Our Story

Karin Danger, Alec Barnes and Matt Wilson are a band of New Orleans based musicians, brought together by a love of the deep folk, blues and rock vocal music that underpin the American experience. Drawing inspiration from Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Eagles, The Traveling Wilburys, and an endless parade of stars, they started this group to build a bridge between classic sounds and our modern world.

All three are instrumentalists and trained singers, approaching music with a focus on tonal beauty and soaring harmony. Their crystalline voices reinvigorate the material that inspired them to begin their own careers, and they are writing new work that authentically carries that voice forward.

Alec, Matt and Karin met while playing together on Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans, All three were drawn to the city by its unique impact on musical history and have become proud participants in its artistic culture. Danger, Barnes, & Wilson matches time-honoured musical tradition with a fresh, welcoming down-home style. We can’t wait to share our songs with you.

Alec began singing as a child, learning The Beatles, The Doors and Spirit while driving around Alabama with his grandfather. He was singled out for stardom when his kindergarten teacher noticed he had perfect pitch. He picked up guitar at age 8 and by 19 had formed his own band, Alpha State. He wasn’t interested in modern music, but was instead drawn to the older music of his father’s generation and was soon immersed in local theatre and musicals, lending his voice to radio commercials, and earning an award for Best Actor in Mobile, AL. He trained in acting in Los Angeles and has worked in film, including the role of Jimmy Johnson in Respect (2021), the Aretha Franklin biopic. Since moving to New Orleans in 2014, Alec has been a staple of the local music scene, playing drums, bass, guitar and singing in many successful groups including The Big Easy Boys and Moonshine and Mayo.

Matt has been performing professionally since the age of 23. Originally from Lancaster, PA, he began playing piano and singing at a young age. Together with his brother, he formed a band and played regularly around the area, including an opening spot for Kansas. He worked at Jellyroll’s piano bar in Florida for nine years. After falling in love with the music of New Orleans, he soon moved there and now plays on Bourbon Street and around the city. Matt’s appreciation for the music of New Orleans shines through in his playing and composition, which lean into the musical traditions established by local luminaries like Dr John, Professor Longhair and James Booker. His debut EP Tipitina Patina came out earlier this year.

Karin was training as an opera singer and violinist when she accidentally bought Queen’s A Night At The Opera album, and immediately switched to contemporary music. She worked for ten years in professional Australian theatre and cabaret, touring nationally and internationally with her original music and earning notoriety, grants, and awards for her writing. Karin’s work has featured on radio, TV, and stage, including a command performance for the British Crown in 2012. Two of her shows Give My Regards to Broady (2007) and World War Wonderful (2009) are archived on the New York Registry of World Musicals. She moved to the US in 2014 and fell into the piano bar routine of learning vast quantities of material very quickly, developing a new appreciation for the nuances of American music. Karin’s work focuses on strong vocal arrangements, storytelling and humour, making sure every song contains something special to share with an audience.