Ancient River is a psychedelic rock band formed in 2008. The band was created by singer/songwriter James Barreto, and features Barreto (vocals/guitar/songwriter) and Alexis Cordova, Jr. (drums/vocals).[1]

Formed in 2008, with friends and now past members Zachary Veltheim on bass (from Barreto's previous band The Ohm)[2] and Chad Voight on drums.[3]

The band name was taken from the Neil Young song "Thrasher": “Where the eagle glides ascending/There’s an ancient river bending/Down the timeless gorge of changes/Where sleeplessness awaits.”[2][3][4]

In reviewing 2011's Songs from North America, the Knoxville Mercury described Ancient River’s music as reminiscent of "the sun-baked desert twang of the Meat Puppets and Crazy Horse."[4]

Cordova and Barreto met when Cordova moved to Gainesville to join another band. In the Mercury interview, Cordova is quoted as saying, "when I found out about [Ancient River], if I hadn’t joined, they probably would have been my favorite band in Gainesville. I kind of feel like it was the right time, right place."[4] Cordova now plays drums in the band, which was his first instrument growing up.[2]

The band's origins can be traced back the music scene in Gainesville, Florida[5] and its thriving home grown DIY scene. Barreto, who had trained as an audio engineer, had a home studio and was busy recording local musicians.[2]

Ancient River made their debut at Austin Psych Festival on April 24, 2010.[3][6] Cordova joined the line up in 2011 and the band began regularly playing the live circuit, playing Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia[7][8][9][10] and Austin Psych Festival for a second time in 2012.[11] Appearances at Los Angeles’ Psycho De Mayo[12][13] and Desert Stars Festival Pre-Party[14] followed in 2014 along with Milwaukee Psych Fest in 2015.[15]

In 2013 their track 'Waiting For The Light' was featured on British television series Hollyoaks Later in the United Kingdom [16]

Currently Barreto is living in London and Cordova is based in Austin, Texas but this distance hasn't impacted their productivity.[4] Ancient River have eight releases. Keeper of the Dawn released in April 14, 2015 was inspired by the Italian horror films of writer/director Dario Argento together with one of the duo's favourite musicians, David Axelrod.[17][18] Following its release, the band toured North America for 51 shows.[1]

In June 2015, Ancient River joined forces with London director, writer and actor Xevi Soler to produce a music video for their track Stay With Me. This was the soundtrack to Soler's short film Golem.[18]

NME featured Ancient River in their "Under the Radar" section on July 18, 2015.

DISCOGRAPHY
2015 // LP Keeper Of The Dawn
2014 // LP Before Dawn
2012 // LP On The Other Side
2012 // LP Let It Live
2010 // EP Polariod
2011 // LP Songs From North America
2010 // LP O.D.D.S.
2010 // EP Under the Sun
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