The beginning of The Local, a Pittsburgh band, actually has roots in Belfast Northern Ireland.

“I moved to The States from Northern Ireland in the early 2000’s. I had a punk rock background. I was in The States for maybe ten years. I had wanted to write music with people, but I just didn’t. I couldn’t find the right people. Eventually, I met Ben Sweet and we made beautiful music together.”

That’s Dean Henry, guitarist and vocalist for The Local. Until Henry met Ben Sweet, not only was he immersed in punk music, but he was a drummer who had never played the guitar.

“It wasn’t until I met Ben. I drummed in another band with Ben. He encouraged me to lift the guitar and write some stuff. That’s how this all started. He’s from more of a folk background, so it was a mismatch of music, but in the end it came out better than the sum of its parts.”

For more on The Local, check out their Facebook.