PRESS KIT
About:
“A group that you most definitely need to know…arena-filling, vibrant, soaring Americana goodness.”
-Vents Magazine
“As they continue to light up the scene one song at a time, these talented musicians are definitely ones to watch for the future.”
-Buzz-Music.com
“…contrasts alt-country and Americana with explosions of anthemic rock to make for a sound that is truly one of a kind.”
-Glide Magazine
“A compelling concoction of Americana twang and anthemic guitar rock, Wiley’s music hits all of the right notes…Jon Tyler Wiley is a force to be reckoned with.”
-Amplify Music Magazine
After four years of grinding away on the club and festival circuits of the east coast and midwest, “Pictures in the Dark, “ the first full-length LP made by Jon Tyler Wiley with his band, The Virginia Choir, was released in March of 2024. Tinnitist called it : “…Earthy Americana roots and sincere, grounded songcraft. It’s the kind of beautifully balanced, elegantly effortless grace that only comes with effort, commitment, communication and trust — qualities that Wiley and his Choir mates have spent the past few years nurturing and honing.” Music Mecca praised their single, “Song of Moving On,” saying that “[with] its heavy crashes and deep, dramatic soundscape…’Song of Moving On’ is a powerful call to hope, redemption and emotional perseverance.” The album landed them in Relix Magazine’s “Artists to Watch” music sampler in their April issue.
Listen to “Pictures in the Dark,” HERE.
Jon Tyler Wiley is a seasoned touring/ session musician who has performed with a diverse range of acts such as Sister Hazel, Stephen Kellogg, and Ron Holloway. As a performing teaching instructor with the MusiCorps program, he has performed on stages such as The Grand Ole Opry, The Kennedy Center and PBS’s a Capital Fourth with artists like Paul Schaffer, Aloe Blacc, John Stamos, and Trace Atkins. He has performed all over the world as a member of the Americana band Melodime.
After Wiley wrote and recorded his debut solo album, performing all of the instruments himself, he assembled a band of his close friends to bring the music to life. The Virginia Choir is made up of a seasoned musicians who have performed with acts as diverse as Keller Williams, Larry Keel, and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra. The diverse band, featuring Sean Mahon (keyboards), husband-and-wife rhythm section Brian ‘Piper’ Barbre (drums) and Joanna Smith (bass), and Lonnie Southall (guitar, mandolin, vocals), is becoming known for their masterful musicianship, energetic stage performances and captivating crowd interaction. Their first single, “Laura Lee",” was released on March 19th of 2021. Their single, ‘Strong,’ became available on April 9th of that year, with Skope Magazine calling it “Delightful", and a “poignant yet upbeat…feel-good single.” The band released four singles throughout 2021. Wiley’s full length solo album, “The Longing,”was released to critical acclaim on February 25th of 2022, and different covers, live versions and B-sides were released through out the remainder of the year.
Jon Tyler Wiley & His Virginia Choir at The 9:30 Club, Washington DC, Summer of 2023
JTWHVC aboard The Rock Boat 2021
- -Listen to ‘The Longing’- -
In the band’s young career it has already performed at festivals like the Rock Boat, Wisconsin’s Mile of Music (2021, 2022, 2023), Texas’s Texified Jamfest and Florida’s Rock by the Sea with artists such as American Authors, Switchfoot, and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. In it’s home area of Virginia and Washington DC, they have performed at renowned venues like The 9:30 Club (Washington DC), The National (Richmond), the Tally-Ho Theater (Leesburg), the Hamilton (Washington DC) and many more. They have opened for bands like Sister Hazel, Carbon Leaf, Red Wanting Blue, famed guitarist Ariel Posen, New York Rock-and-Roll poet Willie Nile and more. In the fall of 2020, it released a Christmas song as a part of Rock by the Sea’s 11th annual charity Christmas album, a cover of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” In the midst of COVID-19 restrictions they sold out famed Northern Virginia venue Jammin’ Java in March of 2021. The toured with Megan Slankard and Newski in the spring of 2023, visiting Orlando, Tampa, Chicago, Detroit, Appleton, Milwaukee, New York City and other cities. They have achieved all of this with Wiley all-the-while curating and hosting the popular songwriters’ round “One Night Only” in the Richmond area, which has seen guest talents like Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Frank Solivan, The Curry’s, Bill Howard from The Judy Chops, Karen Jonas, and Jason Manns.
