The Sugar Oaks claim that their sound comes from the Florida soil. Their ideals are similar to Mofro, another Florida band that revels in the swamp and takes every chance to build awareness to protect the delicate ecosystem in their backyard.

When I first heard The Sugar Oaks EP, Red Grapes in the City, I thought it was a Northern California band. Their organic sound would fit in perfectly with San Francisco bands like Port O’Brien. After learning that they are from the sunshine state, I listened with a new perspective. I lived in Orlando for 4 years in my younger days and I remember the suffocating humidity. There were days that made outdoor labor impossible and you could only muster enough energy to raise a glass of lemonade to your lips while praying for a cool breeze. If you were adventurous, you might run through the sprinkler in the backyard before settling in a lawn chair. That lazy, humid afternoon is what The Sugar Oaks sound like.

The Sugar Oaks play a brand of folk-soul music that’ll make you instantly lethargic. As summer approaches, you’ll need albums like this for those barbecues and long nights around the fire pit. It’s only 5 songs deep and available for under $5 on iTunes.

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The Sugar Oaks - Los Rebeldes