Tag: shawn lane

LISTEN: Anthony Howell, “Salt River Canyon”

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Artist: Anthony Howell
Hometown: Kosciusko, Mississippi
Song: “Salt River Canyon”
Album: Hold Back the Dawn
Release Date: March 14, 2023

In Their Words: “I first heard this song a few years ago, when I was working with Williamson Branch. It’s off of a solo album that Kevin Williamson released in 1993 called Write Between The Lines. Kevin’s a great songwriter, and I tend to think that this is one of his best! I love this song because it really paints a picture. When you listen to the song, it speaks of the Salt River Canyon at night. Imagining the canyon at night with a full moon and stars, shining into the Salt River, would be a beautiful sight to see. With the unique chorus melody, and the harmony stack, I fell in love with the song, and I’m very excited to have recorded the song myself. I loved the song so much that I wanted to release it as the leading single from my new album. I actually used a line in the third verse for my album title, Hold Back The Dawn. This track features Kevin Williamson on lead vocals, Shawn Lane on tenor vocals, and myself on baritone vocals and all of the instruments.” — Anthony Howell

Photo Credit: Gerry Sanders

WATCH: Shawn Lane & Richard Bennett, “1000 Miles”

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Artists: Shawn Lane & Richard Bennett
Hometown: Gate City, Virginia (Shawn Lane) and Johnson City, Tennessee (Richard Bennett)
Song: “1000 Miles”
Label: Bonfire Music Group

In Their Words: “This track had a great feel when it was going down in the studio. It was like every one of us could see the images in the video as we played it. We were living in it. My son Grayson’s mandolin touch perfectly connected what the two guitars had to say and raised the song to a whole other level.” — Shawn Lane

“I think this song came from a strong connection to the mountains, and thoughts of someone a good distance away. As far as the melody, it literally was natural to this story.” — Richard Bennett

Photo Courtesy of Bonfire Music Group

WATCH: Jim Hurst, “Weary Old Highway” (Feat. Darin & Brooke Aldridge)

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Artist: Jim Hurst
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio
Song: “Weary Old Highway” (feat. Darin & Brooke Aldridge)
Album: From the Ground Up
Release Date: July 1, 2022
Label: Pinecastle Records

In Their Words: “Road musicians are driven by desire, the pulling of what lies ahead, and searching for opportunities to grow, learn, and perfect — as much as possible — their craft, their art. But not perfection really, because to play the perfect performance, set, song, solo, last note… is extraordinary and uncommon. And maybe that’s the way it should be, because not unlike so many explorers, most if not all artisans/musicians/songwriters are always looking for the unknown ‘next.’ Once found, we want, need really to go for something. Something else, something further than what we have found.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a road musician, songwriter, troubadour of sorts… and kinda doing it my way. And sometimes I find a song written by another of the same ilk that I am so fond of I request to cover it on a recording project and/or perform it live. Such is the case with Keith Little’s ‘Weary Old Highway,’ a road musician’s journal of sorts. I first heard this song on Keith’s Distant Land to Roam CD, and immediately fell in love with the song. Years later, I asked him if I could get his permission to record my version of it, and he graciously said yes. So I did, on my newest project: From the Ground Up on Pinecastle Records. I had wonderful musician friends to help me: Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), Wayne Benson (mandolin), Shawn Lane (fiddle), Ethan Burkhart (bass), Darin Aldridge (tenor vocal), and Brooke Aldridge (high baritone vocal). Oh, and Keith gave my version his approval… which matters to me. I hope you approve as well!” — Jim Hurst

Photo Credit: Pinecastle Records

LISTEN: Shawn Lane and Richard Bennett, “Charlestown”

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Artist: Shawn Lane and Richard Bennett
Song: “Charlestown”
Album: Land And Harbor
Release Date: March 8, 2019
Label: Bonfire Recording Company

In Their Words: “I had the musical hook portion of this song for a while before we found the subject to start writing about. I played it one day for my son, Grayson. He said, ‘We’ve been studying the history of Charleston, South Carolina, in class. It used to be called Charlestown years ago. I think that’s what this melody says.’ It was like a light came on. That was exactly what it was supposed to be.” — Shawn Lane

“‘Charlestown’ is one of my personal favorites from our recent project. The song is loaded with visual imagery. Shawn’s exceptional vocals really bring it all to life. I’m honored to be a part of the magic.” — Richard Bennett

Photo credit: Nate Smith, Bonfire Recording Co.

STREAM: Blue Highway, ‘Original Traditional’

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Artist: Blue Highway
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Album: Original Traditional
Release Date: September 9
Label: Rounder Records

In Their Words: "This is a very special record for us. It's our first with Gaven Largent, and our first 'concept' record, in a way. It's all original material in the traditional style. That might sound like a contradiction in terms to some folks, but the 'founding fathers' of the music who created what we know as 'traditional bluegrass' wrote original music. Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Carter Stanley, Don Reno … so many great writers from that era. So, in one way, we feel like we are sort of carrying on the tradition even more by doing an all-original set of tunes that haven't been done before." — Tim Stafford

"My favorite part about this album is that it's simply rock-hard, straight bluegrass! Three out of the four songs that I co-wrote on this album were written while in a Stanley Brothers frame of mind, and I love that kind of music. There are other great traditional flavors on here, too. I hope you enjoy." — Shawn Lane

"After 22 years of creating some great music with my brothers in Blue Highway, I am so proud to be a part of yet another wonderful album. So thankful that God has seen fit to allow me to continue to do what I love so much. So glad that we have gotten back to the roots of what makes this music real to so many people." — Wayne Taylor