San Fermin

Claim Band

Photo: Kyle Dean Reinford A pastiche of post-rock, chamber-pop and contemporary classicalcomposition, San Fermin is the work of Brooklyn composer and songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone. His self-titled debut album is strongly influenced by his unique background in classical music, which includes a job assisting composer/arranger Nico Muhly.After finishing his musical studies at Yale, Ludwig-Leone wrote the album in six weeks while holed up in a studio on the mountainous border between Alberta and

Photo: Kyle Dean Reinford

A pastiche of post-rock, chamber-pop and contemporary classical
composition, San Fermin is the work of Brooklyn composer and songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone. His self-titled debut album is strongly influenced by his unique background in classical music, which includes a job assisting composer/arranger Nico Muhly.

After finishing his musical studies at Yale, Ludwig-Leone wrote the album in six weeks while holed up in a studio on the mountainous border between Alberta and British Columbia. He focused on lifeʼs top-shelf issues – youth, nostalgia, anxiety, unrequited love – and tied these vast themes to different characters through vocal contributions from longtime friend Allen Tate, as well as Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig.

San Fermin is not an album of singles but rather a sweeping, full-bodied listen with multiple distinct peaks and ambitious thematic connections. Ludwig-Leone composed all of the album's arrangements and lyrics in full prior to collaborating and recording, noting that “writing for a large group of unknown musicians infused the writing process with a kind of operatic scope."

The first track released from the album, "Sonsick," tackles many of these larger themes head-on. “I was near the end of a relationship and, not coincidentally, the song contains a direct and brutal confrontation between opposing views on the subject," he says. "I realized that the most intense moments are the ones in which conflicting emotional worlds exist inside you, equally, at once."

San Fermin will be available on CD, vinyl and digital outlets via Downtown Records this fall.

Bunbury Music Festival 2017 (Saturday - Fan Experience)

Candid fan shots from Bunbury Music Festival 2017 on Saturday, June 3 at Sawyer Point & Yeatman's cove.

Chromatic Anthem, Undark Photography, Ron Valle, Calan Beasley | fortycalproductions

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Bunbury Music Festival 2017 (Saturday - Artists)

Artist shots from Bunbury Music Festival 2017 on Saturday, June 3 at Sawyer Point & Yeatman's cove.

Chromatic Anthem, Undark Photography, Ron Valle, Calan Beasley | fortycalproductions

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Alt-J and San Fermin

Photos of Alt-J and San Fermin courtesy of Michael Kerns

Michael Kearns

Monday, September 21, 2015

Bunbury Releases Schedule!

Promowest Productions just released the daily schedule for the 2017 Bunbury Music Festival, returning to downtown Cincinnati's Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove June 2-4. Check it out below or on the Bunbury Website! ENTER FOR A SHOT AT A PAIR OF 3-DAY PASSES. Single Day tickets are...

Courtney Phenicie

Thursday, May 11, 2017, 6:00am

Bunbury Releases Daily Lineup

Promowest Productions just released the daily lineup for the 2017 Bunbury Music Festival, returning to downtown Cincinnati's Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove June 2-4. ENTER FOR A SHOT AT A PAIR OF 3-DAY PASSES. Friday June 2 acts include: Wiz Khalifa, G-Eazy, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins,...

Courtney Phenicie

Tuesday, April 18, 2017, 6:00am

Bunbury Music Festival 2017 Lineup Announced

Muse, Wiz Khalifa, G-Eazy, Bassnectar and Pretty Lights will headline the 2017 Bunbury Music Festival, announced today by PromoWest Productions. Celebrating its sixth year in 2017, the three-day music festival will return to downtown Cincinnati’s Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove June...

Courtney Phenicie

Wednesday, January 25, 2017, 2:00am

Artists Den Presents alt-J to Premiere in Select U.S. Cinemas

On September 2, 2015 the Artists Den and Fathom Events will premiere their first-ever joint cinema event starring U.K. rock group alt-J with "Artists Den Presents alt-J." The event includes an exclusive performance during which the group played hits from its most recent albums for a packed...

Courtney Phenicie

Friday, August 28, 2015, 2:30am

MidPoint Indie Summer Lineup Released

MidPoint Music Festival have announced an amazing lineup of music on Fountain Square for MidPoint Indie Summer! As part of the PNC Summer Series produced by 3CDC, this free concert series presents regional, national, and international acts for a night of music each Friday...

Ian Bolender

Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 5:50am

Interview: San Fermin storm The Woodward with new material

San Fermin’s self-titled debut record, released a little over a year ago now, is absolutely bursting with ideas and creative flourishes at every corner. It’s frankly difficult to take it all in on first listen, with new details emerging every time you make it through. The angular pop of Dirty...

Nat Tracey-Miller

Tuesday, November 11, 2014, 4:09am

I Spy Mikhael Paskalev at Woodward Theater

Mikhael Paskalev was suggested to me via Spotify based on my listen history over a year ago. I do give most of these suggestions a listen but it's rare I find a favorite. Upon first listen to “My Spy”, I added it to a favorite list and listened to daily. I wasn't the only one paying attention...

Courtney Phenicie

Thursday, November 6, 2014, 4:15am