BBQ and Bourbon Tasting with The Luke Austin Band – Smoque and Bones, Toronto – August 25, 2015

By: Kat Harlton

www.lukeaustinband.com

This past Tuesday I had the pleasure of joining The Luke Austin Band and some of their friends for an intimate BBQ and bourbon tasting experience thanks to Strut Entertainment. The invite-only party was in celebration of the band’s Nashville inspired rock EP, For No One In Particular.

Guests were treated to a copy of the the new disc, as well as southern inspired food and cocktails created by the nice folks at Smoque & Bones, and it was sooooooo good. Seriously, it was some of the best food I’ve had in quite a while. The cocktails were pretty amazing too, showcasing various kinds of whiskey.  They even created a special drink for the occasion – ‘An old friend’ based on the song Old Friend from the band’s new EP.

However, the best part of the evening was getting to hang out with the band, and I think more artists should take this intimate kind of approach. As someone who routinely talks to artists at shows, where it’s loud and there is  crowds of people around, it was a welcome change to have a conversation with them about their work and music without feeling rushed or in the way. The experience allowed for connections to be formed organically.  It was authentic and one of the best incidents I’ve had when meeting a band for the first time.

It was a great way to start off the week, and I highly recommend giving the new EP a listen.  The Luke Austin Band have some shows coming up, so now’s your opportunity to catch them while you can.