Origins & Influences
Stella! was founded by singer-songwriter Jo Serrapere to showcase country-roots songwriting and three-part harmonies. The current line-up includes Jo Serrapere on guitar and percussion, Jen Sygit on acoustic and electric guitars and banjo, and Julianna Wilson on upright bass.
Jo Serrapere credits songwriter Tom Waits, early blues, jazz, and old-time country as her strongest influences. Her voice is a curious combination of sweet innocence and wry humor. She was a founding member of the old-time string band, Uncle Earl and has appeared twice on National Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion". In addition to Stella! Jo has recorded several solo albums and plays regularly as, Jo Serrapere and the Willie Dunns or Jo Serrapere and the LaFawndas. Her solo discography includes Love Going South (2009) and Dollar Store Nation (2016). It was a conversation Jo had with music writer Dave Marsh that sparked the idea to form Stella! In Stella! Jo plays acoustic guitar or provides percussion, with the occasional kazoo solo.
Jen Sygit is inspired by gritty lyrics and acoustic soul from the likes of Gillian Welch, Bob Dylan, The Wood Brothers, Mavis Staples, Buddy Miller, Michael Kiwanuka, and Patty Griffin. She provides the deep bluesy low end to Stella!'s three-part harmonies. In addition to performing with Stella! Jen has four solo albums to her credit, with her latest release, It's About Time (2018), earning her two Independent Music Awards in NYC (2019). In Stella! Jen plays banjo and acoustic or electric guitar - providing leads and instrumental solos.
Julianna Wilson takes her cues from swing-era and early jazz vocalists and crooners such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Julie London. She contributes the high end in many of the three part harmonies in Stella!, with a voice that is smooth and timeless. Julianna also plays ukulele, performing with her partner Andy Wilson in their band The Springtails. The Springtails have recorded two albums, Because We're In Love (2013) and Rain or Shine (2016). In Stella! Julianna plays the upright bass, and occasionally the ukulele.
Former band members include: Tahmineh Gueramy (fiddle), Katie Grace (upright bass), Diana Ladio (fiddle), and Laura Ann Bates (upright bass).
Recordings
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Stella Tells The Truth (October 2022) was recorded in Lansing, Michigan and was inspired by the Mitten State, exploring themes of vulnerability and existentialism with a healthy dose of playfulness.
Featuring Jo Serrapere on acoustic guitar and percussion, Jen Sygit on banjo, acoustic guitar, and telecaster, and Julianna Wilson on bass guitar and ukulele, with special guest Andy Wilson on cornet. Produced by Stella! and Andy Wilson. |
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Sorry, Stella (2011) was recorded in New York City under the guidance of David Marsh and features Jo Serrapere on guitar and percussion, Jen Sygit on banjo and telecaster, Tahmineh Gueramy on fiddle, Katie Grace on bass, with special guest Skip Krevens on pedal steel and guitar.
This debut album was produced by Detroiters Adam Druckman and Larry Eagle. |
Appearances & Venues
FESTIVALS
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (Hart, MI) • Flint Folk Festival (Flint, MI) • Earthwork Harvest Gathering (Lake City, MI) • Dunegrass Music Festival (Empire, MI) • Woodtick Music Festival (Hermansville, MI) • Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival (Kalamazoo, MI) • Spirit of the Woods (Brethren, MI) • Farmfest (Johannesburg, MI) • Ann Arbor Summer Festival (Ann Arborn, MI) • Cowpie Music Festival (Grand Rapids, MI) • Arts, Beats and Eats (Royal Oak, MI) • Great Bear Music Festival (Bloomingdale, MI) • Thumbfest (Lexington, MI) • WIMA fest (Traverse City, MI) • Ypsilanti Crossroads Festival (Ypsilanti, MI) • Nor-East'r (Mio, MI) • Porcupine Mountains Music Festival (Ontonogan, MI) • Wheatland Music Festival (Remus, MI)
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (Hart, MI) • Flint Folk Festival (Flint, MI) • Earthwork Harvest Gathering (Lake City, MI) • Dunegrass Music Festival (Empire, MI) • Woodtick Music Festival (Hermansville, MI) • Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival (Kalamazoo, MI) • Spirit of the Woods (Brethren, MI) • Farmfest (Johannesburg, MI) • Ann Arbor Summer Festival (Ann Arborn, MI) • Cowpie Music Festival (Grand Rapids, MI) • Arts, Beats and Eats (Royal Oak, MI) • Great Bear Music Festival (Bloomingdale, MI) • Thumbfest (Lexington, MI) • WIMA fest (Traverse City, MI) • Ypsilanti Crossroads Festival (Ypsilanti, MI) • Nor-East'r (Mio, MI) • Porcupine Mountains Music Festival (Ontonogan, MI) • Wheatland Music Festival (Remus, MI)
CONCERT SERIES
Ten Pound Fiddle (Lansing, MI) • Elgin Community College Arts Center (Elgin, IL) • Roots on the River (Manistee, MI) • Old Town Concerts in the Courtyard (Lansing, MI) • Summer Black Box Series (Tecumseh, MI) • South Lyon Concerts in the Park (South Lyon, MI) • Paint Creek Tin Whistle Concert (Rochester Hills, MI) • Black Cat Concert Series (Charlevoix, MI) • The Pump House Concerts (Lansing, MI) • East Lansing Summer Concert Series (East Lansing, MI) • Concerts @ Karen's Place (Leonard, MI) • Comfy Couch Concert Series (Wixom, MI) • Music in the Park (Mt Pleasant, MI) • The Series @ Lavender Hill Farm (Boyne City, MI)
Ten Pound Fiddle (Lansing, MI) • Elgin Community College Arts Center (Elgin, IL) • Roots on the River (Manistee, MI) • Old Town Concerts in the Courtyard (Lansing, MI) • Summer Black Box Series (Tecumseh, MI) • South Lyon Concerts in the Park (South Lyon, MI) • Paint Creek Tin Whistle Concert (Rochester Hills, MI) • Black Cat Concert Series (Charlevoix, MI) • The Pump House Concerts (Lansing, MI) • East Lansing Summer Concert Series (East Lansing, MI) • Concerts @ Karen's Place (Leonard, MI) • Comfy Couch Concert Series (Wixom, MI) • Music in the Park (Mt Pleasant, MI) • The Series @ Lavender Hill Farm (Boyne City, MI)
LIVE RADIO
Dave Marsh's "Kick Out the Jams" Sirius Radio Program (NYC) • WLNZ Radio Road Show (Charlotte, MI)
Dave Marsh's "Kick Out the Jams" Sirius Radio Program (NYC) • WLNZ Radio Road Show (Charlotte, MI)
TELEVISION
Backstage Pass (WKAR, East Lansing, MI)
Backstage Pass (WKAR, East Lansing, MI)
VENUES
Club Passim (Cambridge, MA) • Rockwood Music Hall (New York, NY) • The Ark (Ann Arbor, MI) • Hambone's Pub (Pittsburgh, PA) • Bell's Brewery (Kalamazoo, MI) • The Trinity House Theatre (Livonia, MI) • Salt of the Earth (Fennville, MI) • Gopherwood (Cadillac, MI) • Ore Dock Brewing Company (Marquette, MI) • Orpheum Theater (Hancock, MI) • InsideOut Gallery (Traverse City, MI) • The Avenue Cafe (Lansing, MI) • Howmet Playhouse (Whitehall, MI) • New Holland Brewery (Holland, MI) • Crazy Wisdom Tea Room (Ann Arbor, MI) • Short's Brewery (Bellaire, MI) • Woodruff's (Ypsilanti, MI) • Good Night Gracie's (Ann Arbor, MI) • Zingerman's Roadhouse (Ann Arbor, MI) • Johnny's Speakeasy (Ann Arbor, MI) • Moriarty's Pub (Lansing, MI) • Northern Natural Cider House (Traverse City, MI) • Holly Mills (Holly, MI)
Club Passim (Cambridge, MA) • Rockwood Music Hall (New York, NY) • The Ark (Ann Arbor, MI) • Hambone's Pub (Pittsburgh, PA) • Bell's Brewery (Kalamazoo, MI) • The Trinity House Theatre (Livonia, MI) • Salt of the Earth (Fennville, MI) • Gopherwood (Cadillac, MI) • Ore Dock Brewing Company (Marquette, MI) • Orpheum Theater (Hancock, MI) • InsideOut Gallery (Traverse City, MI) • The Avenue Cafe (Lansing, MI) • Howmet Playhouse (Whitehall, MI) • New Holland Brewery (Holland, MI) • Crazy Wisdom Tea Room (Ann Arbor, MI) • Short's Brewery (Bellaire, MI) • Woodruff's (Ypsilanti, MI) • Good Night Gracie's (Ann Arbor, MI) • Zingerman's Roadhouse (Ann Arbor, MI) • Johnny's Speakeasy (Ann Arbor, MI) • Moriarty's Pub (Lansing, MI) • Northern Natural Cider House (Traverse City, MI) • Holly Mills (Holly, MI)
Reviews
"They are a near-religious experience. Hearing them perform in an intimate setting is like going to an Appalachian mountain church and hollering hallelujah with a Bible in one hand and a bottle of hooch in the other. They're that sinfully good."
-- Karen Koski, syndicated music writer (Billboard), house concert host
"Over the last six months that I have been listening to Stella!'s debut album 'Sorry, Stella', it has gone from being a nice folk album to being the near perfect American Roots record. Great original songs (plus one Tom Waits cover), beautiful three-part harmonies, and a wide variety of interesting musical settings. 'Sorry, Stella' ended up as number four on my list of favorite albums of 2012, as reported to the '3rd Coast Music' FAR Chart."
-- Tom Jackson, WLUW Chicago, Host of "New Orleans Music Hour" and "Somebody Else's Troubles"
-- Karen Koski, syndicated music writer (Billboard), house concert host
"Over the last six months that I have been listening to Stella!'s debut album 'Sorry, Stella', it has gone from being a nice folk album to being the near perfect American Roots record. Great original songs (plus one Tom Waits cover), beautiful three-part harmonies, and a wide variety of interesting musical settings. 'Sorry, Stella' ended up as number four on my list of favorite albums of 2012, as reported to the '3rd Coast Music' FAR Chart."
-- Tom Jackson, WLUW Chicago, Host of "New Orleans Music Hour" and "Somebody Else's Troubles"