Judah & the Lion in Grand Rapids

About the artist

Judah & the Lion is an American band from Nashville, Tennessee, that formed in 2011. Their latest release is Folk Hop n' Roll Deluxe (2017). The band consists of Judah Akers (vocals, guitar), Brian Macdonald (mandolin, vocals), and Nate Zuercher (banjo, vocals). History Formation The original members of the band met while attending Belmont University in Nashville. Lead singer, Judah Akers had written songs that he wanted to add more organic and acoustic sounds to and met Brian Macdonald and Nate Zuercher through classes and mutual friends. While at Belmont, the band won Belmont’s 2012 Christian Showcase and Best of the Best competitions. Their first EP, First Fruits released by the band was a Christian worship collection, but the band knew that they did not want to exclude a wider audience and decided to stray from being strictly a Christian group. Name According to Judah Akers, the band received their name from a passage in the bible about The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The name fits the band since the lead singer is named Judah and because of their Christian backgrounds. Influences The band wrote that their music has the "grit of Run DMC or Beastie Boys" but played on folk instruments. MacDonald said he was influenced by Kendrick Lamar and the Beatles.