Independent Arts News Reporting Philadelphia’s Genre Fluid Favorites, Chestnut Grove Announce New Single, XPRESS URSELF
Reported on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Pictured Above: Chestnut Grove Band. Photo Credit: Contributed.
NEWSROOM POST: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Chestnut Grove Announces XPRESS URSELF with Spring Tour Dates Culminating with a Headlining Show in Wayne, PA on May 1, 2026
Philadelphia, PA — Chestnut Grove, the genre-fluid quintet known for their infectious live shows, will release their newest single, XPRESS URSELF on April 10 and hit the road for a string of tour dates culminating May 1 when the band headlines a hometown show at 118 North in Wayne, PA. XPRESS URSELF is a synth heavy, magnetic song that features the signature vocals of Dee and James Daniels and will have Chestnut Grove fans out on the dance floor at every club and festival they hit this spring.
“XPRESS URSELF is the ultimate intro to the summer. It’s fun, sexy, and just makes you want to dance along,” says guitarist and vocalist Dee. “Its deeper meaning can also be taken as freedom of expression; celebrating people as their own individuals. This is the first song we completed with our new bandmates. It came out quite organically and it felt like we found solid footing for writing together. Lyrically, it kind of just ‘fell out’ of me, and I was very inspired by the thought of a live audience dancing along, as though the song was ‘giving them life.’ Anything to bring us all together, I’m for it. I am so happy with how this song turned out; it sounds exactly as it did in my brain while we were writing. Our producer, Derek Chaffin, really heard the vision and did a fantastic job of capturing it.”
“I’m really excited to see the response to this song, and to see the audience pick up on the lyrics and sing along. There’s nothing like those moments with a space full of people all vibrating on the same frequency.”
“To me, XPRESS URSELF, is a danceable grungy psychedelic fever dream,” says drummer and vocalist James Daniels. “The beat and riff are meant to make you move, the lyrics might make you feel feral!”
Listen to XPRESS URSELF Here
Chestnut Grove is known for their genre-fluid tunes highlighting lush harmonies, fuzzy guitars, dreamy melodies, deep pocket grooves and high energy emotional release. Each record and show effortlessly weaves through R&B, Rock N Roll, Funk, Soul, New Wave, Retro-Pop, Alternative and more with minimal limitations, it’s clear that some time has been spent around record players in basements and college dorm rooms, listening to Dr. Dog and The White Stripes.
Led by the trio of Dee, James Daniels and guitarist John Tyler (who all graduated from high school together in 2011), Chestnut Grove’s current lineup includes bassist Jared Filer and keyboardist Shannon Murphy. Percussionist Jeff Mann, saxophone player Connor Dunn, trumpeter/percussionist Alex Styer, and saxophonist Vince Gleason often join the core quintet on stage adding a jolt of energy to the boisterous fun of their live shows. The band has been crafting their sound and carving out a dedicated following in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwestern US for more than a decade and makes every fan – both new and old – feel like part of one big family.
From 2015 – 2018 the band released a few self-made EPs — Let it Down, Black Champagne — and one LP, Perkiomenville.
The release of Chestnut Grove’s debut full-length studio recording, The Album in 2021 and it garnered critical acclaim from American Songwriter, NPR, Philadelphia Magazine, WXPN, and EQX. To celebrate, the band headlined a sold-out show at Ardmore Music Hall which was recorded and distributed by Nugs.net.
In 2022 and 2023 the band released a series of singles ahead of their 2023 LP, Can’t Stand the Music. The title track and single “Bumpin to the Bass Kid” both cracked the top 100 on SubModern’s radio charts. The band also made appearances at Mile of Music (Appleton, WI), WXPN’s XPoNential Music Fest (Camden, NJ) and Rock the Dock (Lake George, NY) in 2022, 2023 and 2025. The Album and Can’t Stand the Music were both recorded at Barn Sound Studios with the band’s long-time producer, Derek Chaffin. With more gear at their disposal and Derek’s infinite wisdom in the studio, the band began to blossom as recording artists and really explore their eclectic musical pallets. Chestnut Grove will continue to expand their sonic palette while releasing new material and will bring their joyful, crowd-pleasing show to cities across the country throughout 2026.
Hear XPRESS URSELF (HERE)
Don’t Miss Chestnut Grove Live!
April 10 – Riverstreet Jazz Cafe – Plains, PA
April 11 – Kings Rook – Club Erie, PA
April 12 – Zephyr Pub – Kent, OH
April 14 – Peoples Brewing – Lafayette, IN
April 17 – Midway – Ironwood, MI
April 18 – Appleton Beer Factory – Appleton WI
May 1 – 118 North – Wayne, PA
More dates to be announced!
