Fort Worth, Texas based Telegraph Canyon is the brain child of American songwriter Chris Johnson (born November 21, 1981). In 2005 Johnson teamed with Andrew Skates, Chuck Brown, Tamara Cauble, Erik Wolfe and Austin Green to form Telegraph Canyon. Known for dynamic performances and orchestral like arrangements, They’re are not easily categorized as a folk band or an indie rock band. Songs often lead with soft Violin and finger plucked Banjo or Acoustic Guitar only to end at a U2 level of bombast incorporating dozens of intruments. Their lo-fi / mid-fi debut album “All the Good News” was met with much anticipation for the bands follow up, released in 2009.

Telegraph Canyon was voted the #3 Best Area Concert in the Dallas Observer’s Top 10 Best Concerts of 2009. Among other acclamations the band’s ‘09 release (produced by Will Johnson - Centro-Matic, South San Gabriel) received, ‘The Tide and The Current' was voted #1 local album of 2009 by Dallas Observer, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Reel Roots (Netherlands), Top 10 Texas Albums by KERA (NPR) and Best Area Album Release of the 2000’s by Dallas Observer. The song, “Shake Your Fist”, received #1 song of the year (Dallas Observer) and local song of the decade (Fort Worth Weekly).

Opening for Broken Social Scene, Built to Spill, Old 97‘s, Dawes, Fanfarlo, Drive By Truckers, Ra Ra Riot, Toro Y Moi and Ryan Bingham, the band is making waves and quickly winning over new fans. In support of 'The Tide and the Current', Telegraph Canyon toured the west coast, midwest and Europel. The band is working hard on a new record and hope to share it with you later this year. Once that happens, chances are they'll be in a city near you!

For quick reference, tags like Southern Gothic and Dark Folk could be applied, but none of those convey the earnestness, yearning, and desperation of these recordings. Telegraph Canyon combines compelling songwriting with layers of driving, dynamic sounds only to, at times, strip it all away and expose a raw and gentle undercurrent. There are sparse and quiet moments, and then there are explosions of sounds, all underlined with an insanely personal connection. After a few listens, you start to feel as if the band is playing these songs just for you. 

Chris Johnson (guitars, banjo, vocals), who grew up in the thick of the musical heritage and culture of Louisiana, surrounds himself with a diverse cast from Texas and call Fort Worth their home. Chuck Brown (bass, vocals), Austin Green (drums,keys, bells), Tamara Cauble (violin, vocals), Brian McCorquodale (pedal steel, piano, percussion), Andrew Skates (organ, accordion, mandolin, guitar), and Erik Wolfe (guitar, bass drum, vibes) together form this ever-evolving palette of sound.