ION INDIE MAGAZINE October 2016, Volume 29 | Page 47

The Ashley Wineland Band is (pictured left to right): Ashley Wineland (lead vocals, guitar), Jacob Johnston (bass, backup vocals),
Whitney Mead (fiddle, mandolin, backup vocals), Nicholas Sanderson (drums, backup vocals) and Ty Nicolas Thompson (guitar)

Managing Editor and Senior Photojournalist JB BRIDGES and I first came across Ashley Wineland way back in October of
2014, when JB “discovered” the then 16 year old country prodigy on ReverbNation. We decided to check out her live show
and consider her for an upcoming article. Needless to say—judging by the way she commanded our December 2014 cover in
a photo by JB—we were blown away!

Southern Experience is (pictured left to right): Scott Sanders (lead vocals, guitar, keys), Ron Humphries (bass, backup vocals),
Dante Patterson (guitar, keys, backup vocals) and Nikao Wallace (drums, backup vocals)

The exquisitely talented country rock band Southern Experience was
brought to my attention by Senior Photojournalist for ION Indie Magazine,
GARY CAROTA—who provided the enthralling April 2016 cover shot. JB
and I had the opportunity to catch a live show by Southern Experience this
past year—which was how I became acquainted with ANITA SAYAGO, the
owner of Southern Experience’s entertainment company, EDANA
ENTERTAINMENT. After a number of phone conversations, Anita and I
concurred that Southern Experience and Ashley Wineland and her band
would complement each other musically and we eagerly envisioned these
two groups working together and sharing the stage. The only hurdle was
geographical in nature—Southern Experience was in North Carolina and