – Augusta, GA
Rock Fore! Dough
With Need To Breathe & Grace Potter
http://www.rockforedough.com/
MAY 11 – Decatur, GA
Decatur Green Fest
Old Courthouse Square
http://www.decaturgreenfest.com/Decatur_Green_Fest/Home.html
MAY 31 – Charlotte, NC
Friday LIVE! at The Factory
Fountain Plaza at the NC Music Factory
http://ncmusicfactory.com
JULY 13 – Woodstock, GA
Woodstock Concert Series
Park at City Center – 103 Arnold Mill Rd
http://www.woodstockconcertseries.com/
SEPT 15 – Atlanta, GA
Unplugged in the Park
Park Tavern 500 10th St. N.E
http://www.parktavern.com/upcoming-events/
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For the past two decades, Atlanta native Ed Roland has been the front man and heart of the platinum-selling rock band Collective Soul. He has written seven #1 radio hits, and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. He often performs and tours internationally as a special guest in the super group Kings of Chaos. Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project will release their debut album, Devils n’ Darlins in 2013, followed by a U.S. tour. Collective Soul will be embarking on an extensive world tour celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary in 2014.
