Forlorn Strangers, with Easton native Jesse Thompson, Set for the State Theatre

Forlorn Strangers is a quintet based out of Nashville, Tennessee but has a local connection to the Lehigh Valley. Their unmistakable sound comes to the State Theatre on Friday, February 24 with a performance in the Acopian Ballroom. Local acoustic rock duo Blue Jean will also perform as special guests.

Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 with proceeds benefiting the State Theatre. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton Street, Easton, by calling 1-800-999-STATE, 610-252-3132 or online at www.statetheatre.org. General Admission.

The band is comprised of five songwriters, each having their own distinct sounds & styles that blend into one cohesive voice. Their music is rooted in family harmonies & flavored with guitars, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, & foot stomping percussion.

Forlorn Strangers consists of sisters Abigail Dempsey (fiddle, percussion, vocals) and Hannah Dempsey Lusk (mandolin, percussion, vocals); along with Chris Banke (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Benjamin Lusk (banjo, guitar, vocals), and Jesse Thompson (upright bass, dobro, guitar, vocals). Thompson is a Lehigh Valley native, hailing from Easton. Since 2013, Forlorn Strangers has released two EPs (While the Grass Grows and American Magic Tricks) and has toured continuously across the United States, playing for an ever-increasing group of appreciative fans.

The quintet is gearing up to release their self-titled, debut full-length album. Forlorn Strangers was recorded at John Prine's Nashville studio, The Butcher Shoppe and produced by Grammy winner Phil Madeira. In 2015, Forlorn Strangers played over 180 shows, including dates with Anti- Records' Sean Rowe and Sierra Hull. They release date is August 5 and they've already booked some notable festival slots for this summer including Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Homegrown Music Festival and the Albino Skunk Festival, with more dates being added every week.

Blue Jean was formed in late 2009 by singer-guitarist Chris Hallett and bassist Dustin Schoof after a decade of cutting their teeth on the Lehigh Valley and Pocono indie-rock circuits. Blue Jean combines the pop sensibility of Weezer with the melodic touch of Spill Canvas and the bright hue of New Found Glory and Jimmy Eat World.

For more information, visit ForlornStrangers.com, or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bluejeanrocks.