Sister Hazel

Formed in 1993, Sister Hazel is an acoustic jangle pop band based in Gainesville, FL, featuring vocalist/guitarist Ken Block, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Copeland, lead guitarist Ryan Newell, bassist Jeff Beres, and drummer Mark Trojanowski.

Sister Hazel has never been far from the road, and their consistent, regular touring has only helped to grow their fan base, year in and year out. Even before they signed their first record deal, they were always very available and open with their fans, and they've continued to strive to provide those fans with a feeling of sharing along the way. The result has been a group of fans who are extraordinarily loyal, some of whom follow the band on the road from city to city. “We've created a community of like-minded people who enjoy the music as much as we do,” says Newell. “We're still having fun and that translates. All of us try to be accessible to our fans, and we really are concerned with their journey as much as ours.”

With fan interaction so important to all of the band members, it is certainly understandable that Sister Hazel is equally serious about the charity work that they do. The band has raised over half a million dollars through concerts and silent auctions of handwritten lyrics held to benefit the Lyrics for Life charity they founded: funds raised go to help children and adults battling cancer.