The Homemade Wine Story

Some say Homemade Wine is a tropical rock band. Some say Homemade Wine is a country band. Still others insist Homemade Wine is a southern-rock acoustic band. While any or all of these could apply, it is safe to say Homemade Wine is intent on creating a new genre of music, their own genre of music. Begun as a stage persona for lead singer, Ryan Sheley, the idea of “Homemade Wine” quickly blossomed into an acoustic trio, with

Ryan’s brother Tod on percussion, and long time friend Matt McSpadden on rhythm guitar and backup vocals. Ryan’s unmatchable songwriting skills coupled with the mellow acoustic blend of the trio quickly took Homemade Wine to the top of the Knoxville music scene. With regular circuits from Wild Wing Café to Ray’s ESG, Homemade Wine offered people something different than other bands in the area. Shows consisted of a great mix of original music with all the beloved bar sing-alongs. Heavy in the Jimmy Buffett style, Homemade Wine offered the most diverse mix of music for the Knoxville party scene.

Knoxville-News Sentinel - On Homemade Wine

On the verge of its debut release, Knoxville-based Homemade Wine is on a mission. Already featured on a slew of local and satellite radio stations, the band draws monstrous crowds to its frequent out-of-town gigs and is set to appear at a number of coastal festivals.  

After 9 months of playing as an acoustic trio, Homemade Wine decided it was time to go big or go home. Shows had taken them from Gulf Shores, AL, to Charleston, SC, but Homemade Wine felt the need to bring additional talent into the group. Drummer Brad Williams (Jag Star, Homer Hart), bass / guitar player Andy Westcott, and lead guitar powerhouse and backup vocalist Tommie Eakins (internationally famous independent solo artist) all brought their individual styles to the blend of Homemade Wine, allowing an even more diverse range of musical styles. As a band, they have traveled around the southeast, spreading their original style across Tennessee, Alabama, and the Carolinas. Homemade Wine just completed their first album, entitled Music for the Salty Soul. The album feature original music including “Take Me Down to the Tropics,” Do It All Over Again,” and

“Colorado Sky,” as well as a cover of the Rusty McHugh classic, “Bus Back To Birmingham.” The album was released July 2010 and garnered the band some recognition on the Trop-Rock and National circuits.

 

Homemade Wine took top honors, as voted by listeners, in top trop-rock internet radio station, BeachFront Radio’s Best of 2010 poll by taking #1 New Band of 2010, #1 CD of 2010 with “Music for the Salty Soul”, #1 Song of 2010 with their original song, “Her Kiss,” and #1 New Male Vocalist by Ryan Sheley.