You may not associate the East Bay with the terms “outlaw country,” “roots,” or country music in general. But The Backwater Ramblers aren’t phased by the unique place they hold in the Bay Area music landscape. They’ll swing from blues to…well, swing music…to honky tonk country like it’s nothing. While the majority of the band hails from California or the East Coast, it’s Kentucky native lead singer Aimee Renee Wellman who provides the authenticity and soul with a touch of backwoods grit that gives The Backwater Ramblers their down home feel.

Aimee’s vocals are backed by lyricist Jeff Eyman on lap steel guitar and banjo, J.J. White on harmonica, Scott Cereghino on drums and Greg Seeno on bass. The band recently released their debut E.P. 100 Proof and already have plans to record more in October for a sophomore album release in December.

It makes sense that Creedence Clearwater Revival has had an influence on the band. “Nobody sounds like John Fogarty,” says Aimiee. “He just has a gritty quality that gets to you, gets down in your soul and leaves marks.” The Backwater Ramblers are on their way there, too.

You can catch The Backwater Ramblers at The Red Hats in Concord October 14. Keep up with the band on their website, Facebook, Soundcloud, and Instagram.