Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising Archives

Kathy Boyd takes silver in 2016 Global Music Awards

Kathy Boyd, of Portland, Oregon’s Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising, has been awarded a silver medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Song and Lyrics category of the 2016 Global Music Awards. The award was given for her song, Who Will Pray For Me, which will be included on the bands upcoming album, 40 Years of Lonesome.

Boyd said that the song is a personal one for her, dealing with the loss of two close family members.

“The song Who Will Pray for Me was written during a time when my mother passed away, and then my brother died a mere four months later. It is, however, about those times in life when we’re all looking to reach out receive a bit of understanding, and no matter how kind people are to us it just isn’t enough.”

Kathy plays bass and sings lead with Phoenix Rising, which also includes Tom Tower on banjo, Dennis Nelson on guitar, and Tim Crosby on mandolin and fiddle.

Who Will Pray For Me has not yet been released, but radio programmers can download the track now from Airplay Direct.

The deadline to enter your music for the 2017 Global Music Awards is March 13. There is an entry fee of $50, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals awarded in multiple categories. The competition is held in partnership with a number of prominent music business organizations, such as Billboard magazine and Disc Makers.

More information about Kathy and the band, as well as their busy touring schedule in the Pacific northwest, can be found online.

Let Her Roll from Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising

Oregon’s Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising has a new single available to bluegrass radio, a bluesy train song from Steve Spurgin called Let Her Roll.

The track will be included on 40 Years of Lonesome, Kathy and the band’s 6th album, when it is released. The single is available now for download purchase from popular online resellers.

Kathy sings lead and plays bass with Tim Crosby on fiddle and mandolin, Tom Tower on banjo and reso-guitar, and Dennis Nelson on guitar.

Boyd said that she feels like Phoenix Rising has hit their stride, and is excited about their new music.

“After eleven years together we definitely have our own unique sound. We’ve now reached a spot where we are so comfortable with who we are and what we do that it’s allowing us to stretch in new and more complex musical directions.

Audience response to all of our music continues to be enthusiastic, which in turn makes us better performers. It’s a huge circle of excitement and love that benefits everyone!”

Let Her Roll is available to radio programmers on both Airplay Direct and Radio Submit.

Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising take IMEA bluegrass award

On October 24 at a ceremony in Marietta, GA, Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising accepted the Bluegrass Group of the Year award from the International Music & Entertainment Association. The organization exists to honor the best music produced by independent bands and artists around the world.

Based in Oregon, the entire band was unable to attend, but Kathy made the trip out and opened the ceremony with an address to the assembly about her experiences working as an independent musician.

Boyd spoke for the whole band in thanking everyone for their help.

“We are so incredibly grateful to the radio disc jockeys, event promoters, our friends and fans for this recognition.

We are getting ready to head into the studio in 2016 to record a new CD and look forward to seeing where our travels will be taking us.”

You can see a complete list of 2015 winners online.

Spending Every Christmas With You

Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising are ending the year just as they started it… with a new album.

In January they released their Lowground CD, and today sees the debut of Spending Every Christmas With You, their first holiday-themed project. The band has been performing Christmas shows in the latter part of the year for some time, with demand growing annually from their fans in the Northwestern states and Canada.

In a twist for bluegrass Christmas records, all ten tracks here are originals, many having been regulars in their December shows over the years. All of the tracks can be previewed at Airplay Direct, and here’s a video the band created as a tease.

Phoenix Rising is Kathy Boyd on bass, Tim Crosby on mandolin, fiddle, and guitar, Tom Tower on banjo and reso-guitar, and Dennis Nelson on guitar. They are based in Taulatin, OR.

Spending Every Christmas With You is available on disc from CD Baby, with downloads offered at popular online resellers.

Lowground – Kathy Boyd and Phoenix Rising

Lowground, the fourth release from Oregon-based band Kathy Boyd and Phoenix Rising, has been described by the group as “the darker side of acoustic music.” With numerous songs describing the aftermath of bad decisions, set to a blend of old time and bluegrass music, this thirteen-song collection fits that depiction well.

For this all-original album, the band has drawn from old stories and songs in illustrating many of life’s more troublesome experiences. The opening track, Billy in the Lowground, adds lyrics to the traditional fiddle tune (which is performed mainly on the mandolin here), telling the story of a man who has fallen from the “high ground” his parents tried to steer him towards. High Low Jack and the Game also borrows from tradition, basing a gambler’s tale around the old lyrics “Jack of diamonds, jack of diamonds, I know you from old.” This track is one of the album’s most enjoyable tunes and features nice bluesy guitar and harmonica.

As Handsome Does offers a warning to young women that looks aren’t all that’s important. Its bouncy beat is fun but doesn’t quite fit the lyrics. Ways and Means is another tale of relationships gone wrong – this time about a man who has the misfortune to fall for a woman who isn’t quite as sane as she appears.

A few songs offer the band’s take on historic events. Dust Bowl Days is one of the more bluegrass-sounding songs here, and provides a picture of life during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Shaniko is a tribute to the Oregon ghost town of the same name. The song has Western influences and introduces listeners to an interesting story. However, the vocals feel a bit rushed and are almost shouted at times. Crossroad Haunting suffers from the same problem, although its urgent story of a moment of decision may be a contributing factor.

While the album does feature three-finger banjo, courtesy of Tom Tower, the overall feel is closer to old time music than it is bluegrass. This is particularly true on Rattlesnake in the Woodpile, a darkly humorous tune which sounds as if it has been handed down through the generations, and the instrumental Bottom of the Jar. Tower, who also contributes dobro and vocals, is joined by Kathy Boyd (bass and vocals), Tim Crosby (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and vocals), and Dennis Nelson (guitar, harmonica, and vocals). Crosby also plays the resophonic mandolin on a few songs, creating a unique sound.

For more information on Kathy Boyd and Phoenix Rising, visit their website at www.phoenixrisingband.org. Lowground is available from their website, as well as various online music retailers.