LISTEN: Sideline, “Crash Course in the Blues”

Artist: Sideline
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Song: “Crash Course in the Blues”
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “Troy and I spent hours writing the guitar work for this song. We had so many ideas, and they kept flowing as we worked. We really hadn’t played it in the context of the song with the whole band though. When we brought it to the studio there was an energy that all of the guys were riding on. We laid it down on the second take and knew it was a keeper. It was so live and organic, but tight and strong. It was really awesome to see the whole thing come together.” — Skip Cherryholmes, on playing twin guitars with bandmate Troy Boone


Photo credit: Kelly Hammonds

LISTEN: Sideline, “Their Hands Made the Music”

Artist: Sideline
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Song: “Their Hands Made the Music”
Album: Come See About Me: A Benefit For The IBMA Trust Fund
Release Date: September 28, 2018
Label: Mountain Home Music Company

In Their Words: “This music is very giving, but it is also very demanding. Fans and aspiring musicians don’t realize the sacrifices, the brutal hours, the strain on home life and relationships, and monumental amounts of stress that go into living this life. Only to bring home much less than a living, and no possibility of retirement. This song is a salute to all of the musicians that do it for nothing but the pure love for it, and a hope that they won’t just be forgotten when they have nothing left to give.” –Skip Cherryholmes

“We wanted to record an original song for this special album. I gave Mark Brinkman the inspiration from an idea that was pitched to me from Mickey Gamble, and Mark took it and ran with it. Doyle Lawson told me it was the perfect song to open the CD. The song talks about musicians that were on top of the music field that had given so much and paved the way for the younger generation, then they suddenly fell on hard times, which is what the IBMA Trust Fund is all about. Bailey Coe is singing lead, Troy Boone and I are on harmony. Skip is on guitar and Jason Moore is on bass. This is Daniel Greeson’s first recording with the band; he’s playing twin fiddles.” –Steve Dilling