AUSTIN-BASED, BLUES-FUNK ROCKERS HECTOR WARD & THE BIG TIME ANNOUNCE UPCOMING ALBUM ‘SMILE INTO LIFE’ OUT ON THURSDAY, JUNE 20
Ward and his Big Time band celebrate the release of their new record with an official release show on Thursday, June 20 at Austin’s iconic Antone’s Nightclub with Flyjack opening; tickets on sale now

(AUSTIN, TEXAS – April 4, 2019; source: Juice Consulting) – Rising from the ashes of a smoldering dream, Blackfinger Records launches as a number one index for Texas musicians with the latest red hot release, Hector Ward & The Big Time's new LP “Smile Into Life” dropping Thursday, June 20. As the third studio release for this Austin-based, blues-funk rock band, Hector Ward & The Big Time bring their strongest project yet to the table. There will be an official album release show that evening at Antone’s Nightclub, located at 305 E. Fifth St, Austin, Texas 78701. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with Flyjack kicking off the show at 8 p.m. and Hector Ward & The Big Time at 9 p.m.  Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here. For more event info, see here. For more information on Hector Ward & The Big Time, please see www.hwbigtime.com. 

“This album was recorded analog with an artistic approach,” said Hector Ward. “We did this in order to achieve a natural sound in a digital world. We wanted to bring the best sound we could provide including the wonderful musicians that participated and played a huge role. Music is peace, healing, love, anger and rage all combined into the soul of a being. Music teaches. We live through it and feel one another on a different plain. Reach out and listen, the world is beautiful to behold.” 
“Smile Into Life” was produced by Hector Ward, recorded, engineered and mixed at NEST Recording by JT Holt and mastered by Brett Orisson. The album features Hector Ward on lead vocals and guitar, Scott Beardsley on bass, Mike McGurk on drums, Ben Taylor on trombone and Cari Hutson St. Marie on vocals. The release also features other notable musicians on various tracks including John Kalny on drums (“Takin’ Lightnin’ Home” and “Fire Gypsy”), Hunter St. Marie on guitar (“Takin’ Lightnin’ Home” and “Fire Gypsy”), JT Holt on guitar (“Whiskey Pants,” “Sidewalk’s End” and “Simplify”), Jorge Castillo on guitar (“Prison Break,” “Life & Livin” and “Moon Willow”), Haydn Vitera on violin (“Sidewalk’s End” and “Fire Gypsy”), Mark Wilson on baritone saxophone and tenor saxophone (“Takin’ Lightnin’ Home” and “Fire Gypsy”), John Speice IV on percussion, Stephen Farmer on trumpet and Oscar Ornelas on tenor saxophone. Mark Wilson did the horn arrangements on all the songs on the record except for “Whiskey Pants,” “Simplify” and “Takin’ Lightnin Home.” Tiger Anaya, Mitch Quintanilla and Matthew Price did the horn arrangements on “Simplify” and “Takin’ Lightnin’ Home.” Ben Taylor and Mark Wilson did the horn arrangements for “Life & Livin” and “Everybody Party.” Album artwork is by Joe Cuniff.

"At first blush he’s another soul shouter in the vein of Nakia and T Bird, but Ward and his Big Time horns delved into ska, surf, Latin, funk and country with startling command,” said Jim Caligiuri of The Austin Chronicle. “Now I need to see them again to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. A band this good won’t continue under the radar much longer.”

THE “SMILE INTO LIFE” TRACKLIST IS AS FOLLOWS:
 
  1. Life & Livin’
  2. Takin’ Lightnin’ Home
  3. Whiskey Pants
  4. Prison Break
  5. Simplify 
  6. Fire Gypsy
  7. Sidewalk’s End
  8. Everybody Party
  9. Moon Willow
UPCOMING TOUR DATES INCLUDE:

April 4: Cottonwood - Houston, Texas
April 11: Saxon Pub - Austin, Texas
April 24: Round Rock City Hall Plaza - Round Rock, Texas
April 26: One-2-One Bar - Austin, Texas
May 4: Last Concert Cafe - Houston, Texas
May 5: Wimberley Valley Music Fest - Wimberley, Texas
May 18: Music to My Beers Fest - Pearland, Texas
May 25: Six Springs Tavern - Richardson, Texas
May 31: One-2-One Bar - Austin, Texas
June 20: Antone’s Nightclub - Austin, Texas - Austin Album Release Party
June 28: One-2-One Bar - Austin, Texas
July 13: Continental Club - Houston, Texas - Houston Album Release Party 

About Hector Ward & The Big Time:

From the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin, Texas band Hector Ward & The Big Time are a hot act to watch and a force to be reckoned with. Rooted in blues, this respected independent band blurs the genre spectrum from rock to country to funk with astonishing command.

Tasty, horn-rimmed roots, raunchy guitar licks, powerful vocals and an incredible live performance are what fans will get with Ward fronting the impeccably talented Big Time and filling dance floors with their legendary live shows.

With several Austin music scene accolades including Austin Chronicle's Best New Local Acts list, one Writer's Top 25 songs, a Best Of Critics Pick in the Austin Music Awards, two albums under their belts, their impressive, annually-running "Blackfinger Festival" and a 22-song live record, “Evolution - Live From The Saxon Pub.” Now, Hector Ward and the Big Time are poised to take it to the next level with the release of their much anticipated third studio record, “Smile Into Life.”

Hector Ward is also proud and honored to be featured alongside such great talent and friends in the documentary film “Nothing Stays The Same - The Story Of The Saxon Pub” which officially premiered at SXSW 2019. Local luminaries Bob Schneider, Patrice Pike, Guy Forsyth, Joe Ely, Hector Ward, Carolyn Wonderland, The Resentments, Johnny Nicholas, W.C. Clark, Robynn Shayne and others are featured.
In addition, you can catch Hector’s side project, Sly Curtis, the 13-piece super tribute band covering Sly & The Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield songs once a month to a packed One-2-One Bar dance floor in Austin.

Hector Ward & The Big Time is proud to have shared the stage with: Eric Burdon & The Animals, The Zombies, Christopher Cross, Gary Clark Jr., Black Joe Lewis and The Honey Bears, Ruthie Foster, Brownout, Del Castillo, Bob Schneider, W.C.Clark, Ian McLagan, Carolyn Wonderland, George Porter Jr., Dennis Quaid, Malford Milligan, Ben Kweller, Red Young, Stanton Moore Trio, Vallejo, Guy Forsyth, Ozomatli, Eric Tessmer, Shinyribs, Papa Mali, Nakia, T-Bird & The Breaks, Riders Against The Storm, Tommy Taylor, Van Wilks, Tommy Shannon, Uncle Lucius and Bill Carter.

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MEDIA NOTE:

For general press inquiries on Hector Ward & The Bigtime, or to RSVP for the album release show on June 20, please contact the team at Juice Consulting:

Heather Wagner Reed
713 208 3891

Madison Snelling
210 213 8934