Sister Hazel returns to Winston-Salem

Lindsay Porter / Copy Editor

More than 10 years ago, Gainesville, Fla., natives Ken Block and Andrew Copeland laid the groundwork for a group that would go on to sell more than a million records and greet scores of fans worldwide as part of the five-man roots-rock band Sister Hazel.

Sister Hazel will perform with Dexter Freebish at 8 p.m. tonight at Ziggy’s in Winston-Salem.

In 2003, Block and Copeland, along with lead guitarist Ryan Newell, bassist Jett Beres and drummer Mark Trojanowski, released the band’s latest studio album, “Chasing Daylight.” In 2004, Sister Hazel released a live album, “Live*LIVE,” as well as a DVD, “A Life in the Day.”

“Chasing Daylight” is the band’s first album since it split with Universal Records. It had previously released a self-titled album in 1994, “Somewhere More Familiar” with the hit single “All For You” in 1997 and “Fortress” in 2000. While band members don’t describe the situation with the major label with hostility, they say that releasing something independently allowed them to work more freely with the songs they have racked up over the years.

“We just couldn’t live in world that says you’re only worthy to put out a record every three years. That’s not how Led Zeppelin and the Beatles put out music 20 years ago,” Trojanowski told Creative Loafing Atlanta e-magazine.

Released independently, “Chasing Daylight” showcases what Newell describes as the band’s coming-of-age.

“We’ve all gotten better on our instruments. We can be a lot more spontaneous on our instruments,” he told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “Also, our songwriting has evolved. We’re not afraid to take chances.”

Live Sister Hazel highlights an assortment of songs old and new. Favorites “Champagne High,” “Happy” and “Change Your Mind” are likely to find their way into a set list, as are new hits “Your Mistake” and “Life Got in The Way.”

Sister Hazel’s mix of folk-country-rock catalyzes its appeal to the masses. Tickets for tonight’s show are $15 and available at ziggyrock.com. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the all-ages show.