North Carolina-based jam sextet Big Something have tapped Matt Laird as their new bassist. Laird fills a role previously held by Doug Marshall from the band’s formation in 2009 through a show held earlier this month at Charleston Pour House in Charleston, South Carolina.
Laird replacing Marshall marks the first change to Big Something’s lineup in the band’s 14-year history. Doug Marshall cited a need to spend more time with his family as the impetus for his retirement from the road. “We will remain close friends and creative collaborators moving forward and we can’t wait to release lots of new music this year,” wrote Big Something last month in announcing Marshall’s departure.
Matt Laird is a 26-year-old graduate of UNC-Greensboro who resides in Durham, North Carolina. Laird has been playing music for over 20 years. “He has already done an amazing job learning our catalog and honoring Doug’s parts while adding a new improvisational energy that we are really excited to tap into,” noted Laird’s bandmates — Nick MacDaniels (guitar, lead vocals), Casey Cranford (sax, electronic wind instrument), Ben Vinograd (drums), Jesse Hensley (lead guitar, vocals) and Josh Kagel (keyboards, trumpet).
Big Something begins the new era with an extensive winter/spring tour that launches in Crested Butte, Colorado on March 2. Find a complete list of dates below:
