{"id":8983,"date":"2026-09-14T03:30:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T03:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/?p=8983"},"modified":"2026-09-14T04:45:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T04:45:40","slug":"bandits-on-the-run-post-show-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/?p=8983","title":{"rendered":"Bandits on the Run – Post Show Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Saturday, September 12th in Roanoke at The Spot on Kirk, the Brackety-Ack was personally invited to see the live performance of Bandits on the Run!<\/em> We previously covered their pre-show interview this past week, so if you haven\u2019t had the opportunity to learn more about the band, its members, and the release of their new album Rough Magic<\/em>, be sure to click here<\/a> to check out our exclusive pre-show article!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The performance opened with Amelia Empson, a southwestern Virginian guitarist who plays Appalachian blues from the heart. Her melodies were rich and personal, The Spot\u2019s cozy atmosphere meshing beautifully with her warm chords. Overalls in Lingerie <\/em>and Time Is<\/em> were especially standout songs, incorporating clever lyricism alongside heartfelt emotion. You feel every somber note, every heartbreak, and the sounds of the Blue Ridge mountains themselves. Paired alongside her background growing up among said mountains, it\u2019s no surprise such soulful country was exuded throughout her entire performance. Be sure to check out her music on Spotify, Apple Music, and her YouTube channel<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once Bandits on the Run <\/em>took the main stage, their opening song You Have Changed <\/em>completely transformed the venue. With Regina Strayhorn leading the charge using her strikingly beautiful voice, it was as though the audience itself was transported into the whimsical fantasy world this band has oh, so carefully, crafted. Hurricane <\/em>came afterward, and the intensity along with it followed suit. With the percussion driving the beat, Sydney Shepherd absolutely crushes portraying the emotional chaos ensuing within the \u201ceye\u201d of this song. Adrian Blake Enscoe slows down the pace with Sing You to Sleep<\/em>; their soft, heavenly vocals wrap you in velvety notes that tug along your heartstrings. Mind you, all the songs I mentioned above are paired with stunning harmonies, charming physicality, and enough electrifying energy to make any theatre enthusiast give a standing ovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a special fire ignited within the hearts of these bandits: Storytellers that not only portray an endless love for music, but perform in a way that shares that enthusiasm with the audience. This trio is like a \u201cMusic Man\u201d split in three, playing anything from guitars, to kick drums, cellos, and even megaphones! They even take turns passing the bass to each other, changing the feeling of each song depending on the musicality of who is playing what instrument. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To say that all my expectations for this show were surpassed is an understatement. In all confidence, I can happily say that witnessing Bandits on the Run <\/em>live has been one of the most incredible, inspiring, and intimate performances I\u2019ve ever experienced. There are simply too many favorites to count. Am I Your Mirror<\/em>, Like a Clam<\/em>, Radio<\/em> \u2013 all of these pieces are unique, yet iconic enough to express vivid identities that captivate you further into their world. The dynamics, tone, and atmosphere of each song shifts depending on the lead singer; but truly, all are united as one when it really counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing such jaw-dropping talent out in the wild, right here in the heart of downtown Roanoke, changed our perspective on the wonders live music brings to the soul. You learn to take things slowly, the importance of identity and individuality, comfort (or acceptance of discomfort) in the faces and universes shifting around you, and the magic that’s awaiting you in every corner. The magic that anyone, even you, can create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are all lessons, stories, and, naturally, wondrous magic I felt while listening to Bandits on the Run<\/em>. The only possible rating I could ever offer is a 10\/10 to these free-spirited musicians, for their endless admiration of the arts reminds us of the true meaning of why we create in the first place. This is truly raw, authentic music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I implore you, listen to their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, or whichever streaming service you prefer. You will find them there. I couldn\u2019t encourage you enough to also check out their Rough Magic <\/em>tour and get a chance to experience their charm live, which you can find on their website here.<\/a> May this word (or love) be like the wind!



Zachary Bayers

Editor-in-Chief<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, September 12th in Roanoke at The Spot on Kirk, the Brackety-Ack was personally invited to see the live performance of Bandits on the Run! We previously covered their pre-show interview this past week, so if you haven\u2019t had the opportunity to learn more about the band, its members, and the release of their…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1000020775-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8983"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8987,"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8983\/revisions\/8987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brackety-ack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}