Since spring 2025, Jacksonville‑based guitarist Robert Lester Folsom has been hitting the road with a septet of local musicians, turning his once‑obscure 1976 record Music and Dreams into a touring sensation. The group, anchored by glockenspielist and vocalist Brooke Garwood (27) and bassist Jeremy Marshall Blanton (40), has played venues from New Orleans to San Francisco, drawing crowds that appreciate the band’s blend of cosmic country and psychedelic folk.
Local roots, national reach
After a chance encounter at the Riverside Arts Market in 2023, Garwood introduced herself to Folsom and soon joined his live shows. Their chemistry sparked a West Coast tour anchored by the historic Troubadour in West Hollywood. The core of the touring band—Garwood, guitarist Kevin Peacon (26), keyboardist/saxophonist Jeremy Prince (28), pedal‑steel player Landon Gay (29) and drummer Owen Barrett (29)—all hail from Jacksonville, giving the project a distinctly local flavor.
Life on the road
Band members describe the touring grind as an “ultramarathon” of early‑morning van calls, long drives and the occasional night‑off spent watching a goofy movie like Borat. Between gigs they hunt for good coffee, thrift‑store finds and tacos, often congregating at Jacksonville Beach’s Strings Brewery for a quick bite and a breather.
Balancing music and side hustles
While most of the group supplements their musical pursuits with side jobs—Gay teaches music lessons, Garwood runs a cold‑pressed juice company called Galaxy Juice, and Blanton bartends a few nights a week—Folsom has recently retired from a three‑decade career painting houses to focus on music full‑time.
Audience response
The tour’s turning point came in San Diego, where a full house confirmed demand for Folsom’s songs. Subsequent shows in San Francisco’s The Chapel (500 attendees) and Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown sold out, and venues in Colorado, Idaho and Seattle reported enthusiastic, “listening‑oriented” crowds. Fans praised the band’s “Lesterisms”—the distinctive chord changes and lyrical flourishes that define Folsom’s songwriting.
Looking ahead
With the current tour winding down, the Jacksonville ensemble is already planning future dates and side projects. Gay continues to perform under the moniker “Howdy,” while Prince and Peacon collaborate in Garwood’s band Sun Child. The group’s success highlights how a local music community can breathe new life into a decades‑old record, offering both cultural enrichment for Jacksonville residents and a fresh soundtrack for audiences nationwide.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
