Darrell Webb has announced new members for his touring band. The three new musicians have actually been working with Darrell this past few months, and have added a real zing to his live shows, which tend be highly energetic to start with.
Andy Ruff on reso-guitar is both a highly skilled instrumentalist and a very strong singer from Indiana. Becky Webb on bass has sung with Darrell since they were children, which makes sense as she’s his sister. And new banjo picker Cody Hill, also an Indianan, rounds out the group with Darrell on mandolin and Jared Hensley on guitar.
They have tightened up quickly by playing nearly every day at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distilleries in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN where the band is based.
Darrell is excited about his new lineup, and having such a strong group to go out in support of his 20th Anniversary CD, Dream Big.
“We’ve always had strong pickers in this band and that will never change and now I’m excited about where we can go vocally with the new additions. Andy Ruff has an incredible range and can sing in so many styles. Becky and I have been playing and singing together since we were just little kids and there is nothing any better than family harmonies. She is a great singer in her own right and I love singing with her. Cody is one of those players who’s youth and drive make him exciting to watch. Because we are playing together everyday we have developed a natural rhythm that makes the music really special.”
Here’s a video of the new lineup which Ted Lehmann shot last month at the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival in North Carolina.
You can keep track of the Darrell Webb Band show dates at their web site, and if you are visiting east Tennessee this summer, look for them during the week and on the odd weekend at Ole Smoky.
