NORWICH – Tumbleweed Highway, an Americana band, is looking to shake up the local music scene with a performance starting at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 13 at the Blarney Stone Pub in Norwich (there is no cover charge). The band has also decided to include an interactive aspect to energize the crowd. There has been an emergence of the iPhone and other smartphones at live shows, and the band has decided to use this to its advantage.

“What we're hoping to do... is have everyone record video,” said Nate Gross, lead guitar and vocals. Attendees will then be able to upload their videos of the performance to the band's website, and in the fall when the band is mixing and mastering, the sound feed will be synced to the composite video.

Gross hopes this will result in a 360 degree video that will incorporate the best audience clips.

“Why go out and buy something, when you can get it for free?” said Gross and explained this will help cut costs, while creating an interesting, audience focused video.

“It may get crazy. We may bring people on stage,” Gross said with a smile.

Tumbleweed Highway is well-known on the music scene. Gross recalled eating dinner with Lady Antebellum after a concert in which both bands performed. Last year Tumbleweed Highway performed at the Taste of Country Music Festival and the band members have travelled all over the East coast for shows and festivals. The band's latest release is “Where do we go from here?” and will be performed at the Pub.

"The organic sound of Tumbleweed Highway is a breathe of fresh air on main stream Country Radio. I love the vocal harmonies, songwriting and attitude of the 'reformed' Rock n Rollers," said Stone Hill from WUUF Big Dog Country 103.5FM (Rochester) in a release.

“Inspired by everyone from Gram Parsons to W.C. Handy, Tumbleweed Highway brings a distinctly Mississippi sound with them wherever they play. There’s a hearty dose of Memphis shuffle, a little Muscle Shoals boogie-woogie, and at the delta, a good liberal sprinkling of creole zydeco powder,” states the band website.

After describing the video project, Gross explained how the music scene has changed in recent years. Rather than solely relying on touring to promote themselves, the band members and other bands across the nation are having to create an online presence through online videos, social media and digital content to remain profitable.