BEE! The Band 2026 - Even Krabill, Issac Fisher, Arthur Schroeder - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt

Do you remember growing up, that one group of kids who decided to start a band in their garage? Take that energy and original passion, then, combine it will high-end skill, and that is BEE! The Band. Having the opportunity to sit in on their rehearsals for the Cole Porter Festival with: Evan Krabill, Isaac Fisher, and Arthur Schroeder (filling in for Birch Baer); the atmospheric shift that happened when I entered the doorway of, well for lack of better words, the coolest studio known to man, was like experiencing nostalgia at it’s finest.

In a small room packed with sound equipment and instruments hunkered together as the light from the street facing window casted a glowing flare, it all creating the perfect stage for my introduction to this band. Beyond the enviable spill out of incredible music that came floating down to the streets when I pulled up.

Evan Krabill - Bee! The Band - 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

With a sound derived from inspiration attributed to jam-bands, rock, and indie; Evan Krabill is able to bring depth to the canvas with perpetual lyrics that linger too with the standard of the Beetles and Queen.

“Sometimes it starts with a short chord progression that I can’t quite get out of my head. It catches my ear and I start singing it, almost like a sample piece. When I bring it to the band then we start building it together, compositionally, and I write the lyrics.” Krabill states.

Arthur Schroeder 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

You may have noticed that some of the band members might look familiar. Fisher and Schroeder also performed with two other bands at the Cole Porter Festival this year. My question to the whole band was whether there was ever friction in do so.

Issac Fisher 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

“Beyond just checking schedules it about working with amazing people who champion you and music in general.” Fisher states.

When planning for the Cole Porter Festival we discussed the idea of Porter’s music.

“We really knew more of his music than of Porter himself. The more you realize that he’s was from a small town like us, the cooler it gets.” Krabill States.

To plan for a event such as this festival, there is more than what meets the idea during the performance. Sure it’s the charisma and the stage presents that is an automatic with BEE! The Band, but there is an art to performing well. One of the question I had to ask an, up and coming band, is the idea of cover songs vs originals.

Evan Krabill - Cole Porter Festival 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

“It can depend on the venue and reading the crowd is important, but when it come to performance quality we are at our highest peak when we perform originals because everything that we have is held within those songs.” Krabill continues.

BEE! The Band - Cole Porter Festival 2026 - Photograph by Lorynn Hunt.

At the Cole Porter Festival, joined by their keys and trumpet player, Evan Judson, Bee! The Bee took the main stage with a swarm of absolute mastery. From the incredible vocals, unparalleled energy, and being individually virtuosos; there is no doubt that when they came together it was the perfect combination to create a powerhouse of a performance.

“The Cole Porter Fest was a great experience, allowing people from all over the state to connect with new music and musicians! We had such a blast celebrating the work of Cole Porter while showing a new community the music of BEE! the Band. “ From Bee! The Band