The bluegrass world has been abuzz since the end of 2009 when it was announced that Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart, Harold Nixon, Keith Garrett and John Bowman had assembled a new band.
Billed as The Boxcars, the band has as of early Spring 2010, played only a very shows and the anticipation of hearing them live or recorded is palpable. Nixon tells us that they have completed several tracks for a debut CD, with plans to finish it up in the next few months.
“So far we’ve cut three tunes for that IBMA showcase deadline. One is called December 13th that Keith wrote and sings…another is In God’s Hands sung by John (I can’t remember who wrote it)…and the last on is a tune Ron wrote called I Went Back To My Old Home Today.”
Harold says that most of the material has been chosen, and that they just need to get everyone’s schedule together and get at it.
Mandolinist Adam Steffey is psyched about the new group, and suggests that some major Boxcars news is in the offing…
“We should be able to announce a label affiliation soon as we are in contract talks right now.
The response that the band has received thus far has been very exciting. Anytime that you form a new group I think that you have the underlying question, ‘how will this go over with the fans?’ It’s all been very positive and inspiring.
We are very encouraged by the response from both the fans and promoters who have booked us to come and perform. It’s going to be a fun year and all of us in The Boxcars are excited to get out and play!!”
Class Act Entertainment is managing the band’s booking, and lead agent Mike Drudge hasn’t seen this sort of buzz about a new group in quite some time.
“I can say that we’re thrilled with the level of interest in this band already, even before having an album or even a band photo available! They are already booked at Gettysburg, Three Sisters Festival in Chattanooga and a bunch of others.”
The Boxcars have a web site which Harold is in the process of updating now, where they keep the schedule posted. Here are their show dates as of March 10.
| 03/06/10 | Hiltons, VA | Carter Family Fold | ||
| 03/20/10 | East Tawas, MI | Tawas United Methodist Church | ||
| 03/21/10 | Ann Arbor, MI | The Ark | ||
| 05/13/10 | Gettysburg, PA | Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival | ||
| 05/14/10 | Roanoke, VA | Kirk Avenue Music Hall | ||
| 05/24-27/10 | Branson, MO | Silver Dollar City | ||
| 06/11/10 | Kodak, TN | Dumplin’ Valley | ||
| 06/18/10 | Waldron, AR | Turkey Track Park | ||
| 06/30/10 | Morganton, NC | Downtown Morganton | ||
| 07/10/10 | Carlisle, PA | Dickinson College | ||
| 09/04/10 | Snow Camp, NC | Little John’s Mountain Music Fest | ||
| 09/18/10 | Bristol, TN | Rhythm & Roots Reunion | ||
| 10/02/10 | Chattanooga, TN | 3 Sisters Music Festival | ||
| 10/16/10 | Farmers Branch, TX | Farmers Branch Historical Park | ||
| 11/13/10 | Springfield, IL | Crowne Plaza Hotel | ||
| 11/20/10 | Milton/Ona, WV | Mountaineer Opry House | ||
| 02/26/11 | Hamilton, OH | Parrish Aud. – Miami Univ. |
You can get a taste of the band’s sound in this clip of them performing Pretty Polly at The Down Home in Johnson City, TN last month.
..and catch an interview with the guys from the dressing room of The Bijou Theater in Knoxville prior to their appearance on Tennessee Shines.
