Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal
Night after night at their live shows, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal leave it all on the table, bringing crowds palpably authentic music. This is a real working band; music for the people, by the people. You hear the veracity in Hoyer’s voice. You hear the strife of a guitar amp being pushed to its limits. You hear keyboards hammering notes home while emboldened horn soars over the top of a rhythm section akin to a freight train. The raucous Funk and real-deal Soul emanating from the stage dutifully pays homage
to the past Soul/Classic R&B giants while simultaneously charging forward, piloting themselves into the modern era. This IS soul music.
Hoyer formed Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal in 2012 in famed blues town Lincoln, Nebraska. The award-winning four-piece band includes some of the area’s most revered and accomplished musicians. Joining Hoyer (vocals/keyboards/saxophone) is Myles Jasnowski (guitar), Mike Keeling (bass) and Mike Rhian (drums). Inspired by the sounds of Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans and San Francisco, the band continuously crosses musical boundaries both in style and era.
In January of 2025, the band won the 30th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. They have toured extensively in Europe and are a favorite in Spain. They have been a Guest Artist featured on Virgin Voyages in the Caribbean and played hundreds of shows across 39 states and 9 countries over the last 10 years. Releasing 6 albums to local, national and international acclaim, their latest record, “Green Light,” won Best Self Produced Album of 2022 by the International Blues Foundation. “Hustler” a single
off their 5th album, “Natural Born Hustler” has been featured in an international advertising campaign for Michelob Ultra and on Apple TV’s Slow Horses. Josh Hoyer was a contestant on NBC’s The Voice in 2017.
“Fire and a Natural Joy” – ROLLING STONE
“One of the best shows I have ever seen.” -STEVE BERLIN (Los Lobos)
“I’m a huge fan!”-JOE WHITMER (COO of The Blues Foundation)
“Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal still prove to be at the top of the contemporary soul movement.” – BLUES MUSIC MAGAZINE
“Their concerts are an explosion of emotions.” – LA VOZ DE GALICIA
“The heartbreak and pain is a driving force that comes natural, and when it comes to real soul music, they absolutely deliver.” – GLIDE MAGAZINE
“Sounds like it came right out of a smoking Stax recording session.” -JAZZ WEEKLY
“Evokes the hard-boiled funk of James Brown, the Memphis howl of Otis Redding and Al Green, and the percolating parade beat of New Orleans, but with a lean, modern energy.” – NASHVILLE SCENE
“At its core, soul music that is actually good is music that dwells on heartbreak and pain yet translates to a sense of pleasure and redemption for the audience. This is something that is often lost in the “modern” soul music that infatuates so many hipsters today when they fall in love with bands who seemingly preach soulful songs but fail to deliver the emotional goods. For Nebraska band Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, the heartbreak and pain is a driving force that comes natural, and when it comes to real soul music, they absolutely deliver.” – GLIDE MAGAZINE
Technical requirements: The ensemble requires a PA and monitor system that fits the performance space. Artists will supply their own instruments and amplifiers, but would need a professional sound and lighting system along with an engineer to run them. Touring stage plot and input list can be shared upon request with the artist.
Virtual Option: Artist can play solo with piano and vocals or with backing tracks. Full band is not available for virtual performances.
Maximum negotiable fee:
$400-$1,000 (solo show)
$1,500-$4,000 (full ensemble)
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