Bio
The Hoolios are steeped in the rhythms of the Gulf of Mexico: Americana, Latin, Reggae, Texas Folk and Zydeco. Singer/rhythm guitarist, Sarah MacLean shares the lead vocals with an amazing range of emotion from raw grit to tender soprano. Other members include: Sandy Allen – harmony vocals, mandolin/percussion, Corina Malbaurn – bass, Ronnie Lewis – lead vocals, drums, Billy Light – harmony vocals, slide guitar, and special guest Rachel Sargent – harmony vocals. Jim Carpenter & The Hoolios have been gracing some of New England’s most popular stages for five years, including: The Mohegan Sun Wolf Den, Block Island Music Fest, New London SailFest, Jonathon Edwards Winery Fest, Café Nine, Black-Eyed Sallys, Javelina Festival, Cuban Revolution, Hygienic Art Park and the Knickerbocker Café.
Jim Carpenter is a singer-songwriter born on Chincoteague Island VA and raised in Cape May, Key West and Miami. That southern childhood and diverse musical climate still inhabits his vast repertoire of melody, lyric and fiction. As a performing songwriter, Jim Carpenter’s narrative lyrics, driving acoustic guitar and intimate vocal delivery have garnered songwriting awards and placed him on stages with performers such as Greg Brown, The Resentments, Robert Earl Keen, Jeffrey Foucalt, the Subdudes, Marcia Ball, Lucy Kuplansky, Dave Mallet, Garnet Rogers, Bill Morrissey, Catie Curtis and Richard Shindell.
God Invents Rock n Roll was released in 2018 and met with critical acclaim. A solo project, Poor Girl’s Dream, was released in 2017.
“Carpenter is an accomplished guitarist and his stories weave around familiar territory of opportunities on the human highway.”- Andy Riggs, AmericanaUK
“Jim Carpenter is one of the area’s finest tunesmiths. As a solo artist and the leader of the roots band The Hoolios, Carpenter’s songs reflect his Southern upbringing, the Southern literary tradition, and a decided sense of melodic narrative style that recalls Townes Van Zandt, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Forbert, and Marc Cohn.”- Rick Koster, The Day
