Apes of the State

Apes of the State is an independent American folk punk band from Lancaster, PA
History
April Hartman started writing, recording, and performing music under the name "Apes" in 2014. Her first solo album, All I Did This Summer Was Go to Rehab was released on April 1, 2015 on Bandcamp . From the album description: "On June 2, 2014 I entered a rehab facility in Lancaster Pennsylvania. It was the first day in over a decade that my body was entirely substance free. Among the many things I learned in rehab, and maybe most importantly, I learned that I do not have to do things because I am going to be the best at them or because they will make me money. I realized for the first time that I can simply do things just because I love doing them. I woke up. So I picked up a guitar and started writing songs. It mostly consisted of songs that would be re-recorded with the band lineup on their album This City Isn't Big Enough.
Their first full band release as Apes of the State, This City Isn't Big Enough was released on Bandcamp on March 11, 2016 . Following it's release, the band embarked on a cross country tour playing 16 cities spanning from their hometown in Lancaster, PA to California and back. In June of 2016, they once again went on tour to support the album, this time playing 37 shows in 32 U.S. cities.
In September 2016, the band was featured on NPR affiliate station WITF Fm in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to talk about the band and their startup non-profit project, Second Chance to Play. The organizations website declares the group's mission as: "Sharing the healing power of music and community with people recovering from addiction. The group collects and fixes instrument donations to then gift to individuals in recovery from drug addition as well as rehab facilities, and organizes open mics and music events in sober spaces.
They have shared the stage with notable musicians such as Days N' Daze, , Leftöver Crack, and The Lower East Side Band.
Members
Current Members
* April Hartman- vocals/guitar/banjo (2014-present)
* Dan Ebersole- mandolin/guitar (2015-present)
* Mollie Swartz- violin (2016-present)
Past Members
* Colin Grandstaff- vocals/harmonica (2015-2017)
* Charlie Ballard- upright bass (2015-2016)
Discography
Solo Albums
* All I Did This Summer Was Go to Rehab (2015)<ref name= apesrehab/>
* Things I Never Meant To Tell You (2015)<ref name= apesthings/>
Full Band Albums
* This City Isn't Big Enough (2016)<ref name= apescity/>

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See Also

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