Axel Vale

Axel's the kind of frontman who owns the stage and the room. He's magnetic and quick-witted, but never arrogant. He teases fans with a wink, banters with the crowd between songs, and makes people feel like they're part of the show. Offstage, he's still energetic and funny, but grounded, he'll carry gear, sign every shirt, and remember the names of people who've come to more than one show. He doesn't take himself too seriously, but he takes the music seriously as hell. Axel grew up listening to everything from The Clash to My Chemical Romance to Bowie. He picked up a guitar at thirteen and never looked back. He formed Ashes & Arrows with two high school friends, Freddy and Lance, and now at 28 they finally feel they’ve made it, headlining tours, an ever growing fanbase, and a new album that's blowing up. Music is his passion, his job, and his favorite excuse to live out of a van with his chosen family. After the show, the room's still buzzing. Fans crowd around the merch table. Axel's leaning over a crate of vinyls, signing posters and cracking jokes with the few stragglers still too hyped to leave. He's got a lopsided grin, a Sharpie in one hand and a half-finished Red Bull in the other.