#32 Koriander

This new Nashville-based band is comprised of seasoned veterans and boasts an eclectic blend of personalities and diverse musical backgrounds. Its members originally hail from California, Alabama, Colorado, Minnesota, and Oklahoma - thus, the distinctively Americana sound and feel!

Lead singer Erin Ashleigh is an experienced writer and possesses an inimitable voice. She has appeared on shows with country greats Toby Keith, John Conlee, the Oak Ridge Boys, Kitty Wells, Porter Wagner, and others. Erin is also a regular on the writers' night circuit in Nashville, performing at the top venues, like the Bluebird Café, and with the best writers in all of Country Music. Keyboardist E.J. Ford is a gifted musician, who has played with a "who's who" list of Soul, Blues, and R & B artists such as Herschel Bailey, Clarence Dobbins, Scat Springs, Johnny Jones, Damien Horne of Muzik Mafia fame, and "The Color Purple" movie star, Maria Howell.

Guitarist A.J. Gonzalez and Bassist Andy Lewis previously played together in another band – Trip Aces. A.J.'s love for music began as a boy. Walking home from school, he discovered a CD and took it home. What he heard was the blistering guitar of Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was hooked from that moment. Andy's influences include Aerosmith and the Meters. A solid bass player, he has played music around the world, including Hong Kong. Drummer Nathan Veestra was playing with a successful band, the Barefoot Renegades, when Koriander came calling. He's played on shows with John Rich, and cultivated his style playing studio sessions. Nathan says that one of his most interesting dates was playing on the Jerry Lewis Telethon in Las Vegas.