About the Band
"Be aware. Though their name references the Hillbilly Shakespeare, the Oak Hill Drifters do their own thing. Embracing American roots music, they lend nods to rockabilly and country as well as western swing, jump blues and early rhythm and blues. Led by lead singer Rachel Decker, the band’s albums highlight the group’s penchant for learning from and implementing the past into today’s music."
-Bristol Herald Courier, 2021
"Why not lean into that handy time displacement and hit the town to the sounds of rockabilly and western swing? The Oak Hill Drifters have been plugging away at their take on old-time music since 2014. The last year might have slowed them down a little, as it did all musicians, but it surely didn't stop them."
-Orlando Weekly, 2021
"When I pressed play on their latest EP The Iris Sessions, I was immediately impressed by their sounds, making the type of pure American roots music that will sound like a lot of the stuff that came out of the 1940s – 1960s. There’s definitely something ageless about their music."
-Jenny Clancy, lostinthenordics.com, 2023
"Enter local roots combo Oak Hill Drifters to cure that with their brand of revivalist Americana, which rounds up pre-pop country and Western swing into an evocative experience of fidelity and flair."
-Bao Le Huu, Orlando Weekly, 2024
Bio.
The love of early 20th century American roots music is very apparent with Oak Hill Drifters, who are based out of Orlando, Florida. Their music and performance echos the 1940's - 1960's paying homage to some of the great pioneers of that early American roots music.
The band's current iteration was formed in 2014 that includes Rachel Decker, Craig Roy, George Dimitrov and Tom Pearce whose collective resumes include work with The HoneyBees (Chicago), Nick Curran, Hindu Cowboys and Rocket-88 (Orlando). Rachel Decker fronts the band with a vocal prowess that has drawn comparisons to the likes of Janis Martin and Patsy Cline.
In 2016, the band released its debut 11 song compilation, "Fly Off The Panhandle." The band's sophomore recording, "Lied To Me" was released in June 2018.
In late 2022, Oak Hill Drifters released a (5) song EP titled "The Iris Sessions" that was produced by Billy Chapin whose accolades include recordings with Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel and Don Henley. The release received critical acclaim both within the United States and abroad. The EP debuted at #26 on the Relix/jambands.com radio charts. The EP also climbed to #88 on the AMA Americana Albums chart and remained in the top 125 for multiple months in 2023.