Howdy banjo brethren!

This is Panos speaking, one of the founding members of the band in question!

I humbly ask for feedback on the music we have posted so far. In all earnest, we are far from established (as a simple Google search will convince you) and are looking for an audience. Just by listening to our songs on Spotify, you are helping by boosting our streams:

Rival Sun on Spotify

For those of you who are here for a longer read, read on by all means ;-)

The guitarist (Stratos G) and I founded Rival Sun (subsequently joined by professional bass guitarist Paraskevi K) about a year and a half ago with a view to uniting our musical visions and creating something unique. We decided that the banjo would become our trademark instrument, weaving its way through all our arrangements, whether it be in the role of the protagonist (in songs like 'Happy Days') or just a signature at the end (as in 'Freedom Fighter').

As a banjoist, my dream is to utilise the banjo in a way that showcases its versatility and compatibility across genres.

Although I play Bluegrass in my own time, with the band I try to use the banjo in a way that is outside the box. I am no virtuoso and Béla Fleck has already done it properly, so I am not deluded into thinking that I will blaze a new trail or anything like that. But my dream is to do my part for the banjo to slowly but surely wedge its way into pop music (pop in the broader sense of the term, i.e. mainstream) and go beyond its stereotypical place in its customary genres.

Which is why I play the instrument in my own way, which could fairly be viewed as unorthodox, yet fully utilising all its potential:

I regularly strum it in the background of our arrangements in lieu of an acoustic guitar, I often go palm-mute crazy and on live performances I am not above pounding on the banjo head as a snare drum when the chord progression allows it.

And now, about the band's personnel:

Vocals, banjo, drums: yours truly*

Vocals, guitar, synth, and anything else other than the above or bass: Stratos G 

We alternate doing the backing vocals too

Bass guitar: Paraskevi K (my sister)

* You can hear me on lead vocals in 'Happy Days' (which is in ITALIAN!), 'Abandon', 'Duel' and 'Watermelon Free'.

You can hear Stratos' lead vocals in 'Freedom Fighter'.

It goes without saying we are so early on in our journey that we have yet to secure a stable collaboration with a drummer, which means that we just hire session musicians when we play gigs.

Our social media presence is meagre, but for those of you interested in following us, here's our IG:

Rival Sun on Insta

And no, we have no affiliation with nor any intention to knock off 'Rival Sons'. We came up with the name without even knowing of said band, but now that we do, it's a bummer that many will think our name is an attempt at associating ourselves with an established act.

If you've read so far, I am indebted for your time of day.

Honest feedback please - I may not have a thick skin but appreciate honesty and know that there will be fierce critics out there, so I feel that here is a safe space, being as we are in the company of fellow pickers...

Cheerio

Panos K

Edited by - PanosTheGreek on 09/16/2026 00:50:20