Erik Viel has been performing for audiences throughout the Eastern US for the last 25 years. The seasoned guitarist/songwriter has played in acts that highlight Rock, Blues, Jazz and Folk. As a result, his musical style incorporates elements of many forms of American music.

His recent CD release, “Off the Beaten Path”, has garnered kind reception from numerous critics. (See www.ErikViel.com) The CD is a scrapbook of songs written about special people and places. Erik coins the musical style as "Southern Americana". The songs on the album are performed by some of the finest, experienced musicians in the Southeast. Erik plays all acoustic and electric guitars on the album and also serves as the producer.

"With music firmly entrenched in the mid-70s and a guitar inhabiting ghosts of Toy Caldwell, Dickie Betts and Pete Carr, Viel succeeds where so many others have failed."
- Frank Gutch
Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange
http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p04388.htm

"A big strapper from Georgia, Erik Viel gives us a very subtle album, with bucolic aspects, between country blues, folk and for our pleasure southern rock...and what southern rock my friends....recommended strongly."
- Jacques Dersigny
www.Road to Jacksonville.com
Translation from French

"Off The Beaten Path" is a very versatile CD. Partly because of the many guest vocalists and also because of the variety of styles, from folk, to blues to country oriented songs, but always with that Southern stamp, sometimes it can go into real Allman Brothers / Marshall Tucker Band style. Southern Rock, as in the beautiful "I'll be Loving You", or the jazzy ode to the North Country in "Bard of Ontario", an extremely attractive instrumental. The blues shuffle "Wanderin Blues" features guest vocalist Andrew Black as a singer, which proves that blues is his thing. On organ, Chris Corso shines, and that together make it one of my favorite songs.."
- RootsTime Belgium
www.rootstime.be
http://www.rootstime.be/ December 2007
Translation from Dutch

"I'll be Loving You" has a groove that would make any Deadhead dance. This album includes a great rendition of John Prine's "Please Don't Bury Me" that definitely got my toes tapping....Viel incorporates a lot of influences in these thirteen songs, from folk to blues and country. These songs are very rich and well-constructed. The vocals are never strained and the instrumentals are all very easy to listen to. This is a quality CD by a top-notch singer-songwriter. I expect a lot of good things from Erik Viel.
-Gary Schwind
AntiMusic.Com

"Erik Viel is a talented writer and arranger of both instrumental and vocal Southern-style Americana, and he has a traditionalist’s taste in covers, too. Off the Beaten Path is a fulfilling trip."
-Chip Withrow
The Muse's Muse Music Reviews

"Off the Beaten Path explores special, personal havens. Erik’s ability to share the intangible through his music carries you along secretive paths. One of those mystic places is Saranac – a mountain lake in upstate New York. The panoramic breathing room separating guitars and organ on Badlands is hypnotic. The buffet of genres digitally encrypted on the plastic disc feel good together . . . like your favorite flannel shirt on a crisp autumn day . . . as comforting as soul food."
-Black Jack Ketchum
WRFG/89.3 FM – Good Morning Blues
Atlanta Radio Personality