The Sedonas bring local flair to nationwide audience
Founded by Farragut native James Wike, the band features a blend of rock music and Americana roots, blending elements of the blues, country and other genres.
The sound is based on the music Wike grew up listening to, as he noted his idolization of stars, such as Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.
“I got into rap in high school,” he said, “but that rock style really formed the foundation of my musical interest.”
The only twist? Wike and his bandmates are all under the age of 35, so they bring a younger approach to sounds that have appealed to fans for generations.
It has clearly resonated, though, as they have traveled across the country to open for such notable events — including a date on The Who’s final North American tour in 2025.
“I had to break through and get people’s attention by continuing to stay on their radar, just getting them to give us chances,” Wike said, adding he has served as the band’s manager and lead singer. “A lot of it has just come down to them saying they enjoy our music and wanting to hire us out for shows, then building from smaller to bigger.
“I’ve got to be really polite about things but also stay on people’s radars, and that can be a tricky thing to do,” he added. “But I think that’s the key to building a connection with folks in this industry.”
The band’s name came from a Wike family roadtrip to Sedona, Arizona, but Wike and a couple other band mates are plenty familiar with west Knoxville and the support it offers.
Wike graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School in 2016, while his older brother graduated from Farragut High School in 2012.
After receiving his own diploma from Catholic, Wike connected with drummer Casey Green, a Crossville native who attended the University of Tennessee.
Together, the pair released an Extended Play under the Sedonas’ name in 2016.
From there, they welcomed Knoxville native Ryan Sise on guitar in 2017 and currently rotate through two different bassists, Sam Fruend and Dre Phelps.
They have played as far as the Palm Desert in California but have held local shows in Knoxville and Maryville, too. They also have opened for
notable acts, such as the Red Clay Strays and The Black Crowes.
Most recently, the band released a live record on Nov. 28 titled, “Opening Selects.”
“We’ve kind of been all over the place,” Wike said. “It’s extremely rewarding meeting people from all different parts, and with social media now, you have people from across the country checking in for new music. So that’s pretty cool.”
Wike noted they plan to return to the studio this year. But as he enters his 10th year in the music business, he noted the journey so far has certainly been fulfilling.
“These artists seem to be extremely happy with where they are in life,” he said. “So it shows that when you do something you’re passionate about, it will keep you happy for as long as you want to be.”
Photo by Joey Lax-Salinas
