Arielle

Arielle is considered a music industry triple threat because she could enjoy an impressive career solely as a singer, songwriter or guitar player, but she has combined all three of those gifts to create a unique artistry that defies genres and borders.

She recently opened for Eric Johnson on his 3-month long tour earlier this year, as well as played and/or opened for Vince Gill, Gregg Allman, Heart, Joan Jett, Country Joe McDonald, Eric Johnson, Paul Gilbert, Andy Timmons, and many more. She has already made the cover of Guitar Player magazine and released the single “California,” which reached No. 3 on CMT Pure Charts. She is the guitar player for Avery in the TV show Nashville, where she currently resides. Her voice gains comparison to Karen Carpenter and Eva Cassidy for the purity with a four-octave range.

Arielle has an associate degree from the Musician’s Institute in L.A. and studied at London’s Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. Queen’s Brian May created a guitar role specifically for her in the West End musical We Will Rock You. She also played guitar on tour with Cee Lo Green. Her most recent release, ‘My Gypsy Heart,’ her classic folk rock release debuted for 8 weeks on the Billboard Charts in 11 different categories.

Arielle is also a dolphin and whale activist, and is currently working on a unique guitar line, based off her custom prototype, Two-Tone, with Brian May (Queen). Whether it’s her guitar playing or singing, she never feels the need to show off. Indeed, she adheres to the philosophy that less can be more when it comes to expressing experiences through her songs. “The hardships and the insecurities are the reasons why I’m able to be vulnerable and real” she says.

The most loyal fans in the Herd are always eager to accept a call to action. Last year Donna the Buffalo started a crowdfunding campaign to buy a new tour bus; within three weeks, they had raised $90,000. “You can imagine how validating that felt for us,” Nevins says, still overwhelmed at the generosity.

By creating a bridge between generations, Donna the Buffalo attracts one of the broadest demographics on the festival circuit. When Nevins encounters young women in the autograph line, she likes to write “Girl Power!” She’s proud to see them looking up at the stage and watching a female musician really getting down, comprehending that they could do the same thing one day. In addition, Puryear has noted that Vietnam veterans have gravitated to the band. During a songwriting workshop, Puryear sang “Killing A Man,” which examines the complicated psychological ramifications of ending another person’s life. He felt uncertain about recording it, he says, until a veteran came up and asked him how he got those emotions exactly right.

Dance In The Street closes with “I Believe,” a song with a message of support. From the stage, Nevins often hears men and women singing it with her. “I think our message is encouraging. It’s something for people to latch onto,” she says. “And what an awesome sound and feeling to hear an audience en masse singing your song with you.”

Donna the Buffalo draws on a lot of musical influences, from country and rock ‘n’ roll, to bluegrass and old-time fiddle, as well as Cajun and Zydeco. In many ways, they were Americana before the term was ever coined. The common thread? Songs of the human spirit, and an incredibly tight relationship with their fans.

“The fans, they show up to be a part of it. We show up to be a part of it,” Puryear says. “And we don’t have an intimidating vibe where we’re different than them. If a scene is really on, it doesn’t matter whether you’re watching, listening, dancing, or playing – it’s on, everybody knows it’s on and it feels great! I think that’s the nature of the connection.”