Paper Dolls Archives - Bluegrass Today

Maggie’s Farm video from Indigo Roots Band

Of all the young family bands working the bluegrass circuit, few are as impressive as Indigo Roots Band, based near Nashville. Unusually gifted, highly creative, and extremely photogenic, this trio of Bethany, Victoria, and Daniel Kelley have grown way beyond the cute kid stage, and moved on into the mature artist phase of their careers.

If they look familiar, they have performed under two different names previously, originally as the Band of Kelleys starting about ten years ago, then briefly as Paper Dolls, until bassist Daniel began to feel a bit uncomfortable in that role.

Their latest single is the song that first brought this bunch to my attention seven years ago, a powerfully grassed up version of Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm. It’s also when I recognized the seriousness and dedication of the Kelley family to this music. I had discovered a video of them playing this song, but the opening of the performance was missing from the clip. I wrote to ask if they might have it in its complete form, and as they didn’t, they went out and shot a full new music video, complete with sweeping landscapes, in a few day’s time.

That commitment is still there, but the Kelleys are all grown up now, and their recut of Maggie’s Farm shows everything they have to offer to the music. On the top of that list is middle sibling Victoria, who plays mandolin and sings. A tremendously expressive vocalist, she has the chops to go the American Idol or The Voice route to success, but her love for bluegrass and acoustic music keeps her right where she is.

Big sister Bethany is a skilled and inventive fiddler, who has studied for some time with Jim VanCleve, and a fine singer as well, though we don’t get to hear her here.

Indigo Roots Band has also stayed strategically independent all this time, working without a label or publicity people. They built their own recording studio, Daniel has become an ace videographer, and Bethany and Victoria handle the rest of the work associated with being professional entertainers.

For Maggie’s Farm, Bethany is on fiddle, Daniel on bass, and Victoria on mandolin and lead vocal, with Seth Taylor playing guitar on the track (Jed Clark in the video), Rob Ickes on reso-guitar, and Ron Block on banjo. Josh Shilling provides harmony vocals on the recording.

Victoria says of this song…

“We’ve always treasured Bob Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm, a love rooted in our childhood introduction to it, particularly through Mountain Heart’s rendition. Additionally, covering this song held special significance due to our shared Messianic faith with Bob Dylan.

The song’s lyrics strike a chord with us, resonating deeply as they likely do with others, showcasing the profound impact of strong writing. Maggie’s Farm symbolizes our commitment to asserting artistic freedom and retaining control over our musical identity. Navigating the music industry presents its challenges, making the moment of kicking that bucket in our music video all the more satisfying.”

There are a number of cameos in the video, so keep an eye out and see if you recognize anyone.

Bethany also shared something to watch for in the video…

“In the Maggie’s Farm music video, there’s a scene where Victoria writes down her dreams:

1. Play at the Opry

2. Produce our own music

3. Leave Maggie’s Farm

We’ve achieved everything on that list except playing at the Opry – it’s a big goal we’re working hard for! We hope that someday, we can make it come true.”

Check out the track, and the video.

Maggie’s Farm from Indigo Roots Band is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

The song will also be included on their next album, the first as Indigo Roots Band.

Gypsy Summertime from Indigo Roots Band

When looking at this photo of the Indigo Roots Band, some may say, “hey… that’s the Paper Dolls band,” while others will think, “that looks like the Band of Kelleys.” And you’d all be right.

Indigo Roots Band is the new name for both of those groups, which are all one and the same. Siblings Bethany, Victoria, and Daniel Kelley have been playing music together since they were wee things, starting as The Band of Kelleys, then picking a new name when their eldest brother, Timothy, left the family band in 2020.

Now Victoria, who plays mandolin and sings lead, tells us that since they are all three young adults, a new name seemed appropriate.

“To be perfectly honest, Paper Dolls was a cool and creative name, but it never fit right. My younger brother didn’t feel cool as a Paper Doll.

Indigo Roots just felt better, since indigo is a shade of blue, and we are a bluegrass band.

Plus, all three of our birthdays are in the same week of the same month, and our birthstone is an indigo sort of color.”

But other than the nom de bleu, everything else is the same. The band performs a dreamy sort of modern bluegrass, based around Victoria’s compelling vocals and mandolin playing, with support from Bethany on fiddle and Daniel on bass. Fully self-contained, Bethany is a qualified audio engineer who runs their studio, The Octopus Garden, while Daniel is a skilled videographer who handles their promo pieces. Keeping it all in the family, so to speak.

And with the new name comes a new single, Gypsy Summertime, which was written by Timothy Kelley.

Victoria says of this one…

“Our older brother wrote this song, and I felt like it’s one any touring musician can relate to, being far away from the people you love.

Jim VanCleve sings harmony with me. He’s the one who inspired me to fall in love with music, and he’s been producing us for several years now.”

Timothy adds guitar on this track, with Rob Ickes on reso-guitar. Have a listen in this lyric video, and enjoy Victoria’s lovely vocal treatment, going from a whisper to full power in a single verse.

Gypsy Summertime is available now from popular download and streaming services online, or for download purchase directly from the artists. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

It will also be included on the first official Indigo Roots Band album, expected later this year.

Winter Season video from Paper Dolls

Paper Dolls, i.e., the Kelley family of Tennessee, has a new single this month, an original composition written by the band called Winter Season.

We have had our eye on this talented young group for some time, tracing back to when they were known as The Band of Kelleys. They made quite a splash at World of Bluegrass a few years ago, and have continued to write, record, perform, and study at their craft to this day.

Maintaining an almost totally independent operation, including their own video production company, these Dolls turn out interesting music on their own schedule. As a touring act they take bluegrass and contemporary acoustic music to places it isn’t regularly played, winning new fans along the way. During the pandemic shutdowns, the Kelleys took to Patreon where they have developed a community of followers who support their efforts, allowing them to work autonomously.

The group consists of Bethany Kelly on fiddle, Victoria Kelley on mandolin, and Daniel Kelley on bass. All three sing, with Victoria typically taking the lead. They enhance the lineup for live shows, and when they record in their fairly sophisticated home studio.

Winter Season showcases the distinctive Paper Dolls sound, which reminds many folks of the youthful enthusiasm and lyrical optimism of early Nickel Creek. Seth Taylor joins them on guitar and Cory Walker on banjo. Jim Van Cleve produced the track, which was mixed and mastered by David Hall.

Speaking jointly, the Kelleys say of this song…

“Winter Season was a song we wanted to release after starting a new journey as the band called Paper Dolls.

We felt like the lyrics captured many of the emotions of ‘changing seasons’ we’ve been feeling lately as we’ve launched a completely new project, and with losing a very special person, our Grandfather. He loved our harmonies, and we know this is a song he’d be proud of.

If there’s one thing we are sure of, it’s that there is always a spring after every winter season. There is joy after loss, and new beginnings after endings!”

The music video is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears, with Victoria’s lovely voice holding it all together

Winter Season is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and directly from the Paper Dolls online as a digital download. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

If you enjoy their music, there are levels of Patreon support where digital downloads of all new Paper Dolls music is included at no additional charge. You can learn more about that online.

So long Band of Kelleys… hello, Paper Dolls

The Band of Kelleys had been making quite a splash on the bluegrass scene this past few years. A family group from Augusta, Georgia which once contained four siblings is now down to three, they have a powerful vocal sound in young Victoria Kelley who plays mandolin with the group. They were Bluegrass Ramble artists in 2018, and wowed audiences in Raleigh that year, but we haven’t heard new music from them in quite some time.

And now we know why.

During the forced break in 2020 when all performing artists were shut out of working, the three Kelley siblings – Victoria, her older sister, Bethany, on fiddle, and younger brother, Daniel, on bass – hatched a plan to emerge from COVID with a new look, a new sound, and a new name.

So we are happy to introduce you to… The Paper Dolls, and their latest single, Pray For Rain. It’s one that Bethany and Victoria wrote with Josh Shilling, that finds the Kelleys in an acoustic vibe that draws heavily from their bluegrass grounding, but with an edge that also incorporates their interest in country and pop music, and the many styles these talented young ladies are currently studying at the Berklee College of Music.

When we caught up with Victoria earlier today, we were curious how they chose the new name.

“It seemed to be a name that really worked well for us, since the songs are like our stories on paper – bringing the art of music to life. Beth and I loved paper dolls as kids, and it felt like a fitting name for what we are doing.

When all our gigs were cancelled last year, it was a perfect time for us to stop and think about what we wanted to do with our music, and where we wanted to go. We realized that we wanted to open our minds to new genres as well, so a new name just made sense. We want the focus to be on the music, and make a distinction from the previous band name

I will say that Daniel is being a great sport about being a paper doll!”

New music from The Paper Dolls comes from songs that have been written over this past couple of years, and recorded in Nashville with Jim VanCleve as producer. Victoria said that they have six songs finished now, and plan to release one every 8-10 weeks over the coming months, with music videos to accompany each of them.

They have chosen to work independently, without a label or a booking agency, keeping their careers a fully Kelley run operation. Daniel has become skilled as a videographer, with an eye towards keeping as much as possible within the band. Bethany is studying audio engineering at Berklee, while Victoria is majoring in songwriting, and it shows in the quality of their work.

The Kelleys have even formed their own support company, Vivid Solutions, offering video, graphic design, and software solutions for both The Paper Dolls and other artists in the music industry.

Let’s have a look at Pray For Rain, the music video for the single, which is available for download now from popular locations online, or directly from the band web site. Seth Taylor joins them on guitar, and Cory Walker on banjo.

The Paper Dolls are using the Patreon platform to help maintain a community of fans and followers, where the Kelleys will offer more music and information than what is released for download. Patreon followers will have access to private livestreams, Q&A sessions, a private Facebook group, early downloads of new music, and even lessons. Like most Patreon pages, fans can choose among three tiers of support, from $3 to $30 per month, with differing levels of access with each tier.

Victoria said that the offerings should appeal to anyone who enjoys their music.

“People get early sneak peaks and behind the scenes content on Patreon, lessons on instruments, songwriting information, plus tips on video and audio production. We share what we have learned at Berklee – Beth is doing audio engineering and I’m in songwriting.”

A great many artists began using Patreon during the shutdown year, finding it allowed them to stay in touch with fans, who were happy to offer some financial support while gigs were non-existent. With live music back this year, it seems that people still enjoy the close contact with their favorite artists, and the regularity of communication.

You can sign up for The Paper Dolls Patreon page online. Followers also get advance notice and discounts on ticket sales, plus discounts on band mech sold online.

You can learn more about the band on their official web site.

A big Bluegrass Today welcome to The Paper Dolls!