A few months ago we covered the break-up of West Virginia’s No One You Know, who had announced their dissolution at the end of the 2012 season. They had recorded two albums, most recently Calm Before the Storm, released on Mountain Fever in 2010.
Now we learn that two members of the band, Rachel Burge and Lance Gainer, have teamed up in a new group, Rachel Burge and Blue Dawning. Rachel is on mandolin and Gainer on guitar, with Rita “Nessie” Hunt on banjo and Rick Westerman on bass.
Their repertoire will consist primary of Burge singing her original music, along with songs from Westerman, mixed with classic and contemporary bluegrass material. Blue Dawning is working dates now as a four-piece, with plans to add a fiddle player down the road.
After working for several years in an all-male environment, Rachel says that she is glad to have another female voice beside her on stage.
“Nessie sings some lead and high tenor, and has a driving banjo style. Rick has a very tasteful, traditional bluegrass voice and he’s able to sing lead, low harmony, and also high tenor and is a strong bass player. Lance has been my bandmate since the beginning of No One You Know, and I’m glad to have his great guitar playing in my band.”
Keep up with Rachel Burge and Blue Dawning on Facebook or, Rachel’s web site.
