Lynn Stokes & Sol Surfers

Sol Surfers have crafted an original and intricate sound/vibe that is both melodic and ethereal. Sometimes compared to Pink Floyd, The CD Terra Nocturne has won over fans worldwide. Recent awards include Progressive Rock Hall of Fame, RadioIndy's GrIndie Award, Academy of Texas Music Award for Artistic Excellence, Mike Pinder's Song Wars' Top Ten. Looking out into the crowd of five thousand music fans at Sunken Gardens Theater in San Antonio, Texas it was impossible to see everyone due to the blinding stage lights.

Looking out into the crowd of five thousand music fans at Sunken Gardens Theater in San Antonio, Texas it was impossible to see everyone due to the blinding stage lights. The excitement level was very high as we were about to go into our set opening for Bob Dylan. Having met Mr. Dylan earlier in the day during the sound check we were already on cloud nine and thankful for the opportunity that we had been awarded by winning battle of the bands contest sponsored by the promoter of the concert, Stone City Attractions. The newspaper review the next day would say that Dylan's band could have learned a few things about showmanship from Creed Taylor and the Travelers.

Spending my early days in Austin, Texas in the 1970's allowed me to experience and witness a wide variety of exceptional musicians and musical trends; from the Cosmic Cowboy country scare to the electric blues revival of the Vaughan brothers. Concentrating mainly as a guitar player led me to playing with a variety of bands and musical styles throughout my career and working with talented songwriters whose songwriting crafts did not go unnoticed. One of the highlights of those days was opening for Bob Dylan in 1991 in front of 5000 people and getting great revues in the music press.

While researching my family's Scottish and English heritage in 2001, I came across a body of songs which captivated me to the point where I decided I had to record and perform them. The CD is titled Off to Sea Once More. The songs are ballads and sea shanties some of which date back several hundred years. The melodies are haunting, their rhythms suggesting the bobbing of the tall sail ships, and their lyrics tell the colorful stories of the joys and hardships of the men whose lives were dependent on the world's oceans. Using existing lyrics that pre-dated recorded music allowed me the freedom to reinterpret the songs and write the music and melodies to fit the words. This project left a lasting impression and inspired me to begin song writing in earnest.

Throughout my life I have studied politics, literature and esoteric philosophy. My songs are stories whose origins spring forth from the shadowy corners of the psyche and are inspired by the American experience. The Sol Surfers were formed in 2007 by Lynn Stokes to showcase recently penned original material. All members of the group have extensive professional experience performing live for many years.