Town Mountain is up for Three IBMA Momentum Awards: Performance , Vocalist (Robert Greer) and Fiddler (Bobby Britt)!

Huge congratulations to all of the 2013 IBMA Award nominees!

Dreamspider Publicity is excited to announce that Town Mountain is up for three Momentum Awards: Performance (Town Mountain) , Vocalist (Robert Greer) and fiddler (Bobby Britt)!

Town Mountain. Photo by Jason Beverly.

Also, big congratulations to Town Mountain’s booking agent Martha Stracener Dantzic with Quicksilver Productions for being nominated for a momentum award for new industry professional!

Read more about all of the nominees for this year here: https://bluegrasstoday.com/2013-ibma-award-nominees/

The categories Town Mountain is nominated for include:
Performance, Vocalist (Momentum Awards) – Robert Greer, Town Mountain
Performance, Band (Momentum Awards) – Town Mountain
Performance, Instrumentalist (Momentum Awards) – Bobby Britt, Town Mountain

Town Mountain Featuring Robert Greer on Vocals:

“Rollicking straight-ahead fare, proto-rock, neo-trad country and jaunty boho picking”
–Jewly Hight, Nashville Scene

“Town Mountain… I’ve known these boys, seems like, forever..and I like ’em. They pick and sing with a passion you don’t find much these days, it’s refreshing and real good.  Put the cd in the truck, hit the parkway or some other good riding road, roll the windows down, and play it loud. PS. Watch out for the lawdog.” –John Roten, WPEK/WMXF

“A stone gem” –Mike Greenblatt, Aquarian Weekly

Highlights included the twisted waltz refrain within the title tune to the band’s recent album Leave the Bottle, the fierce fiddle and mandolin square-offs that sparked Four Miles and the Western slant of a new Robbie Fulks song, Long I Ride.”
–Walter Tunis, Kentucky.com in an review of The Festival of Bluegrass

Town Mountain Featuring Bobby Britt on Fiddle — “Four Miles”:

The Momentum Awards focus on artists and business people who are in the early years of their careers in bluegrass music. Five artists will receive performance awards, while three industry awards will go to key contributors in the bluegrass business. The Momentum Awards are not to be confused with the long-standing IBMA Awards, which are the gold standard for peer-recognized excellence in bluegrass music. The Momentum Awards will acknowledge something undeniable about bluegrass music—that many of its most dynamic artists and entrepreneurs are young or relatively new to the genre, and there are perhaps more artists playing bluegrass or bluegrass-related music than at any time in decades. IBMA looks forward to recognizing the best of them.

IBMA Momentum Awards are intended to encourage professionalism in bluegrass music among every generation.

Tickets to the IBMA Awards Show on Thursday, September 26 in Raleigh are still available at www.ibma.org. or by calling 888-GET-IBMA!

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Town Mountain & The Shawn Camp Band Present The End of the World Bluegrass Bash @ The Grey Eagle 12/21

Town Mountain & The Shawn Camp Band Present
The End of the World Bluegrass Bash @ The Grey Eagle

Friday, December 21, 2012
Show starts at 9pm with Town Mountain followed by the Shawn Camp Band
$10adv/ $12 dos
185 Clingman Ave. 28801 Asheville, NC 28801
828-232-5800
www.thegreyeagle.com

www.TownMountain.net

“I’m not sure what the definition of bluegrass would be in words alone, but if that definition was set to music, it would probably sound something like Town Mountain’s new Pinecastle Records release, ‘Leave the Bottle’… I could go on. There are no duds, and no filler songs on this project, which was produced by Mike Bub. But you get the point. This, my friends, is how bluegrass is supposed to sound.” –David Morris, Bluegrass Today

Asheville, NC bluegrass band Town Mountain is touring around their fourth album, Leave the Bottle, which was released September 4th, 2012 on Pinecastle Records and was produced by Grammy award-winner Mike Bub (Del McCoury Band) and engineered by banjoist extraordinaire Scott Vestal (Sam Bush Band) at his own Digital Underground Studio in Nashville, TN. After debuting at #4 on the Bluegrass Today Radio Chart on release week and currently sitting at #15 on Roots Music Report’s Bluegrass Album chart, Leave the Bottle has been generating rave reviews and serious airtime from bluegrass fans across the country.  Town Mountain is Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, and Jake Hopping on upright bass.

The new album once again features the stellar in-house songwriting that has become the band’s trademark. Leave the Bottle effortlessly covers a wide array of styles in the bluegrass spectrum. There’s the barroom swagger and honky tonk edge of tracks like “Up the Ladder” and the title track “Leave the Bottle”, the Jimmy Martin style bounce and confidence of “Lawdog” and “Lookin’ in the Mirror”, the Irish flavor of Bobby Britt’s “Four Miles”, and the laid back John Hartford style groove of “Greenbud on the Flower” among others.  But no matter the stlye, the band’s delivery gives every tune a true and honest feel. This album is sincere, heartfelt, bluegrass music from front to back.

“Centered around strong, soulful vocals, and poised to stay put,” says Woody Platt of the Steep Canyon Rangers, “Town Mountain are true to bluegrass in all the right ways and this new project keeps them firmly connected to the traditions of the genre, while also allowing them to reach out into the broad horizon of string band music. Leave the Bottle comes highly recommended.”

Their undeniable charm and winning way with words won Town Mountain a spot on 2012’s Putumayo’s Presents Bluegrass release, showcasing the Phil Barker original  “Diggin’ on the Mountainside” alongside tracks from Alison Krauss, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, The Seldom Scene, and more.

Town Mountain’s Phil Barker has co-written songs for the Steep Canyon Rangers last two records, as well as for comedian/banjoist Steve Martin’s Grammy nominated Rare Bird Alert.

Town Mountain has also collaborated and/ or performed along with Doc Watson, Jim Lauderdale, Steep Canyon Rangers, Acoustic Syndicate, Keller Williams, Larry Keel, David Grisman, and The Infamous Stringdusters.

LISTEN to a fantastic interview (and some great tunes) with Town Mountain’s Jesse Langlais as he talks with Sloane Spencer from Country Fried Rock about the new album, musical influences and more.

More news, tour dates and information at www.TownMountain.net

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About the Shawn Camp Band: Some careers can be described with a couple of words, but Shawn Camp’s isn’t one of them. A bold and distinctive singer, a songwriter who’s provided material for artists ranging from Garth Brooks and Brooks & Dunn to Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs, and a multi-instrumentalist who’s played with everyone from Alan Jackson to the Osborne Brothers, his music sprawls across the lines that divide mainstream country, Americana, bluegrass and roots rock.

Some of Shawn’s songwriting accomplishment include: writing the  1997 #1 hit “2 Pina Colada’s” for Garth Brooks, 1998’s #1 “How Long Gone” for Brooks & Dunn, George Strait’s 2008 #1 song “River of Love”, Josh Turner’s 2007 #4 song “Would You Go With Me”, as well as several tunes on the 2002 Grammy winning Jim Lauderdale & Ralph Stanley album Lost in the Lonesome Pines.

www.ShawnCamp.com

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Tara Nevins Announces Shows in Atlanta 12/5 and Asheville 12/7

Tara Nevins Performs in the Southeast this Winter
Performing Songs from Her Latest Solo Release ‘Wood & Stone’

NEW DATES: Tara Nevins and Friends on Tour:
Wed 12/5  Atlanta, GA  Smith’s Olde Bar
Thur 12/6  Charlotte, NC  The Double Door Inn
Fri 12/7  Asheville, NC  The Grey Eagle
Sat 12/8  Huntsville, AL Kaffeeklatsch

Click here for updated information and a cast of performers!

American roots traditionalist Tara Nevins will be touring this winter in the southeast for select shows, in between her other gigs with Donna the Buffalo. She will be performing songs from her latest solo release on Sugar Hills Records which hit in the Top 20 on the Americana Music Chart in 2011. Wood and Stone is an exploration of her own heritage, musical and otherwise and was produced by Larry Campbell at the Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. It showcases Nevins’ ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. Featured guests on the album include Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, Teresa Williams, The Heartbeats, along with the core band of Larry Campbell, Justin Guip, and Byron Isaacs.

Fans of Nevins from her 22-year tenure with Donna the Buffalo are familiar with her versatile talents; she shares the vocal and songwriting responsibilities for the band and is a stellar musician on fiddle, guitar, and accordion. (She plays a mean scrubboard too.) Prior to DTB, Nevins was a founding member of the all-female, old time/Cajun band The Heartbeats. (They join her on two tracks here as well.) Wood and Stone delivers the musical expertise fans have come to expect and surprises with new perspectives.

WATCH- Stars Fell on Alabama Official Music Video
WATCH – Tennessee River performance and interview

Performers for the shows

Tara Nevins– vocals, fiddle, guitar
Mike Compton – Mandolin
Mark Raudabaugh – Drums
Riley Baugus– Banjo
Todd Phillips – bass
Tommy Hannum – pedal steel & electric guitar
Amber Dawn Rische– harmony vocals and 2nd fiddle
Tba – Acoustic Guitar

What the Press says about Tara Nevins’ “Wood & Stone”

“A tour de force from start to finish” – Kay Cordtz, Elmore

“With the wonderful fiddle groove and vividly written lyrics, Nevins gives a glimpse into her roots. Stepping out for a rare solo record (beyond her beloved band, Donna the Buffalo), she meshes her Cajun influences, unique voice, drums and steel guitars for an intriguing look at her heritage.” —CMT

“If heroes and heroines of rock ‘n’ roll are defined by their uniqueness, they definitely broke the mold when they made Tara Nevins.” —Wildman Steve, The Corner News

“The centerpiece of the album, in my opinion, is the sweeping “The Wrong Side,” which features Allison Moorer and Teresa Williams. It’s a track sounds like it was from the O’Brother Where Art Thou? sessions, but the same could be said of the haunting “Stars Fell On Alabama,” where once again Nevins shows her prowess on the fiddle. This is an exceptional piece of music, one that I think needs to be heard—to prove that people are still cutting “Country Music” these days!” —Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

“a wide-ranging affair encompassing all manner of rootsy Americana, spiced with Nevins’s voice and multi-instrumentalist skills, served up in a package that is polished but never slick. Nevins, in other words, is the real deal.” —David Maine, Pop Matters

“The sound is both loose and tight at the same time; the band knows how to walk that line and let Nevins be herself. To put it simply, it just plain works.”  —Brian Robbins, Jambands.com

“…….and a version of “Stars Fell on Alabama” that is now among my favorites. She has rearranged the tune magnificently and rekindled the spirit of the song.” —Cat Johnson, No Depression

“Wood And Stone adds another powerful and engaging chapter to Nevins’ musical achievements”. —Steven Stone, Vintage Guitar

Visit Tara Nevins website www.TaraNevins.com for more information about the album, a gallery of images, videos, music, and lyrics.

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Red June Offers a Free Download to Celebrate Their New Album “Beauty Will Come” ~ Release Date June 5th!

Acoustic Trio, Red June, will be release their new album “Beauty Will Come” next Tuesday, June 5th! To celebrate, they are offering fans a free download of the song “Soul’s Repair” off the new album!

RedJuneMusic.com

“Beauty Will Come by Red June just may be the most stunningly gorgeous country album in years. Everything about it: from the exquisite three-part harmonies and acoustic loveliness of the mandolin, fiddle, guitar and upright bass (no drums!) to the compositional prowess extolling home and hearth, family and true love ways. It’s natural, organic fresh air cool mountain stream music that strikes the right chord. It’s music meant to be played on the back porch at sundown while the coffee’s a ‘brewin’ and the soup is heatin’ up. This is the epitome of Americana and you probably won’t hear it on stupid ‘country’ radio” –Mike Greenblatt, Rant’n’Roll Aquarian Weekly

“Red June plays a hybrid of folk, country and bluegrass in many of its attendant forms. They can kick it with a reel, squeeze a country turnip until it bleeds, and tell a folk tale as well as most anybody, but where they really shine is their songwriting. All three have an innate feel for the music of the past and, without rehashing the formulas of the past, write in their own styles, fitting each song to their strengths. The main strength? Vocals. Vocals are not all they do, but they do them so well that you get lost in them at times. Three voices, blended yet individual, singing for harmonic joy or sadness or singing for the joy of singing itself.” –Frank Gutch, Jr., FAME Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange

“Will Straughan, John Cloyd Miller, and Natalya Weinstein possess a airtight harmony that will impress even the toughest critic. Listen to their vocal blend on “I’m Willing To Try,” and you may need to have your jaw surgically removed from the floor – they are that good!” –Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

“I gotta say, this CD is INCREDIBLE!!! I loved it. It is full of wonderful songwriting, beautiful vocals and remarkable instrument work. John and Natalya and Will really have it going on with this recording. The tone of the recording itself is great. Not too much of this trick or that trick that folks sometimes think they need to use in the studio to make good music sound good.” –Riley Baugus

“With equal parts Celtic, old timey, trad country, and contemporary folk, Red June typifies what modern folk music is all about” –Steven Stone, AudiophileReview.com

“Perhaps the most admirable aspect of this album it the fact that with every track you listen to comes almost a totally different sub-genre or ‘form’ of Americana music. Ranging from folk, to bluegrass, to old-time, the sixth track of the album, ‘I’m Willing to Try’, is a brilliantly executed gospel number, done a capella, and strategically flows into a bluesy mid-tempo bluegrass tune, ‘Cloud of Dust’.  The album finishes out by continuing its theme of surprising the listener with each new track, (me anyway), and keeping things fresh. The final track that you will hear, ‘Red Sky Of Morn’,  is definitely their most folky on the album and seems to be an appropriate way to close it out. —Awaiting the Flood

“The material on Beauty is almost all self-penned by the band, running the gamut of modern bluegrassy folk. From git-down instrumentals to lovely waltzes, even a set of Irish reels, every piece is played with confidence and soul. But on the singing is where they shine like the summer sun. With warm lilting three-part harmonies and instrumental prowess to match” —Fiddle Freak

“There are shades of Tim O’Brien and Seldom Scene and Buck White & The Down Home Folks in the music, somehow. Not in the actual voices, but in the phrasing. It is a process, I think. They are processing well.” –Frank Gutch, Jr., FAME Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange

“undeniably charming” –JC, 3rd Coast Music

Red June looking out the the Cabin Stage window at Merlefest 2012. Photo by Tim Timberlake.

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Red June Releases “Beauty Will Come” on June 5th: Appalachian Rooted Americana

Like their namesake heirloom apple variety, Red June has strong roots in the Appalachian tradition while constantly forging new ground in Americana music.

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RedJuneMusic.com

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Red June is an acoustic trio based in Asheville, NC who creates and performs beautifully distilled Americana music. They are making waves with their dynamic, yet refined sound that features striking 3-part harmonies, tasteful instrumental work and honest, soulful songwriting that seamlessly blends old-time, bluegrass, roots rock and traditional country music. Poised to release their second full-length album, Beauty Will Come, on June 5th, 2012, listeners can expect an album to fall in love with. “The record is a brilliant integration of old-time, bluegrass, and beyond, and feels like a holding of hands… the blend is beautiful,” says singer/songwriter Kari Sickenberger of Polecat Creek.

Red June is made up of Will Straughan on resonator guitar, vocals and guitar, John Cloyd Miller on mandolin, vocals and guitar, and Natalya Weinstein on fiddle and vocals. The three have been longtime friends and first jammed together at a pickin’ party in Asheville in 2005. In late 2008 they formed Red June and went on to release their debut album Remember Me Well in 2010. Remember Me Well was voted the #1 regional release of 2010 by the listeners of the southeast’s premier independent radio station WNCW. “For those who seek well-crafted songwriting and impeccable musicianship, you just can’t go wrong with the acoustic instrumentation and powerful harmonies of Red June’s Remember Me Well. It’s an exciting debut from a collective of outstanding performers,” writes Chris Mateer in No Depression.

Beauty Will Come was recorded and mixed in late 2011 at Hollow Reed Arts Studio in Asheville by musician/engineer extraordinaire Chris Rosser, who co-produced the record along with Red June. The innovative young graphic artist, Peter Gaillard, designed the album art using an old lithograph of a Mourning Cloak butterfly. The image resonates with the album’s themes of transition, hope, loss and renewal.

More personal than their debut album, Beauty Will Come begins with an uplifting song by Straughan titled “These Old Chains.” “Every Hard Mile”, by Miller, is an expansive song featuring the band’s signature 3-part harmonies. Track three is an exciting old-time inspired fiddle tune written by Weinstein & Miller titled “Piney Branch Breakdown.” Straughan then brings us “All that the Fall Leaves,” a playful waltz about the search for true love.

“Bittersweet” is a pensive song from Weinstein, and is the song from which the album title was drawn. Next is the only cover song on the record, a gospel a capella originally recorded by Ralph Stanley called “I’m Willing to Try.” Following, is John’s nod to his bluegrass heritage with “Cloud of Dust.” Straughan’s beautiful and powerful “Soul’s Repair” follows and Miller then brings us the light-hearted “Foolish Me.” Next is a set of Irish reels, “Scott’s/Connors” penned by Straughan and named after his young guitar student and student’s brother. The final track on the album “Red Sky of Morn” is a collaborative song written by all three band members along with Laurelyn Dossett.

Red June is already well underway to becoming a longtime southern favorite, akin to the Appalachian heirloom apple variety from which they gleaned their name. Ripening early with a full balance of flavors, Red June is touring across the country and has performed at the renowned Music City Roots live radio show in Nashville as well as the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival and Suwannee Springfest. They will also be performing three days at the 25th anniversary MerleFest in April of 2012. As acclaimed songwriter & musician Joe Newberry says, “Red June is one of our truly great bands. They never fail to talk the talk and walk the walk.” Red June is sure to capture eyes and ears with their new release, Beauty Will Come.

WATCH “Soul’s Repair” live from Music City Roots

WATCH “Cloud Of Dust” from the Rooster’s Wife in Aberdeen, NC

WATCH “Bittersweet” from the Rooster’s Wife in Aberdeen, NC

Spring/Summer Tour Dates

4/27 – 4/29 MerleFest, N. Wilkesboro NC

5/5 French Broad River Fest, Hot Springs NC

5/12 Pinecone Concert Series, Cary NC

5/19 Opening for the Steep Canyon Rangers

at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain NC

6/7 Reynolda House, Winston-Salem NC

6/8 Hickory Unitarian Church, Hickory NC

6/9 Mountain Home Music, Blowing Rock NC

6/14 Whitewater Center, Charlotte NC

6/15 Altamont Theatre, Asheville NC

6/21 Marsh Woodwinds Upstairs, Raleigh NC

6/22 Ashland Coffee & Tea, Ashland VA

6/23 The Mainstay, Rock Hall MD

6/26 The Living Room, NYC

6/27 Johnny D’s, Boston MA

6/30 Wesley United Methodist Church, Amherst MA

7/1 Firebox TrueGrass Bluegrass Series, Hartford CT

7/21 Gallivan Center Folk & Bluegrass Festival,

Salt Lake City UT

7/22 Mountain Town Music, Park City UT

7/24 Cardiff Schoolhouse, Glenwood Springs CO

7/28 Cooper Creek Square Concerts, Winter Park CO

7/29 Fiddles, Vittles & Vino Festival, Colorado Springs CO

8/1 Poudre River Library, Fort Collins CO

8/4 Beartrap Summer Festival, Casper WY

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redjunemusic.com

twitter.com/redjunemusic

facebook.com/redjuneasheville

youtube.com/user/redjunemusic

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Songs Of Water will be performing at LEAF this Fall!

LEAF Set Times and Stages:

10/20 9:00pm @ Eden Hall
10/21 6:30pm @ Roots Family Stage
10/21 11:30pm @ Eden Hall

For more information on The Lake Eden Arts Festival in Black Mountain, NC please visit theleaf.org

www.songsofwater.com

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Much like the earthly element from which they draw their name, the story of Songs Of Water ebbs and flows, pulsing with life, beauty and energy. Beginning in 2002, Songs Of Water started as a loose community of friends centered on writing and experimenting with different sounds and instrumentation. Most of the music was off-the-cuff improvisation that later grew and matured into completed composition.

That attention to the natural flow and feel of music even extended to the make-up of the group itself, as the membership rose to as many as ten and fell to as little as three, depending on the needs of the music. Stephen Roach (vocals, guitar, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, percussion, tenor banjo) revels in the “cross pollination” found within the band’s members and their individual talents. “One of the unique qualities about the band is that most of our backgrounds are very different than one another.”

Luke Skaggs (violin, guitar, lap steel, percussion, backing vocals) and Molly Skaggs (vocals, accordian, banjo) grew up with bluegrass in their blood, thanks to Ricky Skaggs being their dad. Roach’s own heritage came from his father and from his cousin, acclaimed bluegrass guitarist Tony Rice.

Marta Richardson (violin) and Sarah Stephens (cello, vocals) are both classically trained musicians who have played in symphonies. The line-up is completed by Jason Windsor (classical, acoustic & baritone guitar, mandolin), Greg Willette (bass guitar, acoustic guitar), and Michael Pritchard (drums, percussion, hammered dulcimer, acoustic guitar).

So what ultimately binds this collective of extraordinary musicians together? According to Roach, “we discovered it was really fun to play this sort of cinematic, explorative music in a live setting. It flies so contrary to what you hear in most live music settings. The music pulls you into a deeper, perhaps even spiritual experience.”

Shutter 16 goes on to say, “Songs of Water’s musical range, not only instrumentally but vocally as well, is an elaborate production of many skilled musicians. If Hollywood decides to revisit Last of the Mohican’s or another similar tale as they look for more stories they can just reshoot in IMAX 3D, I fully expect SoW to be the featured sound-track artist as Linkin Park was to Transformers. Songs of Water is not something to miss.”

Their newest release, “The Sea Has Spoken,” is a true collaboration of all members, arrangements with textures woven together by everyone in the band. Their focus on mostly instrumental music comes from the power that sound without words wields over all of us. By leaving aside traditional lyrics, Songs Of Water’s music encompasses the listener, leading them to reconsider music, life and exploration anew. Their music becomes an interactive canvas, inviting all who hear to joy in the act of creation corporately.

“The band’s music feels primitive but forward-thinking, exotic yet familiar; it creates a complete narrative in the listener’s mind with rarely a word sung. Essentially, their music is transportive,”says Ryan Snyder with Shuffle Magazine. Alli Marshal with the Mountain Xpresssays, “The whole record ebbs and flows with graceful gestures, sweeping strokes of light and dark, complex layering and effortless playing… the collection as a whole is so engaging that, surely, to see the musicians in action would only add to the experience.”

Ultimately, the impetus for the band’s existence is the desire to share that transcendent experience with others. The members of Songs Of Water stumbled onto a new form of expression that connected with audiences, spurring them on to further innovations. Hungry to engage even more, they are now pursuing this path to see where the road might lead. As Roach puts it, “Water can be a peaceful stream or it can be a violent tsunami. Our music has that same tendency from moment to moment. It may be a contemplative classical guitar one moment or a raging orchestra of percussion the next.”

And thus flows Songs Of Water, roaming wide and far to pull its listeners in with tendrils of music and beauty.

“Although listeners will hear more than 30 instruments on the new album — from dun duns to doumbeks — the songs still ring familiar. Traditional sounds from the hammered dulcimer, banjo, and acoustic guitar reflect North Carolina’s musical roots. All the musicians credit their North Carolina heritage for influencing their music.”–
Carole Perkins – Our State Magazine
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www.songsofwater.com
twitter.com/songsofwater
facebook.com/songsofwater
youtube.com/songsofwater

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Magnetic Music presents Dehlia Low for 3 shows at The Magnetic Field: November 2nd, 9th &16th!

Tickets available for each show individually ($8), or purchase the 3-Show Bonus Package & come see all 3 shows, plus get a signed poster and a live recording of one of the shows ($24)!

www.themagneticfield.com

Glen Rock Depot, at 372 Depot Street, in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC.

Get tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2211941978

Dehlia Low formed in late 2007 as part of Asheville, North Carolina’s roots music renaissance. Singers Anya Hinkle (from Blacksburg, VA on fiddle) and Stacy Claude (from Atlanta, GA on guitar) pulled together a group of talented pickers from the region: Aaron Ballance on Dobro (Winston-Salem, NC), Bryan Clendenin on mandolin (Hurricane, WV) and Greg Stiglets on bass (Jackson, MS).

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“The group has taken off like a skyrocket…and deservedly so: in a musical world that doesn’t always treasure creativity, Dehlia Low has staked out a good piece of ground all its own.” ~ Nashville Scene, Jon Weisberger

“Dehlia Low is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the musical world for some time to come!” ~ Music News Nasheville, Chuck Dauphin

Dehlia Low is a band riding high on a wave of musical accomplishment and heartfelt performance. Fans of Americana, bluegrass, or just good country-tinged music would do well to seek them out” ~ Pop Matters, David Maine

“…relying on the warm tones of acoustic guitar, mandolin, upright bass, slide guitar, and not to mention fiddle thumpin’, strummin’ and pickin’ underneath honeysuckle vocal harmonies — the Asheville, N.C., quintet seems like it has rolled straight off a mountainside and right onto a wraparound wooden porch in some summer-grass valley.” ~ Style Weekly, Mike Hilleary

“Dehlia Low’s “Ravens & Crows” is carefully crafted to lure traditional, country, bluegrass and Americana fans. They are generally appealing to all of these genres without alienating anyone, which is hard to do.” ~ Boone Mountain Times, Ashley Wilson

Dehlia low on the web:
www.dehlialow.com
twitter.com/dehlialow
www.reverbnation.com/dehlialow
www.facebook.com/pages/Dehlia-Low

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Rebel Records to Release Ravens and Crows from Dehlia Low ~ Street Date Aug 2, 2011

Newly signed to Rebel Records, Dehlia Low echoes the sounds of early country with a strong bluegrass flavor, crafting a fresh originality that feels like home in this new album produced by the Infamous Stringdusters’ Travis Book…

Dehlia Low pushes bluegrass squarely into the Americana genre, combining their tenacious, authentic vocal style with extraordinary instrumental prowess in original songs that feel at once old and new.  Their newest project Ravens and Crows will be their first release on the venerable Rebel Records label (Ralph Stanley, Steep Canyon Rangers) on August 2, 2011.

The vocal harmony and instrumentation on the album reflect a deep connection to traditional music with modern arrangements and relevant, smart songwriting.  Fans of Dehlia Low immediately latch onto the compelling, nostalgic vocals of Anya Hinkle, the group’s lead singer and fiddler, uniquely paired with guitarist Stacy Claude’s clear, unyielding singing.  Greg Stiglets, on bass, has the edgy country vocals reminiscent of Steve Earle’s early days.  Aaron Ballance frames their sound through his virtuosic and expressive resophonic guitar playing that is punctuated and textured by Bryan Clendenin’s inventive and powerful mandolin.

The project, their fourth record to date, was recorded and mixed close to home in Asheville, NC at Echo Mountain Recording.  “We were thrilled to get into the studio and get these songs recorded, and grateful to the wonderful folks at Rebel for making the record possible,” said Hinkle.  “Each song has a story behind it that is personal for each one of us.  For me, it is a privilege to be able to share my thoughts, the melodies that run through my head, and my influences as a reflection of those who inspire me in this record.  To stand in front of the incredible mics at Echo thinking about sharing those songs with the world was very emotional for me.  After laying down “Living is Easy” at around midnight on a cold March evening with the rest of the band in the booth, I could hardly sleep.  I felt like I was already dreaming anyway.”

The album was produced Travis Book, a member of the International Bluegrass Music Association multi-award winners and Grammy-nominated The Infamous Stringdusters.  A singer, songwriter, bass player and lifelong “band guy,” Book was the perfect fit.  “The stars really aligned to have Travis come out to Asheville and work on this project during a break in the Dusters’ busy touring schedule,” said Claude.  “He has a terrific ear and tremendous experience with arranging music in the studio.  He was on the same page with us immediately in developing the songs and arrangements we brought to the project.  His positive energy made all the details fall into place.  The whole experience was a great lesson in faith and fun, and you can really hear that on the album.”

About the record, Book says, “the band and I are traveling the same path, creating music with friends that speaks from our experience, ignoring convention and following our ears.  The traditional aesthetic and down-to-earth nature of the music initially drew me to the project, but the raw creativity and uniqueness of the members and the seamless integration of their influences and biases were what made this project really special.”

The record is the latest release on Rebel Records.  Rebel’s president Mark Freeman says, “Rebel Records is thrilled to have Dehlia Low as a part of the Rebel family. The Asheville, North Carolina-area has seen the emergence of a number of amazing roots-oriented groups over the last few years and Dehlia Low is certainly one of those bands at the forefront of the scene!  They project a highly energetic, contemporary sound that is fresh yet still very much rooted in tradition.  I have no doubt their distinctive singing and original material will quickly win over new audiences everywhere.”

The ten original songs are filled with compelling poetry that conveys a sense of time and place wholly familiar yet hard to categorize.  Hinkle’s songwriting ranges from a coming-of-age gallop in “State of Jefferson,” to southern sounds and mythology in “Goin’ Down” and “Ravens and Crows,” to the mesmerizing, bluesy “Drifting on a Lonesome Sea.”  Stiglets’s wordplay and cadence are Dylanesque in “Thunder,” while his imagery and melody are both intriguing and heartbreaking in “Ride” and “Better Left Unsaid”– all in sharp contrast to the hard-edged, bluegrassy “$40 Chain.”   Clendenin’s “Change Up” showcases the instrumental work of the group.  Of the two covers on the album, the band swings Willie Nelson’s “What Do You Think Of Her Now” behind Claude’s vocals, while taking “Cannonball Blues” to bare bones.

Ravens and Crows follows two previous studio albums and one live album that have been released since the band formed in 2007.  Their inaugural EP Dehlia Low and full-length studio album Tellico both scored in the top 20 of WNCW 88.7FM’s top 100 new releases of 2009 and 2010, respectively, and garnered praise from Bluegrass Unlimited, SingOut!, No Depression and others.  The buzz led to an exciting tour in 2010 in support of Tellico, with appearances some of the most prestigious festivals in the U.S., including Merlefest and the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, where they shared the stage with the Stringdusters, Seldom Scene, and Alison Krauss and Union Station.  In 2011, Dehlia Low will be taking their “Appalachiagrassicana” sound across the U.S. and Canada in support of the new album.

www.DehliaLow.com

Photos by Sandlin Gaither

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Newly signed to Rebel Records, Dehlia Low performs in New York, PA, and VA this April!

Dehlia Low pushes bluegrass squarely into the emerging Americana genre, combining their tenacious, authentic vocal style with extraordinary instrumental prowess in original songs that feel at once both old and new. Their upcoming album, to be released this summer, will be their first on the venerable Rebel Records label (Ralph Stanley, Steep Canyon Rangers), and is an eagerly-anticipated follow up to their acclaimed 2009 independent studio release “Tellico.” Since stepping off the stage at Merlefest in 2010, the distinctively Appalachian country/bluegrass sound of Dehlia Low has transcended their native Blue Ridge, bringing the band across the US and Canada on their exciting 2011 tour.

Photo by Sandlin Gaither

Dehlia Low performs in NY, PA & VA this April!

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Sat, April 16th ~ Bena Country Store ~  Hayes, VA

Sun, April 17th ~ Sellersville Theatre w The Steel Wheels ~  Sellersville, PA
Wed, April 20th ~ Sportsman’s Tavern ~  Buffalo, NY

Thurs, April 21st ~Abilene’s ~  Rochester, NY

Fri, April 22nd ~ Wellsville Creative Arts Center ~  Wellsville, NY
Sat, April 23rd ~ The Mockingbird ~  Staunton, VA

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Dehlia Low came together in late 2007 as part of Asheville, North Carolina’s roots music renaissance. Singers Anya Hinkle (from Blacksburg, VA on fiddle) and Stacy Claude (from Atlanta, GA on guitar) pulled together a group of talented pickers from the region: Aaron Ballance on dobro (Winston-Salem, NC), Bryan Clendenin on mandolin (Hurricane, WV) and Greg Stiglets on bass (Jackson, MS). The group’s sound is focused on original music rooted in bluegrass but with a distinctive country/folk feel true to their southern Appalachian roots.

Dehlia Low is pleased to announce their newest project, a studio album to be released in summer 2011 through the oldest and most respected bluegrass record label, Rebel Records. The project will be recorded in Asheville and produced by Travis Book of Grammy-nominated and IBMA emerging artist winners The Infamous Stringdusters. The group is currently planning an exciting international tour around the release, with details available at www.dehlialow.com.

Photo by Sandlin Gaither

Dehlia low on the web:
www.dehlialow.com
twitter.com/dehlialow
www.reverbnation.com/dehlialow
www.facebook.com/pages/Dehlia-Low

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Town Mountain Signs with Pinecastle Records

Columbus, NC – February 21, 2011 – Pinecastle Records is proud to announce that it has signed Town Mountain to its roster. The band brings a unique energy to the label with their mix of mostly original material that creates a hard-driving, no nonsense, foot stomping bluegrass sound mixed with slow country crooning and a honkytonk edge. Town Mountain safely brings it all together in a way that has wowed not only their local Asheville, NC music scene but also crowds across the country since their first national tour in 2005, which they capped off by winning the prestigious Rockygrass Band Competition. Town Mountain features Phil Barker (mandolin, vocals), Robert Greer (guitar, vocals), Jesse Langlais (banjo, vocals), Bobby Britt (fiddle), and Jon Stickley (bass, vocals).

Musical influence, fine-tuned vocals, precision crafted instrumentalists, and charming stage presence are all ingredients in what makes a sound…unique. One more ingredient that is essential in producing this sound: new songs. Town Mountain has the capacity to bring fresh and exciting material to their high quality music. With topics ranging from love lost and heartache to the weariness of a midnight drive across America’s heartland to politically charged topics that most steer clear of. You will find that Town Mountain’s songwriting is heartfelt, sincere and honest. Their upcoming album, Steady Operator, has an official street date of  May 10th and the band is planning a CD release party at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC on March 19th.

“This album is a culmination of thousands of miles traveled across America, playing for audiences as diverse as the traditional bluegrass crowd to the hippie jam band contingent in big cities and festivals to pubs and house concerts. Diverse audiences that have one thing in common, a love for inspired, original, well played music, performed with a spirit that appeals to fans of all types and ages.” -Mike Bub, Steady Operator Producer and Grammy winner with The Del McCoury Band

www.townmountain.net

http://pinecastlemusic.com/pressrelease/2011/townmountain.html

Booking:
Rob Miller
Pickin’ Productions
pickinproductions@gmail.com
www.pickinproductions.com

About Pinecastle Records:
Pinecastle Records has been a key player in the transmission of bluegrass music to the masses for the last 20 years. Orlando, Florida business man Tom Riggs started the label in 1989 as a favor to a friend who was looking for an outlet for their newly recorded CD. Pinecastle has long developed young artists including Kristin Scott Benson, Terry Eldredge, and Josh Williams and has also been the home to bluegrass legends such as the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse, and Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen. In all, it has released nearly 250 projects.

Today, Pinecastle is situated in the mountains of southwestern North Carolina owned by businessman and medical doctor, Lonnie Lassiter. After taking ownership on August 1, 2010, Dr. Lassiter brought two of the company’s former executives on board to head up the new venture. Ethan Burkhardt was named the company’s Vice President of Operations and Matt Hood its Vice President of Public Relations.

2881 NC 108 HWY E.
Columbus, NC  28722
828-376-0065
info@pinecastlemusic.com
www.pinecastlemusic.com

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