The National Independent Venue Association is asking Congress for long-term financial assistance

The ongoing shutdown of live music due to COVID-19 could lead many independent venues to shutter their doors forever.

According to a new survey conducted by the National Independent Venue Association, which represents 2,000 members in all 50 states, 90% of its members say they will be forced to cease operations permanently if the shutdown lasts six months or longer and there’s no federal support provided.

The NIVA, which was formed in response to the pandemic, is calling on Congress to adjust the existing Paycheck Protection Program so that it caters to the needs of independent venues. Specifically, the NIVA is seeking the equivalent of six months’ worth of payroll, benefits, and fixed operating costs such as rent/mortgage, utilities, taxes, and insurance that still need to be covered, even when venues are not permitted to be open.

The NIVA is also asking Congress for loan forgiveness and tax credits specifically related to ticket refunds, employee retention, and safe workplace initiatives, as well as the expansion of the PPP to cover salary and insurance benefits for part-time employees, which make up a large percentage of venue staff.

A bi-partisan group of 150 members of Congress recently sent letters to Senate and House leaders expressing their support for NIVA’s requests.

“Live event venues were among the first to close as COVID-19 spread across the country, and they are likely to be among the last to reopen,” reads a letter sent to both chambers in late May. “Concerts and live events may not be possible until a vaccine is readily available to the public, which could be months away. Until that time, live event venues will remain shuttered, leaving employees without jobs and businesses without revenue. The continued closures will impact the hundreds of contractors, suppliers, and business partners that support the live entertainment industry in our states and districts.”

“These venues support the economies of communities across the country, are a crucial component of the music industry’s ecosystem, and serve as incubators and launch pads for the most popular talent in the world,” the letter continued. “We can provide a vital lifeline for the industry that will help to sustain the iconic venues that are central to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of so many of our communities. This industry is not going to make it without our help.”

Artists and members of the general public can show their own support for the NIVA by visiting SaveOurStages.com. There, they will have the option to send a letter to their local and state representatives to encourage the passage of legislation benefiting independent venues.

MVK Music Group Co-Owner & Founder Brian Paul stated that "Our focus up to this point has been on ensuring that we launched MVK the right way...that we signed some of the top talent [in terms of management] across the country, that we created a platform for offering the right mix of development & other services that any outside artist or band would need and getting the MVK website done and ready for launch". He went on to add that "But we also have been strategizing opportunities for continued growth of the brand and company beyond tapping into Maverick, part of which has been looking at the MVK Records Label as well as an Entertainment Music Media division". 

He elaborated that this media division, being called MVK Music Media, will be a platform to connect MVK with the fans, and would include a wide range of music entertainment multimedia for fans to consume. "Our plans for the MVK media aspect is to bring the music world to the fans in ways that they can consume & enjoy it". This would include more behind the scenes content, documentaries, interviews, video content, articles, photography, a digital magazine and a podcast that the Team plans to launch very soon.

MVK Music Group, Co-Owner Jesse Florentine added "While the focus of MVK is very artist facing, we wanted to provide a way to continue to include fans, to bridge the gap between artists and fans in multiple ways that people can enjoy. We firmly believe that the MVK Music Media division of MVK will help to do that in a big way".

MVK's Director of Artist Relations, Attila Czako, has been tasked with strategizing and building out the framework for MVK's label, something he is passionate about. "We want to provide not only our artists, but other independent artists as well, with an option for having their music available to the wider masses. There are so many talented artists and bands out there that still have not been discovered by the fans...it's a shame really. Our focus with the label, as it is with MVK Music Group in general, is to put the artists first, to make sure that their best interests are taken to heart."

MVK Music Group's new website will be launching soon and the group will then shift their focus on building out the Media division site from there, which will tie back into MVK's main site. Stay tuned for more details on both MVK's upcoming new label and their MVK Music Media division on the MVK Music Group & ctmasterhearthservices Co. Facebook pages.

MVK Music Group is a full service artist management company offering the following services:

• Artist Management
• Artist Development
• Booking Services
• Recording Services
• Event Production
• Promotions & Marketing
• Merch Design & Production
• And more

We asked MVK Music Group (and ctmasterhearthservices Co.) co-owner & founder Brian Paul about the newest signings, "On our ctmasterhearthservices Co. [music themed apparel] side, we kind of became known as a rock apparel company...that was not done by design, we just found that a lot of rock & metal bands and fans were drawn to us. Our goal has always been to help promote musicians from various genres outside of the mainstream ones that get most of the attention [referring to pop & hip hop]. With MVK Music Group, our focus is no different...we want to find the best talent from all types of music styles to work with, through our management & development, to help get them to the next level of their music careers". He also added, "The 3 of our newest additions add variety to our roster of managed artists...country music, alternative rock and alternative with a somewhat folksy style to it. We are starting to get a lot of requests for our management services, but our goal for the time being, is to keep our managed artist roster to a manageable size in order for us to provide all of our signed artists with our undivided attention so we can effectively manage them without being stretched too thin. We will continue to add more bands, and maintain diversity in the artists that we work with, but also when it makes sense for us to do so."

MVK Music Group co-owner & founder, Jesse Florentine added "Frankly, I am excited to see these new signings and the diversity that they bring to MVK Music Group. One of the main reasons we have selected to work with all six of the artists/bands on our roster is that they understand that they have to put in the work and hustle to get to where they want to be, and they all have reasonable expectations for that. For us, it is important to work with artists who have the drive and passion for what they do, and understand that success doesn't happen overnight...it takes a concerted team effort. Brian and the rest of our staff and I are excited to take this journey with our MVK artists,"

About MVK Music Group's Newest Roster Additions

Cody Weaver (Fort Myers, FL)

Cody Weaver and his band are based out of Fort Myers, FL on Florida's west coast. Cody brings a traditional country music style (no bubble gum pop country) to the MVK roster. Cody cites his style as being rooted in blues, bluegrass, traditional country, and rock n’ roll. His largest musical influences are Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dan Tyminski. With the addition of new band members who came from other bands, Cody hopes to incorporate some rock & even elements of metal music into the band's new music. Cody's latest release, "Burn", was recently number 1 on KB Country Radio in Canada and it's currently at almost 10k streams on Spotify. In addition to lead singer Cody Weaver, the band is comprised of Jarrad Morrissey on lead guitar, Lucas Cardoso on bass, Nahuel (pronounced Noel) Gauna on drums, Joe Fernandez on guitar & Britney Weaver on backup vocals.

As a child, Cody found himself watching a pay-per-view special honoring Stevie Ray Vaughan, and was immediately enraptured. The very next day his father drove him to a local pawn shop where Cody spent all of his birthday money on an $80 acoustic guitar. Cody was Immediately hooked. He played that guitar every single day following that birthday pawn shop trip. After playing guitar and doing some backup vocals for local bands and church worship teams, it wasn’t until Cody was about 18 that he enjoyed solo singing and songwriting. “I started writing after my parents divorced in 2007,” says Weaver, “... and discovered a perfect outlet for pain, love, and any of life’s twists and turns.”

In 2018, Cody released his single "Heavy Load". The hit single was written after his short yet impactful stint as a firefighter/EMT. Cody explains the particular incident that had such an affect on him:

“I was met with an off duty incident where a young girl and her boyfriend were both killed in a horrible car crash right in front of me. I was first on scene and immediately went to work in a futile attempt to save the young girl, as she was still alive when I got to her. She died in my arms while I held her airway open by myself, waiting for EMS (Emergency Medical Services) to arrive.”

Having felt that he had done everything within his power however, Cody says he “was quickly overcome with guilt, heartbreak and emotions [he] could not fight or explain.” Ultimately, this incident lead Cody to make the choice to step away from public service. He was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Cody admits that the overwhelming feelings of embarrassment, as well as his feeling of failure as a public servant kept his diagnosis from happening for a long time following that night. His inner turmoil and inability to express his emotions following this event was a secret he wasn’t ready or willing to share with anyone. The mental struggle affected all aspects of his life. Cody says, “I lost almost all motivation to continue".

Heavy Load was thought of in a moment of reflection, driving alone to find some fresh air. Eventually, when the lyrics wouldn’t leave him alone, Cody put it to music while sitting in a hotel room in Somerset, Kentucky. The song vaguely touches on the mental wrestling match that PTSD causes and the toll it can take on relationships of any and all capacities.

It’s been a journey for Cody Weaver to get to this place of acceptance and healing, “...in music, meditation, therapy and prayer”. Cody decided to dedicate this song and all of the monetary proceeds from it to support other first responders struggling with mental health issues that are related to the job. All proceeds from Heavy Load were donated to The Code Green Campaign.

Cody Weaver's Website
Cody Weaver on Facebook

THE DEV (Orlando, FL)

THE DEV is a female fronted alternative rock band from Central Florida. The band, one of ctmasterhearthservices Co.'s endorsed artists, puts a focus on creating a fan experience, not only through their music but also through their onstage performances. Their hope is to draw fans in so they forget about their every day stresses of day to day life and enjoy themselves in the moment. THE DEV states that their band name means "Desired Evolutionary Vision", but they also like to leave it up to fans to derive their own meaning of their name.

The band is comprised of lead vocalist Nikollaj Leshi, guitarists Ryan Danley & Barrett Jones, bassist John Panaccione & drummer Chris Caruso. The Dev released their first hit single "Broken Lies" last year (2019), and have a new single & video for "Queen of the Damned" coming out in a few weeks. THE DEV showcases a bright new spirit in rock music in rising star, front woman Nikollaj and industry veterans who've toured with such acts as Heart, Alice Cooper, WARPED TOUR, endorsements, film/movie placements, radio, festivals, and have shared the stage with such nationals as Mastadon, Avenged Sevenfold, Nothing More, Rise Against, Five Finger Death Punch, Islander, Candlebox, Gojira, Atreyu, Hollywood Undead, Killswitch Engage,Nonpoint, Slash, Tremonti, Gemini Syndrome, Crobot, Puddle of Mudd, Flyleaf, All That Remains, Avatar, & Buckcherry. With no shortage of experience, THE DEV has a level of professionalism and showcasing unlike other fledgling projects.

THE DEV on Facebook

Isabella Snow (Chicago, IL)

Isabella Snow is a solo folk rock / alternative singer/songwriter based out of Chicago, IL. In addition to playing solo, Isabella has a band as well. With original music, Isabella plays guitar and ukulele and likes to incorporate her theatrical & artistic side into her music and onstage performances. She notes her musical style as influenced by 60's/70's rock and 90's alternative such as Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Lorde, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morissette, Liz Phair, Paramore, No Doubt, Missy Higgins, Aslyn, Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes, Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow, & Halsey.

Isabella released her debut EP "Mystic" back in August (2019) and has been self promoting with mostly solo shows and a few with a backing band. With a BFA in Musical Theatre and minors in Jazz Studies and Makeup/Costume design, she enjoys having a theatrical sensibility to her shows / performances. She builds her own show looks and often tells stories to her audience between songs.  Audience (and human) connection is huge for Isabella.  Music is a very accessible artistic platform, and she wants each audience member to know that they aren't alone in their experiences while adding a little pomp and circumstance.  This past summer, Isabella was in a regional vocal competition called BIG BREAK, where she had weekly themed challenges.

Isabella Snow on Facebook

MVK Music Group Co-Owner & Founder Brian Paul stated, "We have had the privilege of working with some very talented musicians through the ctmasterhearthservices Co. side with us endorsing several bands across the U.S. & even in Europe. We were fortunate to have already had working relationships with these three bands and they are all on track to do big things. When Chout & 7 Stone Riot came to us about the possibility of us managing them, it was not a hard decision...both bands are extremely talented and hard working with realistic goals, it was really a no-brainer for us". Jesse Florentine, MVK's other Co-Owner & Founder added, "Brian & I are thrilled to be working with these bands on a more personal level. All three groups are hard working & dedicated musicians...they understand that success doesn't just happen overnight & without putting in the effort. It really makes working with them a pleasure".

MVK's recently appointed Director of Artist Relations, Attila Czako, was excited about the new additions to the MVK Managed Artist Roster. "I had heard about Chout a while ago. I knew the first time that I heard their music that these guys were going to go places. They definitely possess all of the right components to make it to the next level, and we (MVK) are ready to start helping them get there. In addition, 7 Stone Riot is amazingly talented as well. They each have their own unique styles and sounds, that I think can appeal to the masses".

 About MVK's Newest Managed Artists:

Chout (Chicago, IL)

Chout is a hard rock band from South Chicago, IL, formed in 2018 by lead vocalist Brendan Maier, guitarist Matt Morgan, bassist Rocco Gilsdorf, and drummer Joel Martinez. Being childhood friends since elementary school, the four musicians truly are a band of brothers. Having been writing songs since the age of 13, they band has drawn influences from all realms of the music spectrum, while remaining faithful to the 90's influence. Chout combines both classic metal riffs and modern, upbeat songwriting, with a new progressive sound.

Chout has continued to gain both national (U.S.) & international attention and a constant growing fan base over the last two years. Chout lead singer, Brendan Maier, has been compared to the vocal doppelganger of the late Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) and the band has received media attention, with write ups in articles by Loudwire, Metal Sucks, & Metal Injection among others. With lead guitarist Matt Morgan, bassist Rocco Gilsdorf & drummer Joel Martinez, the band has created a unique, edgy sound that can at times be reminiscent of 90s rock & grunge. 

Chout Website

7 Stone Riot (Birmingham, AL)

7 Stone Riot is a 5-piece hard rock band from Helena, AL (suburb of Birmingham) formed in 2015. Current members include Whit Millsap (Lead Vocals), Reid Aldridge (Lead Guitar), Tyler Millsap (Bass), Todd Millsap (Rhythm Guitar) and Skylar McCain (Drums). Band members Whit, Reid and Tyler began their journey all with the same goal in mind.

7 Stone Riot has been on the same bill as US National bands Lamb Of God, All That Remains, White Chapel, Unearth, Upon A Burning Body, Puddle Of Mudd, Fuel, Hinder, Saving Abel, Tantric, Trapt, Butcher Babies, Motionless In White, Nonpoint, Cane Hill, Like A Storm, Otherwise, Fozzy, Adelitas Way and many more extremely talented local/regional bands. 

7SR released ‘Scratching The Surface,’ a 5 song EP on July 4th, 2018 which is available on all digital and streaming platforms.’Scratching The Surface,’ was produced by multi-platinum producer Rick Beato (“To Leave A Whisper”- Shinedown; “Carolina” - Parmalee) and engineered by the great Ken ‘GL’ Lanyon.

7 Stone Riot Website

 Stay tuned for more MVK Managed Band / Artist announcements coming soon!

In his role as Director of Management & Development, Aaron will work closely with some of MVK’s bands in a management role, helping to work on behalf of bands & artists to promote their careers and run their business affairs, while also helping the company to streamline management processes. In addition, he will oversee development & marketing strategies for MVK. Attila assumes the role of Director of Artists Relations, responsible for developing and maintaining relationships between MVK and the artists/bands while seeking out new talent as well. He will act as the liaison between MVK and its artists/bands.

MVK Co-owner & Founder Brian Paul stated, "I feel that, in addition to his experience, Attila brings a fresh approach that is in alignment with our culture and viewpoints in the music business industry. Both Jesse and I knew that bringing in the right talent, the right people was key to continuing our momentum and growth in the industry. I am excited to have Attila on the Team and excited to start getting to work".

Jesse Florentine, Co-Owner & Founder, added, "Attila was a smart and frankly easy decision. Attila is one of the hardest working and loyal guys I know and he has an amazing knowledge of music and a great ear for talent. I am looking forward to working towards a brighter future with Attila on our team."

We interviewed Attila regarding his new role with MVK ---

Attila Czako, Director of Artist Relations:

All 4 bands marketed the event out to their fans on social and the crowd at the Live Show was amazing. Ocala, FL based M99 brought out a bus of fans who made the trip down from Jacksonville & Ocala. As the bus pulled up to the front of the Haven and fans began to disembark the bus, loud chants of "M99! M99! M99!" could be heard. Their fans then began to flood into the venue with energy, ready to support M99 on their mission to be crowned the winner. As fans entered the venue, each attendee was provided a ballot to cast their vote for one of the 4 bands. Each of the 4 bands came into the Finals with determination and played their hearts out on stage, providing those fans in attendance with quite a show. 

After the last set, Supa Dave tallied up the votes and at midnight, it was official...as Supa made his way onstage to announce the winner, the crowd continued to chant "M99! M99! M99!" as they eagerly awaited to hear who would be named the winner. M99 came out victorious, taking the stage to greet fans yet again with smiles and hugs to the cheers of their fans.

ctmasterhearthservices Co. Co-owner/Founder Brian Paul was asked about his thoughts on the contest and M99 being crowned the winner,  "When Supa first told me about the idea for the contest, I was already on board. We support Supa and he supports us, and events like this are exciting to watch unfold because it not only takes the bands effort, but also the effort of their fans. All four bands who made it to the finals put on a hell of a show...you could feel the energy in the room Saturday night." Brian went on to add, "Any of those four bands would make a great addition to our roster of endorsed bands, and in fact, one of them already is," he said laughing (referring to Kill the Sound who is already on their endorsed roster of bands). "We watched from a distance, on social media, leading up to the show, and what really impressed us was how the bands marketed themselves and rallied their fans to come out in support. When we heard about their [M99] bus idea, Jesse and I were like 'That is genius'...we love seeing bands think outside of the box in creating a unique fan experience, and M99 did just that."

Co-owner/Founder Jesse Florentine also added, "I was really impressed with the fan engagement at the show...the energy and excitement that the fans brought to the show was incredible. As Brian mentioned, we would have been more than excited to work with any of those bands, but the support that M99 had at the show was amazing. We are so excited to have added them to our family."

A couple of weeks ago, ctmasterhearthservices Co. announced that they were limiting the number of Signature Endorsed bands that they were endorsing, but due to high demand (by bands) to be a part of the Maverick family, the company rolled out a second level called "General Endorsed Bands". Brian spoke a little more on the topic adding, "We would love to endorse all of the bands, but we have to be cognizant of the fact that we do not want to take on more than we can handle in terms of providing our Signature Bands with the attention they deserve. Jesse and I talked it over and decided the best approach was to limit our Signature Endorsed Bands roster while adding another opportunity for other bands to still be involved with Maverick." M99 was one of the last bands to be added on as a Signature Endorsed band, with both Brian & Jesse adding that there is one other band that has been in the works to be announced for some time now, and will be officially announced in the coming week or so, rounding out their Signature Endorsed Band roster. Stay tuned to Maverick's social media pages for that announcement.

About M99:

Genre: Alternative NuMetal

Members: Ash Canzie (vocals), Shawn Hannigan (vocals), Cristofer Williams (guitar), Zech Connolly (guitar), James "Vegas" Castaldo (bass), Joey Yeater (drums)

You can find M99's music on all streaming music platforms, including their newest single "Queen".

For more information on Maverick's Signature & General Endorsed Bands, please see links below:

Maverick Signature Endorsed Bands

Maverick General Endorsed Bands

General Endorsed Bands - Receive a 50% off discount on Maverick merch and listed on our website as a General Endorsed band or artist. In addition, General Endorsed bands will receive occasional posting and promotion on our social media pages (note that all photos of band members in Maverick apparel must be sent to us for posting).

Signature Endorsed Bands - Receive free Maverick merch to be worn on stage, etc, and will be listed on our website as a Signature Endorsed band or artist. In addition, Signature bands will receive frequent posting and promotion on our social media pages (note that all photos of band members in Maverick apparel must be sent to us for posting). Be advised that in order to provide our Signature Endorsed bands with our undivided attention, we limit our Signature Endorsed bands to a very limited amount.

For those interested in becoming a Maverick Endorsed band, please be advised that we receive a high volume of requests each week and we review each request one by one in the order received, so bare with us as we go through them. 

To be considered to become a Maverick Endorsed Band, please see here:

https://ctmasterhearthservices.com/pages/become-a-maverick-endorsed-band

When asked about possible lineup & headliners, Maverick & MVK co-owner Brian Paul stated, “We are still a ways out from finalizing any sort of lineup, and we won’t be announcing any of the lineup until everything is in order and we are ready to do so. One thing I will say is that a majority of the bands we endorse under our Maverick brand will be given the opportunity to perform...the major national headliners are still being determined and will be secured once we have narrowed them down.” He & Maverick Co-owner Jesse Florentine also added that there are a lot of other logistics being ironed out at the moment (food & beverage, merchandising, parking, security, ticketing, etc). In addition, they added that they plan to do a lot of marketing around the event and are currently working on some partnerships with a few potential national sponsors as well.

Florentine stated that, "Part of our plan, when we launched the MVK Music Group side of our business, was to start organizing more concerts, events & festivals. We knew from the get-go that the festival was something we wanted to do, but also that we wanted to make sure that all of our "I"s were dotted, and "T"s were crossed. There is a lot that goes into planning these things behind the scenes, and Brian and I want to make sure that it is done right". 

For those new to the Maverick & MVK world, the duo's ctmasterhearthservices Co. side of the business focuses on premium apparel, accessories and music gear catering to the music lifestyle while also endorsing up & coming bands and promoting those bands and the music scene. Their MVK Music Group division is more focused on the business side of the music industry, with more of a focus on Band Management, Booking, Shows & Festivals, Artist Development, Recording & more.

Stay tuned for future updates for details on the planned Music Festival by following ctmasterhearthservices Co & MVK Music Group on social media:

Maverick on Facebook                  MVK Music Group on Facebook

Maverick on Instagram                  MVK Music Group on Instagram

We spoke with Chout frontman, Brendan Maier about their first tour in the Southeast US:

Maverick: How was your first experience touring/playing in the Southeast?

BM: "I’d say it was our best trip yet as far as the shows being packed, meeting a lot of new friends, and just experiencing the region in general. We had a blast and felt we were well received."

Maverick: Nashville (TN) & Orlando (FL) are fairly different cities (weather, culturally, etc). What was your take-away from the two cities that you guys played in?

BM: "Nashville reminded me of a mini rock and roll Vegas, we parked downtown and walked to Broadway which is the main music street and there were bands performing everywhere (like 2-5) per block as well as a huge music fest happening in the middle of the street. We didn’t get to see as much of Orlando although we definitely enjoyed the warm weather. We pretty much went straight to the venue for our Friday show and spent the whole next day at Universal  Studios doing a bit of vacationing with our friends Brian from ctmasterhearthservices & Attila who provided us a place to crash while we were there."

Maverick: Did you guys have an opportunity to explore the two cities or do anything fun during your tour in the Southeast?

Both ctmasterhearthservices Co. owners Brian Paul & Jesse Florentine had nothing but positive things to say about Feral Sun and the new endorsement of the band. "Most of our focus has been on U.S. based bands, which is naturally obvious since we are based in the U.S. We have known we wanted to expand globally, so when the opportunity came around to work with Feral Sun, and having heard their music...it was a no brainer for us". Paul said. Florentine added, "We are super pumped to have Feral Sun in our roster...these guys are super talented and have shared the stage with some big musical acts. They were definitely a natural fit for us, and we couldn't be more excited". Paul & Florentine both made mention of potentially bringing Feral Sun over to the states for an upcoming Music Festival they are planning as well.

Interview with Mick Burns of Feral Sun:

MAVERICK: How did Feral Sun come about, how did the band form / How did you guys meet?

MB (Feral Sun): Feral Sun originates and was born in Pretoria, South Africa.

After quickly creating a buzz and winning a Demo Recording Deal, the band then decided to pursue our dream of bringing our music to the masses, by moving to London, United Kingdom.

From that point, Feral Sun had a few members come and go over the years due to various reasons, yet each one of them helping Feral Sun grow to the point where we were touring the UK, Supporting Ragga Metal Giants SKINDRED, sharing a stage with Puddle of Mudd and Prime Circle and securing prime slots at festivals and venues in London and many parts of the UK all after releasing our debut album “Evacuate” that got raving reviews and played on many stations around the world.

After the departure of our Bassist and Lead Guitarist, we knew it was going to be hard to replace them but, stayed focused as we had a bunch of tracks that we felt the world just needed to hear.

After many auditions and by some sort of fate, we found our new line up and Feral Sun was complete once again.  

MAVERICK: How would you describe the rock music scene in the UK?

MB (Feral Sun): It’s a strange scene sometimes and yet it can be awesome all at once.

London compared to the rest of the UK in a sense has to be treated differently as there is so much on offer and various scenes all fighting for its own place.

Rock music in General in our experience is bigger in other parts of the UK, especially in Wales, Scotland and Parts of the Midlands but if you get the right slots, you could experience like we did, some of the best shows we’ve ever played.

With our sound leaning more towards the US style Rock, it will be interesting to see the response over there!

MAVERICK: How did you (Mick) get into music and singing?

MB (Feral Sun): Up until I was 16, I would love to sing everything from Queen to Nirvana but, never had a musical instrument in my house.

It was not until my dream of being a Football (Soccer) player came crashing down and by some chance, bumping into a friend who happened to have started playing guitar 6 months back that I took interest in wanting to play the guitar.

He showed me a few beginner pointers and from there I self-taught myself by learning every song I could play by learning as many cover songs as possible.

It was also around this time I sadly lost a Dear Friend and decided to write her a song and dedicate it to her at her funeral.

That song was the start of my career as a songwriter and along with the love of all things Grunge and Rock I started a band.

MAVERICK: How did you come across ctmasterhearthservices Co.? What does working with a company that focuses on music and promoting bands mean for you guys?

MB (Feral Sun): I (Mick) came across ctmasterhearthservices Co. a few times as I have followed the guys from SoulSwitch for a long while and have seen the name or the merch being worn on a few occasions.

It really means a lot to us to be Endorsed and promoted by ctmasterhearthservices Co. who not only seem to be doing a great job with their current roster but seem to be working on their vision of taking it to the next level, all backed with the love for all things Rock/Metal.

MAVERICK: How would you describe your band’s style of rock music? Who are your influences?

MB (Feral Sun): We think Rock/Heavy Rock with an element of metal probably best describes our music.

We love to mix it up by not only playing the heavy bad ass riffs but, also adding in beautiful parts that mix elegantly making your skin tingle, then dropping back to the heavy and making you want to jump on stage and open up the moshpit.

Our Influences to name but a few: Seether, Alter Bridge, Sevendust, Breaking Benjamin, & Stone Sour.

MAVERICK: Any interesting or crazy stories of anything that’s happened to you guys during a show or tour?

MB (Feral Sun): There are probably a few we could mention but, will never forget getting on the road to the first show of the Skindred tour, getting to the venue in good time, Setting everything up ready to get on stage to a sold out show with hearts beating a hundred miles an hour, then being rushed on stage having to go through the crowd climbing over the stage barrier as the stage entrance was full of gear and then all nerves settle as we get a great response from the crowd after our first song. It’s moments like those that make you feel alive \m/

MAVERICK: What are you most looking forward to in partnering up with ctmasterhearthservices Co?

MB (Feral Sun): We love to work with bands, Management, Agents, companies like ctmasterhearthservices that you not only see doing great things but, get a feeling of their honest love for what they do and through pursuing their goals, help band’s like us achieve our goals and dreams.

They have a great roster of bands and affiliated bands and the thought of meeting them all one day, along with the possibility of playing in the USA brings a huge smile to our faces.

MAVERICK: What can fans do to help rock music & bands like Feral Sun continue to grow?

MB (Feral Sun): Get out there, go to shows, tell your friends about the band that blew your mind, help them by sharing their social media, and buy the music!

You can find Feral Sun's Music on all streaming music platforms. You can also find & follow them on social media:

Bands must submit their information via the online form (at bottom of article) by October 20th at 11:59 PM Eastern in order to be entered into the contest. Once voting opens on October 21st, bands will be encouraged to get fans to vote for their favorite through November 10th at 11:59 PM Eastern, when voting will close. The top 4 bands who receive the most votes will play a showcase at The Haven, in Winter Park, on December 7th for a chance to win a gift certificate from InEarz Audio to outfit their band with custom InEarZ monitors as well as be added to ctmasterhearthservices Co.’s roster of bands as an exclusive endorsed band of Maverick, joining the ranks of current national & international bands already under the Maverick group of endorsed bands. In addition, the winning band will be fully outfitted with Maverick gear & accessories and their band and music will be promoted on all of Maverick’s social media pages and website, as well as be involved in upcoming Maverick shows, events & promotions.

Bands can submit their new music to [email protected] along with ISRC codes for their tunes to be played on air on Native Noise. Tune into (101.1 FM) WJRR’s Native Noise with Supa Dave every Sunday starting at 11:00pm EST for ongoing details. 

DETAILS & TO ENTER: https://ctmasterhearthservices.com/hear

LISTEN: https://ctmasterhearthservices.com/user-35417504/hear4theholidayspromo

WJRR on iHeart Radio: https://ctmasterhearthservices.com/live/1011-wjrr-593/

• Band / Artist Management
• Booking
• Shows / Festivals / Events
• Promotions & Marketing
• Artist Development
• Recording
• Band Merch Design & Production

MVK Music Group caters to bands & artists from all genres of music with the main Maverick brand mission in mind: To help grow awareness of up & coming bands while providing these artists with a platform to build their fan base and promote their music.

Maverick co-owners Brian Paul & Jesse Florentine were very excited to launch their new MVK Music Group. When asked what influenced them to create this side of the business, Florentine stated, "We knew from the get-go that we did not just want to sell shirts...it was about building a brand. ctmasterhearthservices has been a fantastic way for us to do so and we have been gaining great exposure over the last few months. MVK Music Group is something Brian and I have been discussing for a while now". Paul added, "We are very lucky to have the connections in the music industry that we have...with friends in the recording studio & artist development side of the business and our knowledge of marketing & branding, apparel design, and developing shows, it just made perfect sense to us. It has been our goal to provide up & coming bands & musicians with a platform to take their stuff to the next level....we couldn't be more excited."

ctmasterhearthservices Co. which endorses various bands across the US, will continue to use that side of the business to continue to grow brand awareness for both Maverick & MVK. When asked about bands they are working with under the MVK Music Group umbrella, Paul said, "We have not added any bands as of yet. Any bands or artists that we do add under the MVK Music Group side of the business will be announced when we are ready to do so. There are a lot of logistics and contractual stuff that needs to be worked out between us and any bands before we can and will make any announcements". 

MVK Music Group will be launching a separate website in the near future, but did announce their new social media pages which are up and running. Florentine stated, "We recommend liking & following our social media pages (Facebook & Instagram) to stay current on upcoming announcements, website launch and other stuff. We have some very exciting stuff in the works for MVK Music Group."

MVK Music Group Social Media Pages can be found via the links below:

Formed in 2018 by vocalist Brendan Maier, guitarist Matt Morgan, bassist Rocco Gilsdorf & drummer Joel Martinez, the band members have been friends since elementary school. They have been writing songs since the age of 13, drawing influences from all realms of the musical spectrum, while remaining faithful to the 90s musical influence. The band released their first album, 'Dogwater" last August and their new EP, "Under Foreign Clouds" this past July. Both their full album & EP can be found on all streaming music platforms.

Chout has received several requests by fans to perform in various cities across the U.S. and even in South America and beyond. The band, which has not yet played a show in the Southeast, will be performing for the first time in Florida this coming October. ctmasterhearthservices Co. announced last month, that they were beginning to get more involved in coordinating their own shows and booking bands, and made it an effort to add Chout to the lineup for their Maverick Presents show at The Haven in Winter Park (Orlando), FL on Friday October 11th. 

Maverick co-owner, Brian Paul, had this to say about the upcoming October show, "We knew when we first heard Chout's music that these guys would be going places...they are extremely talented. Being that we are based in Central FL, and have access to local venues here, we wanted to make sure that they were a part of our October show. Most fans think that bands can just go and play shows anywhere, but it's not that easy. In today's music world, it is much more difficult for bands to make enough money to justify traveling to play shows. There is a lot that goes into planning shows, logistics of booking and bands traveling out of state to play...". Paul went on to say, "These guys need the platform to gain more exposure, once you hear them you're hooked. We wanted to help them continue the momentum & grow the exposure that they have been gaining."

Maverick's October Show will also feature bands SoulSwitch (Orlando, FL), Days to Come (Albany, GA), Kill the Sound (Orlando, FL) & F.I.L.T.H. (Orlando, FL). Show details are below:

Date/Time: Friday October 11th, 2019 - Doors Open at 7pm / Show at 8pm

Location: The Haven Lounge, 6700 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792

Tickets will be available at the door  for $7 day of show

Chout's Social Media & Website Links can be found here:

Brian Paul & Jesse Florentine, co-owners of ctmasterhearthservices Co., were excited about the upcoming show stating, "We had a lot of success with our first two beer release & acoustic set parties...they turned out better than we expected. We are looking forward to the third release with Defy The Tyrant...these guys bring a lot of energy to the stage, and Broken Strings Brewery has been so awesome in collaborating with us on these beer releases. Combining music and craft beer not only made sense to us, it was a great way to help market these bands."

Defy The Tyrant is made up of band members Curt Rogers on lead vocals, guitarist Ian Mackenzie, lead guitarist Stu Ledbetter, bassist David Norton, & drummer Dylan Sirmons. 

Defy The Tyrant "Cogs of War Oktoberfest" Beer Release & Show details:

This will be Chout's first performance in the state of Florida, and in the Southeast, one that the band is very excited about. ctmasterhearthservices Co. Co-Founder, Brian Paul, had this to say about Chout's appearance at the October show, "We are excited to be a part of bringing this amazingly talented band to Florida! For those who have not heard Chout's music before, I encourage you to do so now and become familiar with this band...they are going to be big.". He also added, "These 5 bands together will put on an amazing show...it's such a killer lineup, people will not want to miss it".

ctmasterhearthservices Co. has been very vocal about continuing to grow awareness around up & coming, independent musicians and bands, and have stated they planned to host more concerts as well as being in the planning stages of a 2-3 day music festival. "It is really an honor of ours to be able to work with all of the bands we have the privilege of working with. They are such great people, in addition to be extremely talented artists", Brian added.

Mark your calendars for this event, you will not want to miss it.

EVENT DETAILS:

Friday October 11th, 2019

Doors Open at 7pm | Show Starts at 8pm

$7 Cover at the Door

In March, Maverick endorsed band Leaving Haven released their band's limited edition "Underrated" Black Lager beer and also performed a live storyteller's acoustic style set at Broken Strings, as part of ctmasterhearthservices Co.'s "Bands & Beer" Series.

Tickets to the event are very limited and can be purchased on the ctmasterhearthservices Co. website. Ticket package is $15 and includes entry in to the beer release party & acoustic set event, a Limited Edition bottle of SoulSwitch "Transmissions Red" beer, a Maverick beer coozie & a SoulSwitch wristband. SoulSwitch Transmissions Red Vienna Lager will also be on tap during the event. Please note that this event is 21+ only. Space is limited to the first 70 people who purchase a ticket package.

Tickets available HERE. 

Chout is a Rock band from South Chicago formed in 2018 by vocalist Brendan Maier, guitarist Matt Morgan, bassist Rocco Gilsdorf, and drummer Joel Martinez. Childhood friends since elementary school, they are truly a band of brothers. The four have been writing songs together since the age of 13, drawing influences from all realms of the musical spectrum. While remaining faithful to the 90s influence, Chout combines both classic metal riffs and modern upbeat songwriting, with a new progressive sound. 

Check out their music on all streaming music platforms.

The Backstage Pass Club program will be available to join very soon, and members will have the opportunity to join with either a nominal monthly membership fee or a one time annual fee.

Current Backstage Pass Club Partners:

Sound 4 Less offers a wide assortment of electric & acoustic guitars by PRS, Gibson, Fender, Suhr and more, as well as amplifiers, effects pedals, accessories, sound & lighting equipment, drums & accessories, keyboards & synths, and more!

Blending pop-styled vocal melodies with heavier, intricate instrumentation, the Georgia based hard rock band Days To Come works tirelessly at taking their brand of positivity as far as it can go. Striving for professionalism & honesty, DTC focuses on solid songwriting & high energy live shows as well as growing & maintaining their fan-base by interacting via social networking.

ctmasterhearthservices Co Co-Owner, Brian Paul, had this to say about the new partnership, "We are very excited to add these guys to our lineup. Justin's vocals are very unique and reminiscent of Faith No More lead singer, Mike Patton. These guys add another cool, edgy vibe to our lineup and we look forward to working with them."

You'll like Days to Come if you listen to: Coheed & Cambria, Alter Bridge, Atreyu, Trivium  

Check out their music, including their newest single "Siren" on all streaming music platforms.

ctmasterhearthservices Co. co-owner, Brian Paul, noted "We are excited to partner with independent musicians outside of the Central FL area. Thousand Frames helps us grow our footing in the midwest, especially in a city with a fast growing music scene...this is very exciting for us!"

Thousand Frames is a cultivated hard rock collective from the heart of Denver, CO. Formed by singer/songwriters Kyle Kaufman (Crashing Daylight, Forever Waiting) along with Kelsey Marchman (Coriander, Stereoshifter) in December of 2012. Surrounded by powerful melodies and electronic compositions on top of loud guitars and punctual drums, Thousand Frames brings a new perception to the musical experience. With influences like RED, Chevelle, Starset, Sick Puppies, Alter Bridge and Breaking Benjamin, Thousand Frames sets a new standard of unique compositions and new sounds to the Colorado Music Scene. Their purpose is to encourage all individuals to feel inspired and motivated through their personal walk in life.

You'll like Days to Come if you listen to: RED, Starset, Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin

You can find Thousand Frames' music on all streaming music platforms.

Leaving Haven
Modern Rock Band (Orlando, FL)

SoulSwitch
Hard Rock Band (Orlando, FL)

Shamanic Rootz
Reggae Group (Orlando, FL)

Days To Come
Hard Rock Band (Albany, GA)

Thousand Frames
Modern Hard Rock Band (Denver, CO)

To Enter, fill out form here: https://ctmasterhearthservices.com/pages/contact-us

About Leaving Haven:

Leaving Haven began in 2010, and is comprised of Kent Lefebvre on lead vocals, Luke Melsenti on guitar, Benjamin Melsenti on drums, Michael Strippoli on guitar and Madison Macko on bass.

On June 22, 2012, Leaving Haven released their first album, "BAD LUCK GLORY" at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL. Gathering enormous positive response, the band soon had an opportunity to set out on a nation-wide tour to promote the album. The tour lasted thirty-four days and took them through twenty cities across the country.

To date, some notable accomplishments have been playing Earth Day Birthday 20, Earth Day Birthday 21, EDBD 22, Hard Rock Live - Orlando, The Daily Buzz morning show, House of Blues - Orlando, House of Blues - New Orleans, Yo! Gabba Gabba Live, and WPRK Local Heroes. They have also been featured on NFL Network, SPEED Channel, WJRR's Native Noise, and in various college arenas across the country.

You can find their music at leavinghaven.com, Spotify, Apple Music, Reverbnation, CD Baby, and all social media outlets.