Page 40 - ION Indie Magazine MarchApril 2024

Though it sounds like a fun madhouse in these jam sessions, Dougherty’s note of this method and his
bandmates driving him to improve his playing abilities rings true and can be heard in the songs filling
out their new album. Similar to how jazz musicians play, learning how and being able to play with
improvisation keeps the brain active, and creates entirely unique sounds, such as with their new song
“Skippin’ Town.”

“When we were recording ‘Skippin’ Town,’ we sat down together and hashed out this whole improvised
jam session together. We essentially created the song in the studio, which is not normally the case,”
Dougherty reminisced. “One could look at that as procrastination of not having it figured out before we

showed up, or you could look at it as an opportunity to collaborate with your talented friends.”

Singing in the sunshine.

While the sun continues to thaw us for the summer, Armchair Boogie works to keep their music playing
in the colder months, moving from their beloved festival stages to taking gigs as individual players and
building up their base for the outdoor festival season once more.

“You simply can't beat the energy in the vibe of an outdoor music festival, and as a bluegrass stage
band, that's kind of our bread and butter,” Augie Dougherty smiled.

The band books nearly fifty festivals in a single year, ranging from late spring to mid-fall, with a show
almost every weekend and some weekday shows in the summer. They even happily return to some
of these music festivals every year.

“We play so many festivals in the summertime, it's a staple for us,” he said. “Playing those shows
throughout the winter is just something to get us by until the summertime because that's when
everything seems worth it. It's all so beautiful and amazing because you get to see the whole

community there. People are just there to vibe, and the vibe is unbreakable.”

Some of the band’s favorite stages to perform across the country are for festivals such as Blue Ox
Music Festival, Jackpine Jamboree, Northwest String Summit, Summer Camp, Live on King Street,
John Hartford Memorial Festival, and Bourbon and Beyond. Dougherty actually revealed playing Blue

Ox Music Festival in Eua Claire, Wisconsin, is one he looks forward to every year.