Tag: Libby Rodenbaugh

LISTEN: Heather Sarona, “I’ll Be Lost”

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Artist: Heather Sarona
Hometown: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Song: “I’ll Be Lost”
Album: Head Above Water
Release Date: January 28, 2022

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘I’ll Be Lost’ after I took a trip without my husband and realized I don’t know where to sleep in my bed without him next to me, anchoring me. When I got home, I wrote the first verse of the song quickly but I couldn’t figure out what to do with the second verse — the first has such a strong metaphor (‘You are the anchor in the ocean of my bed’). Where do you go from there? A year or so later, the word ‘weathervane’ popped into my head while I was playing through the beginning of the song, and from there it was an easy song to finish. I realized ‘weathervane’ was in my head from reading a book to my 2-year-old and pointing out the pictures to him. Songwriting inspiration truly comes from everywhere. Sarah McCombie joins me on this track on clawhammer banjo and Libby Rodenbough on fiddle.” — Heather Sarona

Photo credit: Buku Photos
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BGS & #ComeHearNC Celebrate the Cultural Legacy of North Carolina during #NCMusicMonth

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On the national music scene, North Carolina sets itself apart by blending the heritage of traditional roots music with the innovation of modern indie and Americana sounds. The bluegrass canon of North Carolina encompasses pioneers like Charlie Poole and Earl Scruggs, as well as groundbreaking musicians like Elizabeth Cotten, Alice Gerrard, and Doc Watson. Today’s spectrum of talent spans from modern favorites such as Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Balsam Range, and Steep Canyon Rangers, and the progressive perspective of the Avett Brothers, Rhiannon Giddens, Mandolin Orange, Hiss Golden Messenger, Mipso, and many more.

One example of how the state is merging past with present is the recent opening of North Carolina’s only vinyl pressing plant — Citizen Vinyl in Asheville.

 

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Built over 15 months in 1938-1939, The Asheville Citizen Times Building (@citizentimes) was designed by architect Anthony Lord as the grand center for the city’s two newspapers and radio station WWNC. Located at 14 O’Henry Avenue, the massive three-story building of reinforced concrete, granite and limestone, utilizing 20,000 glass bricks, is considered Asheville’s finest example of Art Moderne design. In 2019, Citizen Vinyl claimed the first floor & mezzanine of this iconic landmark as the future home of a vinyl record pressing plant, as well as a café, bar and record store – and is reviving the historic third floor radio station as a modern recording and post-production facility.

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According to press materials, the building’s third floor played host to Asheville’s historic WWNC (“Wonderful Western North Carolina”) which was once considered the most popular radio station in the United States. In 1927, the station hosted live performances by Jimmie Rodgers and made his first recordings shortly before he went to Bristol, Tennessee.  In 1939, the station featured  the first ever live performance by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys during its Mountain Music Time segment.  Citizen Vinyl expects to keep the live music tradition alive in this former newspaper building, too.

Here at BGS, we’ve been committed to North Carolina music from our launch, notably with our Merlefest Late Night Jams, which are always worth staying up for. And how much do we love the IBMA World of Bluegrass week in Raleigh? Looking back on our archive, we gathered these songs from the artists we’ve covered over the years — and looking ahead, you’ll see all-new interviews with the Avett Brothers and Mipso, examine the classic country stars with roots in North Carolina, and spotlight some rising talent with video performances at the state’s most scenic destinations.

In the meantime, you can discover more about the North Carolina music scene through their website and on Instagram at @comehearnc

Editor’s note: This content brought to you in part by our partners at Crossroads Label Group.