Most of us in bluegrass have come to know Anthony Howell as a band banjo man, working alongside some of the top groups in the business. We first encountered him with Williamson Branch, later with Edgar Loudermilk, and now with Seth Mulder & Midnight Run.
But he is also a contest picker, with significant wins on the com petition circuit. He just recently picked up first place at the Kentucky State Fiddle Championship, and was the winner of the National Banjo Championship in 2023 at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS.
The song that helped carry him to the top spot at Winfield is his latest single release, an amped-up version of Earl Scruggs’ Groundspeed, available soon from Noxubee Hills Music Group.
Helping out on the track are Trey Hensley on guitar, Nick Chandler on mandolin, and Adam Haynes on fiddle. Anthony takes care of banjo and bass.
Banjo nerds will recognize bits of Scott Vestal’s epochal recording in the second break.
It’s quite an achievement. Have a listen.
Groundspeed from Anthony Howell is available to radio programmers now from Get It Played.
Look for it soon from popular download and streaming services online.
