11.7 Saturday (Americana) Hidden Hall & The PBJ Present: THE LAST REVEL Nathaniel Riley Matthew "Rev" Rieger (of Lil' Smokies) 8pm doors 8:30pm show 21+ Hidden Hall 400 N 35th St hiddenhall.com Much like their sorrowful, purposeful melodies, the members of The Last Revel contain this thick thread of self, and of place, when it comes to the underlying trait in the sounds and scope of their intent, onstage and in the studio — survival mode. “Honestly, I don’t know if we would’ve been able to do this career for as long as we have without persistence,” says guitarist Lee Henke. “By living in a challenging place, it’s definitely conditioned us to have a high tolerance for discomfort, a certain toughness to push ahead.” That sentiment of tenacity and passion lies at the heart of The Last Revel’s latest album, Gone for Good. Produced by Trampled by Turtles lead singer Dave Simonett, the record is a multilayered ode to the life of an artist, life on the road, and what it means to be a human being in uncertain times. “This is a step in our careers that feels like there’s no going back,” says banjoist Ryan Acker. “There’s a level of commitment now that, just a couple of years ago, we didn’t fathom we could take on. The boat is off the shore and you can’t see land anymore — we’re in it now.” Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Americana/indie-folk outfit harkens to the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of what it means to pursue your dreams in real time. The foundation of which is conjured by a deep appreciation and genuine respect for the vast landscape and sometimes-harsh realities of what it means to emerge from the Midwest. “We grew up in the Midwest and we’ve all kind of stayed in this region of the country,” Henke notes. “This place has imprinted itself on who we are, and that challenge of life here is part of who we are now.” Alongside Henke and Acker is fiddler Vinnie Donatelle. When the ensemble finds themselves behind the microphone, it’s the culmination of their vocal talents that truly showcases the mission of The Last Revel — harmony. “There’s no better feeling [when we’re singing together],” Acker says. “And it makes you understand something primal, these melodies and these harmonies. It’s internal and it’s really powerful to sing your heart out with the people you love and your best friends.” The seeds for The Last Revel were initially planted when Acker and Henke met in college in Wisconsin and started jamming together. Following graduation, the duo eventually headed for Minnesota, crossed paths with Donatelle, and started putting together a musical project. By 2011, the group was formed in Minneapolis. Nathaniel Riley put out a beautiful record, Bird Songs, in July 2023 and is a fixture in the CO music scene. Ben Baruch at 11Eleven is managing. Bridget Law and Charlie Rose of Elephant Revival, and Steve Varney (Banjo for Gregory Alan Isakov), all contributed to the record. Check out this write up in Westworld. In 2024, Nathaniel has supported Darren Kiely, Briscoe, and Ezra Bell. In 2025, Nathaniel released a handful of singles and will be putting a new record in 2026.