Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, June Star has been crafting haunting, literate Americana since 1998. Founded by singer-songwriter Andrew Grimm, the band released its debut album in 1999 and quickly established a reputation for emotionally honest songs rooted in folk, alt-country, and classic rock traditions.
June Star's music evokes the dust and soul of American highways—melancholic, introspective, and unflinchingly human. With influences ranging from Townes Van Zandt to Neil Young to The Replacements, the band explores themes of regret, resilience, and revelation across a prolific discography.
At the heart of it all is Grimm’s weathered voice and evocative storytelling, backed by a stellar lineup: Dave Hadley on pedal steel, Eric Gehl on drums, and Chris Iseli on bass. Together, they deliver a sound that is both timeless and restless—equal parts intimate and expansive.
Whether performing in dim-lit clubs or on homemade recordings, June Star remains fiercely independent and artistically driven. Their recent releases (Arrival, Latency, and Agency) show a band still evolving, still searching, and still speaking from the heart.
Full rock band sound with Andrew Grimm on lead guitar/vocals (exquisite riffs and his unique vocal styling) and Dave Hadley (incredibly nuanced) on pedal steel. Plus EJ Thompson on percussion (lots of cool sounds here), Katie Field (sweet harmonies) on vocal harmony/guitar, Ryan on bass guitar and Brian on keyboards/back vocals/accordion (also nuanced supporting sounds, I especially appreciated the Hammond organ sneaking in around the edges). So with a six piece band you get a full sound. But each song was instrumentally blended according the needs of the lyrics. Three part vocals on some songs hinted of the Eagles. I even felt Tom Petty in one song. My personal favorite was "Pope of Mexico."