MusicTree Festival will be going down June 7 – 11 in Manchester, Tennessee. We will be publishing info and features about the bands as we close in on this event. Feel free to check out our coverage from 2012.

Let everyone know who you are, where you are from and what style of music you play.

Matt Rose: ” I’m from Shelbyville, TN. I play rock/grunge “

Ryan Frizzell: ” I’m from Shelbyville, TN. I play what the monkeys in my head tell me to, and they’re a rowdy bunch, I tell ya what. “

What do you do for fun? You know…besides music?

Matt Rose: “Currently going to school for video production”

Ryan Frizzell: ” I am currently making alot of mixed media art. I’ve had 2 exhibits in the past couple of months. You can currently checkout some of my work at Two Tone art gallery on Lytle st. in Murfreesboro, or online ( Facebook, Tumblr. ), under “the Rhinovirus”. “

What was the last song you listened to?

Matt: “Graveyard disciples” by Black Label Society

Ryan: “John, I’m Only Dancing” by David Bowie

What did you listen to when you were younger? What do you listen to now? Have your tastes changed?

Matt: “When I was younger I listened to 90’s “alternative” rock (Cake, Beck, Ween, Nirvana ), I listen to local bands from the area, and I prefer more metal bands now though.

Ryan: “I listened to alot of the Eagles, ZZ Top, Prince, Steve Miller Band, AC DC, Boston, Genesis, Van Halen, Eddie Money and Bryan Adams growing up. My dad played in a band when he was younger, and had good taste in music, and my mother was always “jammin'” , or dancing to some sort of boogie.

I listen to a little of everything. I can usually find something in any style of music that I like.”

Was there an “ah-ha” moment in your life when you knew music would be the path you were going to walk?

Rikki: “Music had always been a huge part of my life since I was a wee little Rikki. I think It really hit my when I was watching Slipknots Disasterpieces DvD. They just had so much energy and it was powerful. I thought to myself: “That looks fun! I wanna do that.”

Matt: ” My “ah-ha” moment was when I first saw the “Smells like Teen Spirit” video. It hit me like a sack of spaghetti. That’s when I knew I had spaghetti all over me “

Ryan: ” It was either watching this guy play “Secret Agent Man” on guitar at a Shelbyville, TN “Hee-Haw & Howdy” performance, or watching my friend’s band Exciting as Montana (Which I later played bass in. ) rehearse in an old barn back in the summer of 1996. “

How did you hear about Music Tree Fest?

Rikki: ” My buddies Ryan Frizzell and Matt Rose introduced me to it. I’m very grateful. “

Ryan: ” I saw a post online about a new music & arts festival coming to Manchester, Tn, and they were looking for local acts to perform “

Matt: ” I heard about it through Ryan “

How do you feel about being a part of Music Tree Festival?

Rikki: ” It feels amazing! This isn’t my first rodeo, but Music Tree Fest always has an unparalleled energy that I haven’t found anywhere else. “

Ryan: ” I am very grateful. I have met some great friends, I’ve heard & been turned on to some awesome bands, and I’ve had a blast while doing so. All thanks to a common love of music & art.”

Matt: “I’m super duper stoked to kick out the jams again this year!”

Do you have plans for Bonnaroo?

Rikki: “Not at the moment.”

Ryan: ” When tickets are affordable, and they have more bands in the line up that I care for. I saw Paul McCartney is playing this year. I’ve always wanted to see a Beatle, especially Sir Paul perform. I may go one day. I’d rather be rocking from the stage though.”

Matt: “I have no plans”

Do you have an album available? Where can we get it? Where can people connect with you online?

Rikki: “We have tons of demos available online at Reverbnation, SoundCloud, and Facebook. “

Any last thoughts? Shout outs?

Rikki: “I want to think Ryan and Matt for giving me the wonderful opportunity to play in the Buddy System, a project they’ve worked on for quite some time now. My mom and dad for inspiring me to do more with myself and give me that push i really needed. My grandfather for giving me the first guitar I had ever owned. All my friends who’ve been by my side all these years. And lastly the fans, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be doing this. Thanks guys. One love.”

Ryan: ” I would like to thank my band of buddies, my family, Wes Carter, Ryan French, Josh Smotherman, and every other branch on the Music Tree that has helped artists like ourselves reach out to a crowd we otherwise might not have had an opportunity to meet, or rock. I hope everyone gets an opportunity to use the Buddy System, and climb the Music Tree “

Matt: ” I’d like to thank everyone involved with Music Tree, and I’d like to thank my band. You guys rock & I couldn’t do it without you “