The Woodland Stray

Once a solo act and now a band, the Woodland Stray is an Indy folk-pop group from Salt Lake City, UT.  

I’ve always felt like a stray dog meandering through dilapidated streets. America doesn’t want me, Mexico knows me but remains an estranged father, and despite my best efforts… there've only been two places where I’ve truly felt at home: among the quaking aspens and making noise with my friends.

I met my larger-than-life bari player, Scott Peacock, in junior high jazz band. According to him he “saw a shy little tenor player (me) and decided to adopt him.” Through him, I met Bailey Landis, our exuberant tenor saxophonist. I spent every weekday morning of my junior year of high school in a rehearsal room with them. Then covid hit, I strayed far into the Midwest, and lost touch with them. June of 2024 I returned to my beloved mountains, reconnected with them, and enrolled in community college where I met Taylor Padilla, a brilliant pianist from New Jersey with a presence akin to a warm blanket; Evelyn May, a rock-solid bassist with two rebel fists; and our very own ray of California sunshine, beaming down on the drums, Malik Freeman.

These people are my home, and from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to invite you all to be a part of it. Find the stray, and follow it to our next show.

-Mel Oaks