TreeHause, Ave Maria’s cover band with big dreams

Local cover band TreeHause has been rocking venues across Ave Maria for two years, earning their reputation as a high-energy, family-friendly music group.

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The band’s origin story dates all the way back to 2008, the year that lead vocalist Marti Fernandez and drummer Fredrick ‘Bam’ Scott met.

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Both accomplished musicians in the Miami music scene, Fernandez and Scott met while performing at the same wedding. Their dynamic soon changed when they became industry collaborators and life partners.

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“We started dating and realized that we were tired of the shenanigans of other bands,” Scott said. “We could do the same thing on our own, have more control, make the money and be happy as musicians.”

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The first iteration of TreeHause came to fruition in 2009, with Fernandez being the group’s founding member.

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“I booked my first gig at the Hard Rock,” Fernandez said. “I put the band together and it was a four-piece. We did the rehearsals, went out there and killed it.”

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Scott, who was in a different band at the time, expressed hesitancy about forming a new group prior to TreeHause’s first performance. When he arrived at the venue, his expectations were exceeded.

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“He came out after his gig. He went to the Hard Rock to see what was going on,” Fernandez said. “He saw the whole room freaking out, then he wanted to be in the band.”

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However, the version of TreeHause that fans know, and love today would not hit the stage until 13 years after that initial performance. In 2021, the couple decided to leave Miami’s music scene behind, setting their sights on Ave Maria.

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It was then that Scott would reunite with Terrell Bryant, now the band’s bassist.

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Bryant, who also made the move from Miami to Ave Maria, had played a few venues with Scott almost 20 years prior to their reunion. As a result, the pair of musicians began working together again, hosting jam sessions in their homes.

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“One day, we’re like, ‘Hey, we need a guitar player,’” Scott said. “So, we go to Guitar Center. He’s playing bass. I’m playing drums, then, this guy walks by.”

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The band found their guitarist in musician Al Becker, who met Scott and Bryant while working at Guitar Center.

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In 2022, TreeHause officially made their debut as a four-piece ensemble at Ave Maria’s popular spot Oil Well Craft Beer. Since then, the band has established itself as a local favorite, garnering praise from community members for its lively performances.

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“The energy we bring, people can’t help but feel like this is that good, ‘I want to get up and dance’ music,” Bryant said. “I’ve had people say, ‘We’ve come here to see bands, but you guys put on a show.’”

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The group’s upbeat energy is so infectious that it even radiates within the band. “That’s one of the things that’s really fun about this band; I’m not always in a great mood all the time, but these guys bring me up,” Becker said.

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With a versatile setlist that covers everything from the latest chart-toppers to soulful R&B tunes, TreeHause has curated an entertainment experience that can be enjoyed by all age groups. “We keep it family-oriented so that kids and their grandparents can have fun,” Scott said.

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According to the band, plans to produce original music and garner national recognition are in the works. In the meantime, those looking to get their fix of TreeHause’s vibrant sound can do so by attending the group’s upcoming performances at Ave Maria’s signature festivals Taste of Ave and the Margarita & Taco Festival in 2025.