Article Contributed by Cameron Shepherd
Published on December 19, 2025
The HillBenders return with A Club Called Surrender, a single that proves that nearly twenty years into their career, the Springfield, Missouri ensemble is still exploring and growing. Released December 17, the track is rooted in bluegrass but stretches into a broader Americana landscape, blending tradition with fresh textures. Written by new bandmate Andrew Morris, the song is, as the band describes, a meditation on loss and letting go. The track marks The HillBenders’ move into new musical territory, capturing transformation, embracing uncertainty, and jumping forward into change.
The track thrives on The HillBenders’ collaborative energy. Andrew Morris (writer, banjo, lead vocals) anchors the melody with his banjo and vocals, while Jim Rea (guitar, harmony vocals) weaves in harmonies and guitar lines. Jody Bilyeu (synth, harmony vocals) adds an ethereal glow, Gary Rea (bass) keeps the foundation steady, and John Anderson (drums) provides a grounding rhythm throughout. Together, they create a sound that feels like memory in motion—rooted yet still reaching forward.
The song opens with Morris’s banjo, gently strumming as he sings, “Everything that I’ve worked for / thrown to the wind / gone like a diamond / never to be felt again.” Bilyeu’s synths swirl softly in the background, complementing the banjo as the music unfolds like a quiet winter landscape. The lyrics feel intimate, capturing the ache of memory and the stillness that comes with acceptance. The track creates a portrait of transformation, finding beauty in endings even amid uncertainty and change—a fitting reflection of the shifts happening within The HillBenders themselves.
A Club Called Surrender reflects both the band’s journey and a universal one. As The HillBenders welcome new members and expand their palette, the song mirrors that transition, embracing uncertainty, release, and renewal. It shows a band rooted in tradition yet restless enough to keep moving. The track feels less like a statement and more like an invitation—to reflect, to let go, and to grow alongside them.
Listen to “A Club Called Surrender” on Spotify or Apple Music.
Catch The HillBenders Live This Winter:
January 16, 2026 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO
Tickets
January 30 & 31, 2026 – Fire on the Mountain Fest w/ Keller Williams #GratefulGrass – Carrabassett Valley, ME
Tickets
March 13, 2026 – Riverfront Live! w/ Keller Williams #GratefulGrass – Cincinnati, OH
Tickets
March 14, 2026 – Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum – Owensboro, KY
Tickets
