The dynamic vocals of Stephanie Adlington and the guitar prowess of Aaron Lessard as A Tale Of Two are like sticks of dynamite exploding in your ears

The dynamic vocals of Stephanie Adlington and the guitar prowess of Aaron Lessard as A Tale Of Two are like sticks of dynamite exploding in your ears

With their new album – RENEGADE, out on 10/4

“The whine and grit in this duo’s vocals are gripping and noticeably timeless.” – Americana Highways

The duo is set to be an Official AmericanaFest Showcase Artist 2024 in Nashville, TN

Combining the best of Americana and blues melodies with timeless Southern storytelling, award-winning vocalist Stephanie Adlington and guitarist phenom Aaron Lessard draw influences from Tom Waits, The Lone Bellow, Ray LaMontagne, along with bedrock artists Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr., giving them street cred.

Their new album, Renegade, is set to hit the streets on October 4, 2024, and was produced by Jon Estes (John Paul White, Mary Bragg) and recorded at Jon Estes’ Studios. Backing musicians are some of the top-tier players in Nashville, Billy Contreras (fiddle), Elizabeth Estes (fiddle), Jamie Dick (Percussion), Ross McReynolds (Percussion), and Jon Estes himself on bass and various other instruments. All songs are written by Stephanie and Aaron, with the exception of Tom Wait’s song, “Gun Street Girl.”

The first single, “Renegade,” blows out with its pounding drums, mimicking a train barreling fast down the tracks out of town. The song aims to flip Nashville on its head, using the spirit of the Appalachian terrain as a guide as it represents a shift, a changing of the tides of how music can be anything you want it to be.

“God help me if the mountain water

Don’t wash my fears away

Roll, roll thunder

Till I can see my fate

Don’t dare look yonder and back

From where I came 

Cause I’m born again a renegade” – “Renegade”

“The Devil Did The Deed” is a blues shouter as it steals a little from Johnny Cash’s version of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” telling the story of two lovers’ demise. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t struggle as the man realizes he’s been screwed over by a woman. It’s a David Lynch mini-movie of a Jim Thompson book that unfolds as we hang on to every word and note.

“Running scared, got a cross to bear

Praying for relief

Southbound, over hallowed ground

Hiding from the heat” – “The Devil Did The Deed”

The duo softens a bit on “By The Light Of The Moon,” Stephanie explains it best: “… it’s a romantic and poignant song about a love that transcends life and death. The narrator reflects on moments with their beloved, who is now a ghost. They remember dancing under the stars and feeling deeply connected.

As the years pass, the narrator longs for their ghostly lover and recalls their promise to reunite “by the light of the moon.” The song portrays their enduring bond and the hope of dancing together again, forever linked despite the separation of life and death.”

In the past four years, A Tale Of Two has captured the attention of festivals like the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, venues like The Bluebird Café in Nashville, and spots as official showcase artists for AmericanaFest 2024, SERFA 2024 (Southeast Regional of Folk Alliance), and Folk Alliance International 2022.

Stephanie Adlington is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and vocal coach. Born and raised in Grafton, WV, Miss Stephanie graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, England. She attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and (pre-college) Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. While in London, Stephanie recorded with the folk-rock band Renaissance, which produced three critically acclaimed international albums. “Her take on the great American songbook is unrivaled. Her sound stood up well when played next to iconic artists such as Ella Fitzgerald. Do yourself a favor and get to know and appreciate this ascendant music star” Leslie Stoval – NPR San Francisco.

“Disarmingly engaging as a songwriter, particularly with her southern Willow Sway” – Cabaret Scenes Magazine (NYC)

Aaron Lessard is a versatile guitarist from Westport, MA. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music and earned his stripes in various bands. He moved to Nashville in 2017 before joining Stephanie Adlington’s solo project in 2018, and he continues his involvement in Nashville jazz and Americana scenes today.

A Tale Of Two has opened for notable artists such as Mary Gauthier, Grayson Capps, and Peter Mulvey. Unlike the artists who inspired them, the duo’s songs frequently dabble in stories of revenge and drinking and feature sinners of all stripes and persuasions.

Oozing an infectious stage presence and chemistry that carries over from the music to the back-and-forth banter between songs, A Tale Of Two offers a different kind of Americana – storytelling by a swampy pair of retro raconteurs spinning blues arias with soul, intrigue, and power.