Bluegrass Spotlight February 2022

Del McCoury

Del McCoury, one of the greatest performers in the current bluegrass scene has released a new album titled “Almost Proud” (McCoury Music).

Jon Stickley Trio

“Take The Air” is the latest single from Asheville-based Jon Stickley Trio. Guitar virtuoso Jon Stickley, violinist Lyndsay Pruett and drummer Hunter Deacon recorded this laid back song inspired by sitting around on the porch and playing with good friends.

Benson

Benson is a new duo that brings together two well known names in the bluegrass scene. Banjo player Kristin Scott Benson (five-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year and member of Nashville band The Grascals) and her husband, award-winning mandolinist Wayne Benson (member of Georgia band Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out). The Bensons’ first release is the single “Conway”. Guests include long-time friend Cody Kilby (Travelin’ McCourys) on guitar, electric bassist Paul Watson (Carley Arrowood Band), and fiddler Jim VanCleve (Appalachian Road Show).

“Wayne wrote ‘Conway’ several years ago, and I remember when he recorded it at home,” says Kristin. “It has a nice feel and it’s fun to play. I thought Paul especially did a great job on bass, because this song requires some groove! We left the banjo out at times to give it some dynamics.”

“I wrote this tune in Conway, South Carolina,” Wayne adds, “at a bluegrass festival we were playing. It was one of those songs that I wasn’t sure about, but demoed it anyway. The folks at Mountain Home really liked it, so we recorded it and they decided to make it the first single!”

Jackson Hollow

Award-winning Canadian bluegrass band Jackson Hollow has a new music video of the song “Shallow Rivers”. This composition features the emotive lyrics: “I’ve been drinking from shallow rivers, wading into love that comes and goes / What my heart needs is deeper waters, shallow rivers don’t satisfy my soul.” The song was written by Shari Baker, Christy Baker, and Austin Cunningham.

Jackson Hollow is from Vancouver, British Columbia. Band members include lead singer Tianna Lefebvre; fiddler, mandolinist and vocalist Mike Sanyshyn; Charlie Frie on bass and vocals; Eric Reed on guitar; Jeff Scroggins on banjo; and Michael Kilby on dobro.

Breaking Grass

Mississippi band Breaking Grass has a new single titled “Money Can’t Buy You” (Mountain Fever Records). “Money Can’t Buy You’ is all about moments like this; little instances that cost nothing but mean the most. The chorus sings, ‘That’s a feeling that money can’t buy you. No drug will get you that high. That’s a story that the world can’t write you, and it don’t cost a dime,” says singer-songwriter and guitarist Cody Farrar. “We hope you all enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it!”

The lineup includes Cody Farrar on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Zach Wooten on mandolin and harmony vocals; Britt Sheffield on upright bass and harmony vocals; Jody Elmore on banjo; and Tyler White on fiddle. 

The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys

Tennessee bluegrass act The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys has a new single out titled “Ramblin’ Woman”. The song will appear in the bands upcoming album “Never Slow Down” on Smithsonian Folkways. Release date fr the album is March 25.

“Ramblin’ Woman” is a version of the song by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, whom many know as the Pioneering Women of Bluegrass. Hazel and Alice were two of the first women to lead a bluegrass group, making the tune an ideal introduction for new member of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Laura Orshaw. Although Orshaw had made appearances on previous releases from The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, she is now a full-time member , with soulful lead vocals and dazzling fiddle work.

“The lyrics penned by Hazel Dickens could have been written specifically for this project,” the band says. “Laura joined the band in January 2020 and this is the first project to really showcase her vocal talents.”

Shannon Slaughter

Shannon Slaughter has a new single and video titled “Common Ground.” The song will appear on his upcoming album, “Ridin’ Through the Country” on Elite Circuit Records, scheduled for release later this year.

“This David Stewart and Linda Buell composition struck me the first time I heard it. I got to spend a little time with David in his hometown of Buffalo, Wyoming and he played this for me while we were riding up through the Bitterroot Mountains,” says Slaughter. “It really typifies how I feel about life in general because we all deal with obstacles and challenges in some way and we’re all looking for solutions and answers. It really helps to know that we’re not alone.”

The music video for “Common Ground” was shot in and around various locations in Southwest Virginia.

Musicians on “Common Ground” include Shannon Slaughter on lead vocals and guitar; Trevor Watson on banjo; Ron Inscore on mandolin; Cliff Bailey on bass; Aubrey Haynie on fiddle; Gaven Largent on resophonic guitar; and Shawn Lane and Grayson Lane on harmony vocals.

Fireside Collective

Fireside Collective, a bluegrass outfit from Asheville, North Carolina, has released a song titled “Blue Is My Condition”, written by singer and resonator guitarist Tommy Maher with producer Jon Weisberger. The band also features Jesse Iaquinto on mandolin and harmony vocals; Alex Genova on banjo; Carson White on upright bass; and Joe Cicero on guitar.

“We all get the blues and experience sadness, but it can be taboo to talk about, especially when most of what we see on social media are happy people with smiling faces,” says Maher. “This song came to me at a dark time and is about embracing that darkness and not being ashamed of showing your pain to the world. It’s a sad song with no happy ending.”

Weisberger adds: “The seriousness of the subject notwithstanding, ‘Blue Is My Condition’ was a fun song to write with Tommy — and a challenging one, too, with its brevity and intense rhyme scheme. We chose to underline its classic bluegrass nature with a lonesome duo harmony rather than a full trio, and the guys just crushed it in the studio!”