Sturtz and Soultru at Velvet Elk Lounge

About This Event

Sturtz and Soultru are coming to Velvet Elk Lounge on May 17th. Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the show kicks off at 8:00 PM, all for $19 (fees included). NPR’s All Songs Considered described the band as “a reassuring breath of fresh air that pulls me back to simpler times." The quartet – Andrew Sturtz [vocals, guitar], Courtlyn Carpenter [cello, harmonies], Will Kuepper [bass, piano, harmonies], and Jim Herlihy [banjo, electric guitar, harmonies] - is serene and folksy, with melodic vocals soaring over the lower string instrumentals. Sturtz just released their second studio album Hyacinth in September 2024, and they're excited to tour on this album for the next year. When they’re not playing music, you’ll probably find them milling flour, gardening, roasting coffee, or honing their photography skills. For more than 15 years, singer-songwriter Terrance Banks has performed music under the name Soultru. For many of those years, he worked as a solo act, singing soulful tunes or delivering a more melodic rap flow. However, he was unaware of the history and roots that shaped him into the artist he is today. Terrance grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois, within a large family with members who opened for The Temptations (original lineup), Ready For The World, The Deele (Babyface and L.A. Reid's band), George Clinton, and many others in Davenport, Iowa. However, many of them eventually walked away from music, and Terrance didn't learn much about this until recently. In March 2024, he decided to expand the Soultru sound and form it as an Indie Soul Band. He added Simon Ertzinger, Jake Soltow, and Chris Cheers to shows like Mile of Music 11, Merchant Street Music Fest, and Des Moines Arts Festival. Soultru is currently working on releasing an LP in 2025 under The Record Machine out of Kansas City, MO.