Record temperatures didn’t deter a large crowd visiting Nashville, TN to see Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road’s performance at CMAFest this past weekend. They were one of the few bluegrass bands who played the Durango Music Spot in the Music City Convention Center which also streamed live on WSM 650 AM and online.
The band performed songs from their Country Grass CD, which has received critical acclaim for its recutting of classic country hits performed bluegrass style, with the original artists. After the performance, they met with fans and signed autographs at the WSM AM radio booth at Fan Fair X.
Jordan, the 2015 SPBGMA Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year, gave us a quick overview of the experience.
“CMA Fest was very exciting. I never imagined a traditional bluegrass band would have an opportunity to perform on a large stage at the event, but since we have blended the classic country music sound with bluegrass, just like in the early days of the genre, we are now reaching fans who didn’t know they love bluegrass.
Additionally, many classic country fans are now coming to bluegrass events looking for the sound they miss, so this project and this show at CMAFest has given us the opportunity to take the ‘Lady of Tradition’ to country fans and introduce them to County Grass.
My band has been able to bring bluegrass acoustic instrumentation to songs that everybody knows from decades past and the response has been amazing! We are so grateful to the bluegrass fans that have supported this idea, as a recorded project with the original country artists and at live shows, with Ben Greene, Josh Goforth, Tommy Long, Brad Hudson and Jason Moore, who are some of the best bluegrass musicians around.”
Future Country Grass tour dates are planned with country artist, Eddy Raven, who will join Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road on stage for several dates throughout the summer. More information on Carolina Road future Country Grass shows can be found online.
