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Only four degrees separate the members of Towncrier and actor Kevin Bacon. Not too shabby for a group of high school buddies from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Conceived in 1999 by Jerry Lorenson ( lead vocals/acoustic guitar) and Matt Hinz (bass guitar), Towncrier began as a duo playing cover tunes at parties and talent shows. But by 2001, Lorenson’s penchant for putting pen to paper had created an impressive catalog of original songs and the two decided it was time to turn the duo into a full band. The eventual lineup came to include Ryan Plotz on acoustic and electric guitars and Will Locker on drums and percussion.

In September 2002 the quartet traveled to Kansas City to cut their six-song self-titled EP. The group had the good fortune to work alongside producer Rick Kloog (Jewel, Korn).

“It was a really cool experience being in the studio with someone so talented and experienced,” Lorenson said. “We all learned a lot.”

Enter The Nadas, the venerable Iowa folk-rock band. With one EP under their belt and a burgeoning fan base–not to mention a dash of nepotism–Towncrier was signed to Authentic Records, co-founded by Nadas frontmen Mike Butterworth and Jason Walsmith.

“I was blown away the first time I heard Jerry sing,” said Butterworth. “I knew I wanted to have Towncrier on Authentic’s roster right then.”

And since Towncrier drummer Will Locker is the younger brother of Nadas bass player Jon, the union is a family affair.

“Every little bit helps,” Lorenson said of Towncrier’s association with The Nadas. “But it’s still up to us to make good music and perform a kick-ass live show. No one else is going to do that for us.”

Towncrier’s first full-length album, Without a Trace, released in November 2004. The band has been touring clubs and colleges in support of the release.

And as for Towncrier’s path to all things Kevin Bacon, it goes like this:

Towncrier know The Nadas. The director of the newly minted DVD A Decade of Nada is Travis Ballstadt, who was also a production assistant on the television show “Party of Five.” Actress Neve Campbell co-starred on “Party of Five” and in the movie Wild Things… which also co-starred Kevin Bacon.