Route 3 Archives - Bluegrass Today

Route 3 releases Your Love Is A Miracle

Pinecastle Records has a new single for Missouri’s Route 3, one from their current album, Just Believe.

It’s their remake of Your Love Is A Miracle, written by Bill Kenner and Mark Wright for country artist Mark Chestnutt, who included on his debut album 34 years ago.

Route 3 bassist Doug Clifton says that they took a roundabout way to recording this song.

“We first heard Your Love Is A Miracle on the radio in 1991 when it was a hit for country artist Mark Chesnutt. We loved the story of finally finding true love, and how that love completely changed him and made him want to settle down.

Fast forward 30 years later, we were on a band trip coming home from a festival, listening to a classic country station, and that song came on. We started discussing how we loved the melody and how cool that might be to cut it in a bluegrass style.”

And so they did. Guitar man Jason Jordan takes the lead vocal, with Doug on bass, Greg Potter on mandolin (who adds a tasty Dempsey Young flourish to end his break), and Janice Martin on banjo. Ron Stewart added fiddle.

Your Love Is A Miracle fits right into the band’s smooth, contemporary bluegrass sound.

Have a listen…

Your Love Is A Miracle, and the full Just Believe album, are available from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct. Audio CDs can be ordered directly from the artists.

Boy From West Virginia from Route 3

Arkansans Route 3 have chosen a song about West Virginia for their next single with Pinecastle Records, a perfect example of the sort of smooth bluegrass sound that is their trademark.

Boy From West Virginia is a tale of learning one of life’s hardest lessons, one that many of us have to pick up through hard-lived experience.

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jason Jordan says that it’s about realizing that home is where your people are, no matter where it may be situated.

“It’s a story of a young man who grew up in hard times around the coal mines, and decided that was just not what he wanted to do with his life, like his dad had done. He had dreams of being out on the road playing his songs, meeting the love of his life, and just getting away from West Virginia. He soon realizes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and learns to be thankful for what you have, and where you come from.”

He is supported by regular bandmates Janice Martin on banjo, Greg Potter on mandolin, and Doug Clifton on bass, with Ron Stewart helping out on fiddle.

It may be a familiar story, but it’s one that Route 3 tells effectively, thanks in large part to Jordan’s appealing, mountain-tinged singing.

Check it out…

Boy From West Virginia is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct. It will be included on Route 3’s upcoming Pinecastle project, Just Believe. Pre-orders are enabled for that as well.

Don’t Know What I’ll Do drops for Route 3

From Missouri comes Route 3, and a debut single from their upcoming Pinecastle Records album, Just Believe.

It’s one written by guitarist Jason Jordan called Don’t Know What I’ll Do, a traditional bluegrass number with some serious groove. Jason also sings the song, all about a man anxious to get home to his true love.

Jordan says that he was inspired to pen a train song by the most obvious thing imaginable.

“Whenever I wrote this song I was coming home from playing music, and was stopped by a train. I just kind of started thinking about what it was like years and years ago when folks traveled by train, and what kind of a journey it was for someone to get home to their family. Also, in my hometown, we have a lot of train traffic because we have feed mills that are close to the tracks so I immediately thought of home.

I wanted this to grab people’s attention with the chord progression, and also just a driving bluegrass tempo. When it comes to the chorus, I think we can all relate to hearing what I would call the ‘whine’ of an engine as it’s pulling down the track.”

The rest of the band chimes in as well, with Janice Martin on banjo, Greg Potter on mandolin, and Doug Clifton on bass. Ron Stewart adds the guest fiddle.

Check it out…

Don’t Know What I’ll Do is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Look for the full Just Believe album later this summer.

New faces with Route 3

The next time you catch Missouri grassers Route 3, you’ll see a different look.

Bass man Doug Clifton tells us that he and guitarist Jason Jordan have brought two new members into the group. Janice Martin Houk has joined the band on banjo, as has Greg Potter on mandolin.

The band has been playing together less than a decade, but have released two albums highlighting their fine original material, the second with Pinecastle Records. Regular Bluegrass Today readers may recall their single Cartersville, which spent several weeks on our Weekly Airplay chart in 2022.

Speaking jointly, Doug and Jason say…

“We are thrilled to welcome Janice and Greg to Route 3. We have known them for years, and having them join the band is truly like playing with family.

Janice has been named SPBGMA Midwest banjo player of the year nine times, and it’s obvious why. She is one of the most hard driving, solid banjo players we’ve had the privilege of playing with.

Greg is a fantastic mandolin player and a great harmony singer, and brings a wealth of musical knowledge to the band.”

Janice grew up on bluegrass in central Missouri, and was picking the banjo by the time she was 12. She played with her family band, The Bluegrass Martins, for nearly 18 years, along the way touring all over the US, and winning the SPBGMA Band Championship in 2007. In 2018, Janice came off the road to care for her family, but is ready now to be back at it.

Greg didn’t pick up his interest in bluegrass until he was in college, where he quickly made up for lost time, starting with guitar. He and a group of his young friends began playing at festivals all over the midwest, until he was asked to join Southwind on mandolin in 2002. After two albums with them he took the guitar spot with Arlington for the next two years, until he likewise put music aside to be home with his growing family. He was back by 2012 as a founding member of the Missouri River Band, and is now pleased to be part of Route 3.

Doug says that they look forward to seeing everyone once the season gets underway this year.

“Our first show of the year will be on March 2, at the Convoy Of Hope benefit show in Springfield MO. We can’t wait to start playing shows with this configuration, and we hope to see you at a show in 2024!”

You can see their full tour schedule for this spring and summer by visiting Route 3 online.

Southbound Train video from Route 3

Pinecastle Records has a new single from Missouri’s Route 3, a compelling song written by guitarist Jason Jordan called Southbound Train.

Given the title, you might expect another lonesome heartache, riding the rails type of number, but Southbound Train tells of an innocent man running from the law, with a unique twist on the classic murder ballad genre. Listen closely right up to the end to see the wrinkle.

Jordan and his bandmates have a long history in the Ozark bluegrass scene, including time with regional legend Jim Orchard and SPBGMA band championships. Jason’s songs have been recorded by a number of bluegrass acts, including Captain, which was big for Doyle Lawson. Gaylon Harper is on banjo, Doug Clifton on bass, and Roy Bond on mandolin.

In tandem with the single, Pinecastle has released this live performance video of the song.

Check it out…

Southbound Train is included on Route 3’s 2022 project, Losing Time, which is available from popular download and streaming services online. Audio CDs can be purchased directly from the band.

Radio programmers will find all the tracks from Losing Time at AirPlay Direct.

Losing Time video from Route 3

Pinecastle Records has a new single today for southern Missouri’s Route 3, the title track of their first project with the label, Losing Time.

The song was written by Route 3 guitarist and vocalist, Jason Jordan, whose original material has been recorded by other noted artists like Doyle Lawson. It tells the familiar tale of a man who realizes he is losing time in a dead relationship, and living in a city where he doesn’t want to be.

Jordan is supported by bandmates Gaylon Harper on banjo, Roy Bond on mandolin, and Doug Clifton on bass. Ron Stewart adds fiddle to the track on the album.

This live performance video captures the band playing Losing Time at last year’s World of Bluegrass convention in Raleigh, NC.

The studio version of Losing Time, as well as the full album, can be purchased or streamed from popular sites online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Route 3 has audio CDs available on their web site.

Losing Time – Route 3

Route 3 of Purdy, MO has been receiving steady recognition for their firm stamp on contemporary bluegrass music. Their second release, Losing Time, on Pinecastle Records places even more emphasis on that originality.

Ten of the album’s eleven songs were written by the group’s guitarist and lead singer, Jason Jordan. The title track, Losing Time, revolves around the typical subject of lost love, but approaches it from the angle of not being able to get the time back that one invested in a relationship.

Cartersville is a captivating piece about a pair of outlaws. Jordan’s vocal delivery as well as the banjo work of Gaylon Harper and guest fiddler Ron Stewart brings just the right amount of punch to draw the listener in.

Lay Down Beside Me is the sole cover song on the album. Originally written by country singer Don Williams, Route 3’s take on this song is very well done and in some ways sounds like something that J.D. Crowe and the New South could have recorded.

The highlight of Losing Time is the song The Bullet Took Two. This track is great evidence of Jason Jordan’s natural ability as a songwriter. Though the subject matter revolves around the standard themes of love and murder, the lyrics are written in a fresh and unique manner.

The closing track, Take My Hand, is a fast moving piece which really allows the entire band a chance to shine instrumentally. Along with Jordan and Harper, Route 3 also consists of Roy Bond on mandolin and Doug Clifton on bass.

Though this is only the second studio project from Route 3, it’s clear from the first note that this group already has a solidified sound. These guys have the whole package, strong vocals and musicianship combined with solidly original material. It will be exciting to see where they go from here.

Route 3 to Pinecastle Records, with a new single

From Purdy, Missouri comes Route 3, the newest signees with Pinecastle Records, who have a debut single on the label released today.

They have been a hot commodity in the Ozark region for some time, and are ready to make the leap to the national stage and an album with a major bluegrass record company. Route 3 was named the Bluegrass Artist of the Year in 2020 at the Arkansas Country Music Awards, with a sound that is both fresh and solidly in the mainstream of contemporary bluegrass music.

Jason Jordan is on guitar, Doug Clifton on bass, Gaylon Harper on banjo, and Roy Bond on mandolin. All are seasoned pros, working with both regional and touring groups including the bluegrass king of the Ozarks, Jim Orchard. Together they have their own take on today’s bluegrass with tasty original songs and a tight sound.

Their first single with Pinecastle is available today, one titled Cartersville, the story of a pair of outlaws on the run from the law, written by Jason Jordan.

All of the guys are excited to see this track released, and are pleased with their new association with Pinecastle.

“We are honored to be a part of the Pinecastle family. Pinecastle has always had deep history in bluegrass music and has been at the top of the music business for many years. We are truly blessed and excited for this opportunity to work with this amazing group, and we look forward to the release of our new single Cartersville.”

Have a listen to Cartersville, with guest fiddle from Ron Stewart.

Cartersville is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers can get the track at AirPlay Direct.

A full-length project, Losing Time, is expected at a later date on Pinecastle Records.

Self titled – Route 3

When an album comes in the mail (or e-mail, these days) from a new band, you’re never quite sure what to expect. Will the whole album live up to the superbly produced first single? Will an amazing live sound transfer to a recording? Conversely, have the engineering wizards worked their magic on a band that’s not quite up to par?

I wasn’t extremely familiar with Route 3, a traditional-leaning group based in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas, before hearing their debut, self-titled album from 7Flat Records recently. It was certainly a happy surprise, filled with strong vocals, well-written originals, and a few nicely updated older numbers.

The album is largely anchored by the solid vocals of guitarist Jason Jordan, who also wrote seven of the songs here. He has a clear, capable voice that fits well with the band’s modern traditional vibe. Opening track Cabin We Call Home serves as a fine introduction to both Jordan’s vocals and the band’s sound. Led by spot-on banjo from Robby Boone, it’s a nice “old homeplace” song, reminiscing on the good ole days. Roger Adams’s mandolin kicks off on the ¾ time Splitlog Road, which has a similar theme of drifting back through happy childhood memories. It’s filled with vivid images of growing up in the country – mama making biscuits on a wood-burning stove, an old coonhound, and life lessons from grandpa, among them.

Cold Hearted Love serves as a well-written kiss-off to an old lover, with a nice groove set by Boone’s uptempo banjo. Also in the heartbreak vein is a fine cover of Love and Wealth, featuring Adams singing lead on the verses. Adams mostly takes care of tenor vocals for the band, but his lead is strong as well, with a neat Mac Wiseman vibe you don’t hear very often these days.

The band has chosen well for their cover song selections, with songs that are familiar but not overdone. In addition to Love and Wealth, they offer up straightforward cuts of the traditional standards Pain in My Heart and Hard Hearted, both enjoyable and with nice harmonies on the choruses. One of the album’s best songs, however, is the cover of I’ve Got That Old Feeling. It’s a plaintive, yearning number, slowed down from the familiar Alison Krauss cut, giving the song a much more lonesome feel. It’s one where you’ll likely be hitting repeat several times.

Jordan, Adams, Boone, and Doug Clifton (bass) have put together an impressive first recording. Their sound is solidly in the recognizable modern traditional, country-tinged camp, but their vocals and solid collection of original songs set them apart from the crowd. I’m looking forward to hearing more from them, both on widely-listened-to radio shows and future albums.

For more information on Route 3, visit their website. Their new album can also be purchased there.