Colorado’s Ragged Union is set to release their debut album, Hard Row To Hoe, on June 1.
The band is based around the songs and the singing of Geoff and Christina Union, who found their way to the outskirts of Denver from North Carolina and Alaska respectively. They are supported by Jordan Ramsey on mandolin, Chris Elliott on banjo, Pat Hoeper on fiddle, and Jason Allen on bass.
All but Jason are transplanted Coloradans. It seems that Denver may be a bit like the metro DC or NYC areas, where almost no one seems to be from there. They have been performing together since 2013 when Geoff and Christina moved north from Texas, and have quickly made a hit along the Front Range.
Both the band originals and the covers they have chosen to record betray a preference for hard driving bluegrass, with a contemporary feel.
Here’s video of the opening track from the album, Simple Life, recorded at the Fox Theatre in Boulder last Fall.
CDs and downloads of Hard Row To Hoe will be available wherever bluegrass music is sold. A special combo pre-order price, CD and download both, for $12 is offered through April from the Ragged Union web site, where audio samples from all 13 tracks can be found.
