Sun Jr. Brings Viral TikTok Pedal Steel Sound to Basalt Arts Campus

Sun Jr. is hitting the stage at 8 p.m. on May 9 at The Arts Campus at Willits in Basalt. The band, which formed in Boulder and travels the mountain circuit, is drawing locals to a standing-room-only, 21-and-up show because a single TikTok video turned their obscure pedal steel sound into a regional curiosity.

The catalyst was “Buttercorn,” a 2024 single that accumulated 2.5 million views on the social media platform. It wasn’t a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign. It was just a song that caught the algorithm’s eye.

“We had a weird situation happen that we weren’t really ready for,” bandmember Jon Schimek said.

The viral moment did more than just rack up views. It changed how the world interacts with the five-piece group. Schimek admits he was surprised by the volume of casual recognition, whether it came from a kid’s teacher at the grocery store or a guy behind the counter at a local pizza shop. There’s always someone who is really into it, which is fun, he noted.

That digital fame has a tangible local impact. The buzz helped the band build up the funds for their latest 2025 album, The Many Moon Hex, which dropped on Halloween. The record features contributions from Charlie Rose of Elephant Revival, who is Schimek’s neighbor and helped produce the track.

The band describes its sound as “psych mountain rock,” a term coined by lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Heekin. Alternatively, Schimek calls it “dark surf with original music.” The name itself is a nod to Sun Records, founded by Sam Phillips in 1952, with “Jr.” added to signal a modern, folky offshoot rather than a replica.

Heekin and vocalist/guitarist Matt Kubis predominantly write the songs. Heekin is proficient at writing many, many songs, Schimek said, resulting in a prolific output. The new album includes “Vixen,” which Schimek cites as a fan favorite, and a cover of “Rock, Salt and Nails.”

“No one knows the original, but everyone knows the cover,” Schimek said. “That’s one of our hits that people really like. It’s a slower, sadder song.”

The five members — Heekin, Kubis, Nod Norkus on drums, Jeremiah Streets on keys and bass, and Schimek on pedal steel guitar — have been playing together since 2013. They are obsessed with music, according to Schimek, and they specifically target the mountain towns for their energy.

“I really like playing in front of the mountain towns because the crowds are amazing,” Schimek said. “They are excited to be there. There’s a palpable connection. The show’s super open, it’s never the same music and never the same set. It’s a good hang.”

The Basalt show is standing room only. A valid photo ID is required for entry. Tickets and more information are available at tacaw.org/calenda.

The Arts Campus at Willits sits in the heart of the valley, a place where locals gather for art and music. The band’s journey from a Boulder garage to a viral TikTok sensation to a Basalt stage illustrates how quickly digital fame can translate into physical presence. The crowd will be 21 and up, holding their IDs, waiting for the pedal steel to cut through the air. It’s not just about the 2.5 million views anymore. It’s about the people in the room, standing close, listening to a song that started on a phone screen and ended up on a stage.