Mountain Home Music has announced a March 19 release date for Bridging The Tradition, their upcoming album for Lonesome River Band.
The title was chosen as a deliberate reference to the album that put LRB on the map back in 1991. Carrying The Tradition was a milestone for the band 25 years ago, making Lonesome River Band a household name in the bluegrass world and earning them headliner status within a few months.
But with 25 years come inevitable changes, and the group has a different look and sound these days, though still anchored by award-winning banjo man Sammy Shelor, and an insistence on a driving bluegrass beat to whatever music they record.
With Bridging The Tradition, Shelor says the band is embracing a more modern vibe, blending influences from country and progressive bluegrass, all stamped with the trademark LRB sound.
“This album is different than anything we’ve ever done. The songs are ones that we are really personally interested in doing. What we came up with has once again helped to recreate our sound. All the while, we are being true to ourselves as musicians.”
In addition to Shelor, Lonesome River Band is Brandon Rickman on guitar, Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, Barry Reed on bass, and newest member, Jesse Smathers, on mandolin.
Pre-orders for Bridging The Tradition are enabled now from the band web site.
Hopefully some audio from the tracks will make its way to our attention soon.
