Bringing a new edge to folk-rock music, The Rayo Brothers is a band that grew out of two brothers’ love for music.
The members include brothers Daniel Reaux, who provides lead vocals, guitar and harmonica, and Jesse Reaux, who provides banjo, guitar and vocals. Other members include Lace Kelehan, who plays the drums and mandolin, Jordan Ardoin on bass and Sarah Jayde Williams on fiddle.
It’s been more than a year since The Rayo Brothers played a Baton Rouge show, but the band will be returning on Wednesday to open for Kevin Sekhani at the Varsity Theatre.
“Baton Rouge is a little bit different,” Jesse said. “We’ve only played one show there before, but it was a really good show.”
Being immersed in a musically talented family, including the Lost Bayou Ramblers and other traditional Cajun bands, music and writing came naturally from a young age for Daniel and Jesse.
The Rayo Brothers started performing in 2011, when Daniel and Jesse began playing local open mic nights, but the remaining puzzle pieces of the band came together after they entered a songwriting contest in 2012.
From there, Kelehan, Ardoin and Williams eventually joined the band.
Then, in 2014, The Rayo Brothers released their debut album, “Gunslinger.”
Since then, the band has played numerous shows throughout Louisiana and surrounding states, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival earlier this year.
The band also has filmed a new music video for the title track from its album with help from
Feed and Seed, a feed-store-turned-music-venue in Lafayette, and Bayou Teche Brewing.
Currently, The Rayo Brothers have a new album in the works with some demos completed, but they haven’t started the official recording process yet.
“It’s still a matter of working out how to play the songs live,” Jesse said.
As far as its Varsity Theatre show, Jesse said the band is looking forward to playing with Kevin Sekhani.
Because The Rayo Brothers’ music has so many contrasting genre influences, the band can reach out to more demographics.
“I still think there’s an audience for our music in Baton Rouge,” Jesse said. “We have a little bit of outlaw country, a little bit of rock ’n’ roll, a little bit of bluegrass — all that influence is in our music.”
Tickets are $10, and doors open 8 p.m. Wednesday.