Kristen Leigh Bearfield Archives

Country Faith for hurricane relief by Kristen Leigh Bearfield

As soon as we all saw the hurricane devastation last month in Florida, and along the southern Appalachian range, we knew that bluegrass artists would be among the first to use their music to help wherever they could. And so they have.

The latest to change a new release into a fundraising effort is Kristen Leigh Bearfield, who like most lot the bluegrass world, was in Raleigh, NC for the World of Bluegrass convention when word first came in about the flooding in the mountains where she was born and raised. Though busy with her work for the IBMA in Raleigh, her thoughts could never be far from family and friends back home.

So with a new single scheduled for this week, Country Faith, Kristen has arranged through the grace of anonymous donors to send $1 to volunteer hurricane relief efforts for every online listen or stream next week.

She says that it was an easy decision to turn the release of Country Faith into a fundraiser.

“When you write a song, you never know where it will end up or how it will be used. When I wrote this with Bob Minner and Bill Whyte earlier this year, we never imagined it would be scheduled to release during such a devastating time for my home area in western North Carolina. So, we’re giving this song back to the people of the Appalachian Mountains.”

The theme of Country Faith is also a perfect fit.

“This song is about growing up in the country and holding on to our faith, digging deep when times get tough. As you listen, I hope it reminds the people of the mountains to stay Appalachian Strong, by God’s daily grace. My heart and prayers are with everyone there, and I hope this gift of music can be a small glimmer of light in the midst of so much darkness and devastation.”

Bearfield sings the lead, with vocal harmony provided by Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Karen Peck. Studio support also came from Stephen Mougin on guitar, Russ Carson on banjo, Andy Leftwich on mandolin and fiddle, Rob Ickes on reso-guitar, and Byron House on bass.

It’s a bit of bluesy grass that make’s the song’s chief point, “A little more country… a little more faith.”

Check it out…

Starting today, through next Friday (10/18), simply giving a listen to Country Faith online sends $1 to hurricane relief efforts. What could be easier?

Radio programmers can get the track via AirPlay Direct.

Country Faith is also pegged as the theme song for Faith, Country & Bluegrass, a new television program to be aired on Singing News TV. Look for news on the pilot episode to be announced soon.

Kristen Bearfield in Scandinavia

One of the more interesting aspects of bluegrass music is the multiple hats so many members of our industry wear in their day-to-day lives. Popular artists whose music we enjoy may have a career far from entertainment, and spend their weekends on the road, or sometimes more than one “day job” they fulfill to remain free to pursue their art.

Not many of the top touring acts we see on stage make their complete living from performing, though many do find ways to keep a toehold in the music business in other ways. Teaching private lessons, or in higher education, doing publicity or artist representation, songwriting, studio work, working in music stores, or as industry reps of some sort, are all ways that grassers keep body and soul together.

And thanks for all these avocations, else we wouldn’t be able to see so much live bluegrass at festivals and concerts all over the country!

One such as we describe is Kristen Bearfield, a voice you may know if you have reason to contact the International Bluegrass Music Association, where she serves on staff as their Public Relations and Communications Specialist. She is also deeply involved in the operations of their annual World of Bluegrass Convention. On top of that, she performs as a member of High Road, a bluegrass, gospel, and acoustic group, and as a solo artist, both recording and touring. You can see our previous coverage of her music here. That’s a lot to keep up with, but Kristen is a disciplined and determined young lady, who pulls it all off with aplomb.

She’s just recently returned from a tour of Finland and Norway where she performed her own music, as well as gospel and bluegrass favorites for some large and very appreciative audiences. In Finland she did shows with Nashville country artist Kinsey Rose, and Norwegian singer, and ETSU bluegrass graduate, Aslak Gjenestad.

Bearfield tells us that there are plenty of avid fans of American music in Scandinavia.

“They absolutely love acoustic and bluegrass music here! It’s amazing how much love they have for American music, and how wonderfully they treat us as artists here. The people are so eager for live music, and are so appreciative.

Our first show in Finsland was sold out, and we did a 1000 seat venue with myself, Lynda Randle from the Gaither Homecomings, and Erlend Gunstveit, winner of The Voice in Norway.

We had over 2500 for a ‘country night’ at Skjargärdsaang where myself and Kinsey Rose did a mix of country, bluegrass and gospel!”

Kristen says that it was worth all the hassles of international travel for the chance to sing and play for such wonderful people.

“One of the most special things about music is how it crosses boundaries. It’s amazing to me to sing in English to a Norwegian crowd of over 2,500 people – and we’re all worshipping the same God together through music, no matter what the language. What a gift!

The people of Norway truly love bluegrass, country, and gospel music, and I can’t wait to go back.”

Well done, Kristen!

Heaven’s Getting Sweeter Each Day from Kristen Bearfield and Brooke Aldridge

Bluegrass gospel singer Kristen Leigh Bearfield has teamed up with four-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Brooke Aldridge for a new single, which they sing as a duet.

A relative newcomer compared to her duet partner, Kristen performs with H igh Road, an all female bluegrass and country gospel outfit. She grew up in bluegrass – her great uncle was fiddler Tater Tate – and graduated from ETSU with a minor in Bluegrass & Country Music Studies. When she isn’t on the road, Kristen also works at the IBMA in Nashville.

She and Brooke have recorded a lovely new song that Kristen and Rick Lang have composed called Heaven’s Getting Sweeter Each Day. It is released today by the recently-revived Thoroughbred Records, a division of the Daywind Music Group.

Bearfield says that this one means a great deal to her, as it was written to honor one of her loved ones, recently deceased.

“Heaven’s Getting Sweeter Each Day is a special collaborative recording that we pray brings hope to all who listen! Writing this song with Rick Lang is something I will never forget, and being able to record this with two of my best friends, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, in memory of my Aunt Maebelle, is something that I will cherish the rest of my life.

I’m truly grateful for the privilege of sharing about the hope of Heaven! A peace that nothing in this life can take away. That’s the heart of this song and why we wrote it. I sincerely hope that listeners can feel that in every note of this song!”

Lang, himself a highly decorated bluegrass songwriter, shared that sentiment.

“I’ll never forget the day Kristen and I wrote this song together. It was one of the most emotional songwriting sessions that I’ve ever experienced. I felt so honored that Kristen would co-write with me about something so deeply personal, about the recent loss of a loved one. We both could feel her spirit in the room with us.

Heavens Getting Sweeter Each Day will tug at your heartstrings as you listen.”

Darin Aldridge plays guitar and mandolin, and sings a low harmony, while Andy Leftwich contributes fiddle, with Mark Fain on bass.

Brooke and Kristen share the verses. For those who have lost someone close to them, this song may bring some comfort.

Heaven’s Getting Sweeter Each Day is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Flying Away – new single from Kristen Leigh Bearfield

Kristen Leigh Bearfield is a bluegrass and Gospel singer/songwriter from Tennessee, who has been performing this past five years or so with the all-female acoustic Gospel outfit, High Road.

A graduate of ETSU with a minor in bluegrass, this talented young lady had been through a lot on her trip to working full time in the music business, including a serious automobile accident some years ago. But she pulled through just fine and now works as a communications consultant with the IBMA when not on tour with the band.

Today she has a single of her own to share, one she wrote called Flying Away, a positive acoustic country take on life’s fleeting fashions.

It’s a wise reflection for such a youthful artist, and Kristen says that life experience has helped her realize the importance of every precious minute.

“Time is ever changing like the wind. Life can change in a moment and stop us in our tracks. I wrote this song in regards to how time never stands still for any of us, but if y’all are like me… it sure would be nice if that clock could slow down a little bit sometimes. That clock is on borrowed time though, and it just keeps ‘flying away.’ I’m so thankful for the chance to share this song, and I pray that it brings some joy into your world and reminds us all to slow down a little and appreciate the beauty in every moment.”

Bearfield plays mandolin and sings lead, and is supported here by Skip Cherryholmes on guitar, Scott Vestal on banjo, Jim VanCleve on fiddle, Chris Latham on bass, and Kevin Smith on percussion. Devin McGlammery sings harmony.

Have a listen…

Flying Away from Kristen Leigh Bearfield is available now from popular download and streaming services online. It is being distributed by New Day Distribution, a division of Daywind Publishing.

Radio programmers can get the track via AirPlay Direct.

Christmas In Heaven from Kristen Leigh Bearfield (featuring Jimmy Fortune)

Kristen Leigh Bearfield is a talented young vocalist and mandolinist working with High Road, an all-female Gospel/bluegrass/country act based in Nashville. She attended the bluegrass program at East Tennessee State University, and is noted for her lovely singing voice, wholesome good looks, and left-handed playing.

Today she has released a first single under her own name, a beautiful holiday ballad called Christmas in Heaven. Written by Paul Marino and Jeremy Johnson, the song has been popular in the contemporary Christian market, previously recorded by Scotty McCreery, The Clark Family, and Maribeth Johnson. The lyrics find the singer/narrator experiencing Christmas without a loved one gone on beyond, and she queries them in her mind as to what Christmas is like in Heaven.

Kristen’s version is an acoustic country take with bluegrass instruments, sung as a duet with former Statler Brothers tenor, Jimmy Fortune.

She says that it was an honor to have him join her in the studio.

“Jimmy Fortune gave me my first job on the road when I moved to Nashville. I sang and played in his touring band. He has been such an encouragement to me through the years, so it was truly a full circle moment for me to record this special song with him!”

Have a listen…

Kristen’s Christmas in Heaven is being distributed by Billy Blue Records, and is available now wherever you stream or download music online. Radio programmers can find it at AirPlay Direct.