Local bluegrass, Americana group The Feralings to headline Northside Summer Nights series

There are many sonic elements to latch onto while experiencing the Feralings.

The Iowa City band delivers compelling, roots-y Americana and bluegrass flavored songs. The poetic songs are driven by mandolin, banjo, bass, guitars and piano. A welcoming warmth is exuded by the lovely "Humming Machines." "Maybe Maybelline" is a catchy, up-tempo love song. The slide guitar provides the hook during "Perennials."

There are a number of reasons to catch the Feralings, who will perform Saturday as part of the Northside Summer Nights series. The group's lush harmonies should be at the top of the list since the act's vocalizing is exquisite.

"Harmonizing is still very much an art," vocalist-banjo player Nicole Upchuch said. "The Feralings recently opened for the Del McCoury Band who exemplify blood harmony. As duos, I love listening to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as well as Rising Appalachia. I’m With Her has three-part harmonies that make you lean in. Locally, Dodge Street Duo brings beautiful harmonies."

Upchurch and her husband, vocalist and mandolinist Benj Upchurch, each came of age in the Inland Northwest region, where the bluegrass and harmonizing seeds were planted.

"I grew up in a family that mostly played classical and jazz, but I lived in rural Idaho where we learned how to line dance in school," Nicole Upchurch said. "Country music was a swear word in my household, and playing the banjo could be interpreted as rebellion. I used to sing jazz standards with my brothers, my favorite being ‘Body and Soul’ and ‘Lush Life.’ I also enjoyed singing at church. This is where I learned to harmonize. Benj grew up in the backwoods of Idaho listening to bluegrass. His mom played the guitar and sang. He has memories of his dad trying to get the antenna to work so they could watch ‘Austin City Limits.’"

The Upchurch couple moved to Iowa City from Montana in 2005 and have put down roots. Nicole Upchurch has been an integral part of the local music scene with The Feralings, the Awful Purdies and the Family Folk Machine.

"Iowa City has a rich intergenerational community of music and provides ample opportunities for artists of varying degrees of experience," Upchurch said. "My involvement with Family Folk Machine, Awful Purdies and The Feralings, which also includes vocalist-guitarist Patrick Bloom, provides meaningful ties to my community through educational outreach, activism and live performance. Iowa City has greatly influenced me as a songwriter. We are lucky to have Iris Dement, Greg Brown, Dave Moore and Deb Talan, to name a few (songwriters). I am very grateful to collaborate closely with the members of Awful Purdies and The Feralings as well. I look forward to the first annual Iowa City Songwriters Festival this fall.“

Expect the Feralings, which formed in 2011 and also includes vocalist-bassist Patrick Brickel, to showcase many of Upchurch's evocative songs at the Englert. Some of her tunes are allegories.

"My stories are not always my own," Upchurch said. "I often write about what I observe in nature and the human experience. I find meaning in daily tasks. Simple narratives can carry metaphor without being forced."

However, it's not all about Upchurch's songs since each of the members of the band contributes tunes.

"It's truly a group effort," Brickel said. "When one of us brings a song to the group, it already has some dynamism and is already influenced by the writer's vibe. We arrange the songs together, which might start by us playing along to learn chords and structure, but once we start settling in, we all begin investigating the landscape of the songs. We talk, we try things, and eventually the arrangements form. We tend not to white-knuckle the arrangements, even if we're giving something a very specific feel. Ultimately, we're here to serve the songs."

When the Feralings aren't delivering their mountain music from the plains, Nicole and Benj Upchurch enjoy hanging out at home with their children.

"Benj and I have three kids of our own, and acoustic music is often played in our living room," Nicole Upchurch said. " It is a source of joy and connection."