ROY PEAK — JACKSONVILLE SINGER-SONGWRITER
Roy Peak has been a bass player for more North Florida bands than he can count, for more years than he can remember. His first album, All is Well, was described as “A punkish folk-rock tromp through twelve songs about love, death, and birds.” He wrote the theme song for the Utica, NY radio program Get Off My Lawn, and his cover version of Gillian Welch’s song “Look at Miss Ohio” was voted one of the best cover songs of 2016 by CoverMeSongs.com. In 2024 he released his fourth album, Exile in Americana, a song-by-song reply to the 1993 album Exile in Guyville by Liz Phair.
His songs are noted for their knife-sharp rhythms and intense, often dark, lyricism.
He can be found weekly in several North Florida venues, either as a sound-man, bassist, or singer-songwriter. Roy has owned a recording studio for nearly three decades and has worked with artists such as Lauren Fincham, Mark Williams, Robert Lester Folsom, Shattermat, Tabeersco, Nehedar, and Powerball, as well as many others.
Roy has ben nominated two years in a row for Folio Weekly's Best Musician in 2024 and 2025.
Review of All is Well by the Modern Folk Music of America:
All is Well features some pretty great, dark, sad-luck songwriting, shack shaking cow-punk production, and desperate, heart-on-the-sleeve, paul westerberg-esque singing. I recommend it!
A Wolf at the Door reviewed by the Rocking Magpie:
I can think of 5 or 6 ‘famous’ singer-songwriters in this genre who sound a bit like this; and if this was released under their names the likes of No Depression, Americana UK and Brooklyn Virgin would be collectively wetting their knickers with excitement ……. but as this is Roy Peak, there’s probably only a handful of folks who will get to hear it …… and then shout its glory from the rooftops!
Trust me here …
Peak has the type of interesting and raspy singing voice I love and the slightly sloppy guitars and bass behind him were just what I needed to hear, but didn’t know it.
I like the way Peak takes everyday subjects like life, love and death and gives them a quirky left of centre makeover.
Alan Harrison
Review of All is Well at No Depression:
There is sincerity in every song and none of them shy away from their punk roots but also fully embrace their folk marriages – in some cases second marriages. All Is Well welcomes you in with its acoustic guitars and warm harmonies but it sneaks behind you and grabs you with its stories. These songs have things to say, some from darker places than others, but combined they resolve in hope. I like that.
Mike Kozlowski
An Ever Darkening Sky reviewed by Twangri-La:
Heaven, here I come! Roy’s voice is the perfect voice for this music, much like Neil Young. I absolutely adore the spacey, country vibe that makes me feel like I am somewhere else. Somewhere a million miles away.
The Mad Mackerel reviews All is Well:
We’re kicking off with the brilliant Mean Girl Blues from Roy Peak from his album All Is Well. A visceral and savage slab of punk infused Americana that is as infectious as it is bitter.
Review of All is Well at Sacred Chickens:
Roy Peak’s album All is Well immediately won a place in my heart for two reasons. First because “all is well, and all is well, and all manner of things will be well,” -a saying of Julian of Norwich- is a personal mantra for bad times and second because on the bottom left, inside the cover is the silhouette of a raven. So I had a good vibe before I even started listening. And the album does not disappoint
Julie Carpenter
Roy's cover version of the classic song "Look at Miss Ohio" was chosen as one of the best cover songs of 2016 by the noted music blog Cover Me. Here's their review:
The best covers are those that transcend their source material, finding in the cracks and crevices certain elements to be highlighted at the expense of others. By getting to the heart of Gillian Welch’s “Look At Miss Ohio,” Roy Peak ratchets up both the volume and subtle, simmering angst at the song’s very core. When he snarls, “She says she wants to do right, but not right now” the unspoken transgressions become all the more accusatory and scandalous. Where Welch merely suggested, Peak demands we look at the titular character and see her for what she really is. – John Paul
Fun fact: Robert Lester Folsom played the gnarly electric guitar lead throughout this song!
