Hightide Blues

Hightide Blues (now known as The Grand Magnolias) is an indie rock band from East Nashville, Tennessee, US. In the spring of 2005, Paul McDonald and fellow student Jonathan Pears began writing songs together, forming the band Hightide Blues. Adding two other members, Phillip Gayle and Scott Rollins, they began touring small clubs around the state of Alabama. After a limited edition self-titled EP Hightide Blues in 2007, the band released in 2008 a self-produced album, Love Come Easy, which was recorded in an old boarding school turned recording studio...

In the spring of 2005, Paul McDonald and fellow student Jonathan Pears began writing songs together, forming the band Hightide Blues. Adding two other members, Phillip Gayle and Scott Rollins, they began touring small clubs around the state of Alabama. After a limited edition self-titled EP Hightide Blues in 2007, the band released in 2008 a self-produced album, Love Come Easy, which was recorded in an old boarding school turned recording studio, operated by David Briggs, called the House of David in Nashville, Tennessee. The album garnered radio play from the songs "Dreamin' Alone" and "Let It Roll". Also included was a song called "Dancing With The Angels (Meg's Song)". McDonald wrote this song the night before the funeral of a very close friend to the band, Meg Ingram, who passed away from cancer at the age of 21. The band performs annually at the Meg Ingram Memorial Scholarship benefit concert in Huntsville.

Hightide Blues took the stage for the first time in 2006 and has been gracing hundreds of stages for thousands of fans ever since. Their sound is a throw back to southern rock with a modern twist and an original delivery that's in a category of it's own. With their high-energy performances and huge fan base it's no surprise that Hightide Blues has shared the stage with national acts such as Sara Bareilles, Graham Colton, Jason Isbell, Matt Costa, Donavon Frankenreiter, Sister Hazel, The Whigs, Zac Brown Band, Karl Denson, and many more.

Hightide Blues has also had success on the Internet, winning multiple awards on OurStage.com including over 15 Top 10 placements, as well as reaching number 2 on Best of Pop for 2011. From 2007-2010, the band continued touring around the country. Their delivery of acoustic and electric guitars with a hard-hitting rhythm section has lead to sold out shows all over the Southeast and won't be stopping there. Hightide Blues played Bonnaroo 2008, and are expanding their touring with shows throughout the Midwest and up the East Coast. Hightide Blues also played festivals such as the Florida Music Festival, the Hangout Festival, and the Lynyrd Skynrd Simple Man Cruise. Between 2007-2010, Hightide Blues averaged around 150-200 shows per year.

In August 2010, the band moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and launched a campaign to let their fans choose a new name for the band. The group's first album under its new name, entitled The Grand Magnolias, was released in 2011.