Old Habits got their start in 2003 when Craig Thompson, Lin Peterson, Bennett Thompson, and Brian English got together to pick a little bluegrass. A duplex across the street from Raleigh landmark The Players Retreat served as both home to roommates Lin and Craig, and the original practice space for the band. Soon after, Chad Johnson joined the group. Over the next few years, Old Habits would gain momentum playing in small bars and occasional parties. In 2007, they recorded their first self-titled album at The Rubber Room in Chapel Hill. In 2010, Evans Nicholson joined the band on drums, and the band moved from old-school bluegrass to their current sound – a mixture of Americana, country, and Southern roots music.
The Carmonas recently released their first full length studio album, The Carmonas, the follow-up to their debut EP, Oh, Alice. This band blends a wide range of musical styles into a cohesive, original sound. With fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, and upright bass, they deliver cut-above song crafting, strong vocal choruses, and ear-grabbing harmonies. The natural blend of the voices of primary members and siblings Chad, Alison, and Aaron Carmona is what really draws attention to the talent apparent in this Americana group. They have performed at a variety of venues across the country from New York to Nashville and California to the Dakotas. In addition to stateside touring they have had the chance to tour Europe, South and Central America, and the Middle East. They have shared the stage with Emmy Lou Harris, Marty Stuart, Dale Ann Bradley, Band of Heathens, and the Blind Boys of Alabama among others.
