Karl Blau and Cosmic Guilt will star in the season finale of Unprecedented Sessions

When we teamed up with the Cherry-Veen Zine and Power Cycle Productions last summer to launch Unprecedented Sessions, one name was at the top of their list to book for the series: Cosmic Guilt. The project of James Everhart of Scantron had gotten a quiet start in the before times as a scaled-down four-piece, but grew into an expansive country & western ensemble of near-Polyphonic Spree proportions in lockdown. After releasing a couple beautiful singles and debuting the new lineup in a terrific Sunflower Philly set back in June, the band joins us in full force on Thursday, August 26th for a livestream performance in the Unprecedented Sessions season finale.

Complimenting Cosmic on the bill is Karl Blau, the current Germantown resident who got his start in the late 90s Pacific Northwest scene before relocating across country in more recent years. His songwriting is also rootsy and heartfelt, with a DIY indie/folk flare, and while his Bella Union releases Introducing Karl Blau and Out Her Space have helped him reach new ears in the AAA radio umbrella, he’s been releasing a prolific amount of music since then, including a children’s record, a live EP, the Tonkunst LP recorded during lockdown, and most recently the “almost live” project Chill Bangers. Read his recent interview with The Key’s Catherine Ricketts in the Music + Art series.

In addition to the livestream, both artists have noteable gigs coming up: Cosmic Guilt playing the second night back at Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday, September 4th, and Karl Blau appearing at Common Beat Records in West Philadelphia with underground folk legend Kath Bloom on Sunday, September 12th.

The season finale of Unprecedented Sessions livestreams on Thursday, August 26th at 8 p.m. ET from WXPN’s Facebook page. Listen to music from both artists below.