There are three secrets to writing amazing music. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what they are. Realizing this dilemma, singer songwriter Joey Olson joined forces with banjo player Drew Hagmann and Accordion player Libby Bird to create a band that would attempt to get a little closer to the tantalizing secrets of great music. Formed in 2014, All the Islands combines smooth smoky folk with a dramatic punch of bluesy rock and a sprinkling of bluegrass. The folky group invokes the lively melodies of Nickel Creek, the haunting harmonies of the Civil Wars, and the pleasant mysteriousness of Beirut, with an espresso shot of harmonica to top it off.

The group started performing together in 2011 as a street gig under the name Bridge Street. After finishing school in 2012, Olson moved to Chile and spent a year and a half absorbing the complex rhythms of the Salsa, the burning emotion of the Tango and the great stories of Latino folk artists such as Manuel Garcia and Silvio Rodriguez. During this time he walked everywhere with his harmonica- admittedly he sucked, as one must when playing harmonica. But eventually the soulful vibratos of the harmonica would become an integral part of his musical style. The group is currently working on the release of their debut album, Due North, a collection of songs representing a fusion of styles and genres.

www.reverbnation/alltheislandsmusic