Once upon a time back in 2007, The Candace Brooks Band broke into the local music scene with their catchy lyrics, energy-induced live shows and an upbeat indie pop feel. The band, composed of Candace Brooks (lead singer and rhythm guitarist), Neal Chistolini (lead guitarist), Allan Furtado (bass) and Brian Decoteaux (drums), received almost immediate local attention. The band performed live on 94HJY’s “Soundcheck.”, won several “Battle of the Bands” competitions, got crowned as Pixy 103 Cape Cod’s “Homegrown Artist of the Month,” and gained several nominations from local awards. The following year, their independently- released album “Life After Me” won Alternative Rock Album of the Year at the Motif Magazine Music Awards with Motif having this to say about Candace and the band: “The Candace Brooks Band is pure, unadulterated rock. Ms. Brooks' vocal delivery provides context for the lyrics that would otherwise be lost had someone else been singing. Her timbre is contradictory in many ways – sweet yet dirty - soft yet aggressive -immaculate yet lustful.” Keeping that momentum going, they went on to open for local legends Bad Larry and Senior Discount, toured New England, released their second album, “The Chase”, and collected several awards from the LimeLight Music Awards—including Female Vocalist of the year, Band of the year, Album of the year and Best Live Act of the year. With the help of Al Gomes and Big Noise, The Candace Brooks Band was also nominated for six Grammys in 2009. Candace began playing guitar and writing songs at the age of 15, sneaking into her brother's room to steal his guitar every chance she got. Playing by ear, it wasn’t long until her supportive mother took notice and bought her a guitar of her very own. Recording demos by way of cassette tape, she had countless songs under her belt that she had no idea what to do with. With a hard nudge from friends and family, she began playing at open mics and to just about anyone who would listen. It wouldn’t be until 2005 that she would meet Allan, Brian and Neal to form The Candace Brooks Band. They soon formed a tight-knit family, as some lucky musicians get to do. In 2018, tragedy struck. Neal passed away unexpectedly, and it shook their entire world. Suddenly the very thing they had always done to feed their passion - play music - was now the hardest thing in the world to do. Neal’s absence was felt in every note. In 2021, Candace’s family home caught fire. Very lucky to make it out alive, many treasured memories from her music career were destroyed and left covered in ashes and soot. Since Neal's passing, she has slowly begun to pick up the guitar and sing again, composing songs just for herself. Somewhere in the healing process, she is right back at her roots where she started, just she and her guitar. “I’m not sure what will come of that or who wants to hear what I’ve been creating, but I plan on releasing some tracks I've been working on soon. I’m even open to writing songs for or with other musicians,” she says.