The Clover Valley Boys are an interesting new string band, New Orleans-based street buskers, with an authentic early country, pre-bluegrass sound. It should appeal to folks with a taste for that somewhat primitive approach.
They are Coleman Akin (guitar, fiddle, and vocals), Mo Kinney (guitar and banjo), and George Aschmann (fiddle and vocals), with a debut album set for release on Jalopy Records August 21.
A new single offers a taste of Clover Valley, their take on Sparkling Blue Eyes, written by Bill Cox and first recorded by Cox and Cliff Hobbs in 1938. Since then it’s been cut by a good number of bluegrass and country artists, including The Wilburn Brothers, both J.E. and Wade Mainer, Jim Eanes, The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover, Doc Watson, and Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys.
Here we get the song with a distinctly 1930s vibe, played on period-correct instruments, in an old time style. Well done boys!
Have a listen.
Sparkling Blue Eyes from the Clover Valley Boys is available now from popular download and streaming services online.
