Pikes Peak Breakdown from Andy Leftwich

We all remember Andy Leftwich for his lengthy stint on fiddle with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder in the early 2000s. Or perhaps from his rich catalog of session work. Wherever we have heard him play, we surely didn’t forget it, such is his skill and dexterity with fiddle and bow.

This week Mountain Home Music has a new single from Leftwich, another of his inventive instrumental pieces, which features Andy on both fiddle and mandolin. This one is named for the Colorado mountain top, Pikes Peak, just a few miles outside of Colorado Springs. And sure enough, he says the name was inspired by encountering the renowned Rocky Mountain vista while on tour.

Pikes Peak Breakdown is a song I wrote with one thing in mind…hold nothing back! I wanted a fast paced, barn burner bluegrass song with exciting solos, backed with some of the best pickers of our day. Bryan Sutton, Scott Vestal, and Mark Schatz help me out with this one, and I’m so thrilled to have a song that shows off their musicianship and gives them a chance to throw down. I named the song after the beautiful Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, CO, after playing there several years ago with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.”

Have a listen.

Consider that barn burned down.

Pikes Peak Breakdown is available now from popular download and streaming sites online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.