“…an exquisitely crafted album, replete with deceptively thoughtful arrangements that surround their soaring harmonies with shimmering guitars and lush strings while leaving plenty of room for the songs to breathe. But it’s also a confidently quiet work that asks for room to reflect rather than demanding the spotlight, and in these years of glossy formats and loudness wars, that’s nothing less than refreshing.” – Jeff Giles (DiffuserFM)

THE WELL PENNIES are a Folk/Pop duo consisting of husband and wife team Bryan & Sarah Vanderpool. The pair met in Boston while supporting each other’s solo sets at popular venues like Club Passim, Lizard Lounge, and The Middle East. They fell in love, ran away to Los Angeles and released their debut EP that was met with critical acclaim from press like Interview Magazine, Under the Radar, Daily Unsigned, and countless others. Taking influence from THE LUMINEERS, PASSENGER, and SUFJAN STEVENS, the pair combine their signature pop melodies and tight harmonies with beautifully produced lush string arrangements. The band explains, “Our goal is to write songs that inspire something – however simple – to smile, to love, to get out and experience life.”

After a recent transplant from Los Angeles to Des Moines, Iowa, The Well Pennies are currently organizing a tour of concerts with local youth orchestras to promote their latest release, “ENDLINGS,” the long awaited and highly anticipated LP from The Well Pennies that was released on January 27th, 2015. In 1936, a Tasmanian Tiger died in the Hobart Zoo in Tasmania.  He was the very last one… an endling. The Well Pennies explore this topic of extinction and how it relates to all aspects of life. “The album is about protecting what’s important,” the band explains. “Not only are the environment and animals endangered in this day and age; hope, human connection and artistry are becoming more of a rarity. And if we don’t value the things that are most important to us, they will become harder and harder to find.”

Click here to read all of the LBF band previews

See The Well Pennies at Little BIG Fest on Saturday, November 5 at Wooly’s (504 E Locust St.) at 7:15pm

Click here to purchase advance discount tickets

To learn more about The Well Pennies, check out their Facebook page

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Get all the details on Little BIG Fest 2016 here

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Sign up to volunteer for Little BIG Fest and get a free pass

Check out the Spotify playlist for Little BIG Fest

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Little BIG Fest is an annual festival, featuring roots, country, singer-songwriter, bluegrass, jam, world, blues, jazz, and soul music. The festival traditionally takes place in November with the location changing from year to year. As with all DMMC events, local bands are heavily featured, though bands from around the U.S. also perform at the event. See the full line-up and details here.

Established in fall 2006, LBF has featured over a dozen bands each year, including Trampled by Turtles, Pieta Brown, The Soul Rebels, William Elliott Whitmore, Charlie Parr, and John Fullbright.

LBF is organized by the nonprofit the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC). Little BIG Fest 2016 is made possible with the support of Traveler Beer CompanyTallgrass Brewing CompanyGreater Des Moines PartnershipBravo Greater Des MoinesHy-VeeSaturday Mfg.VolunteerLocalWooly’sLefty’s Live MusicIowa Public Radio, and KFMG 98.9 FM.

Click here for the most recent news about Little BIG Fest