Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on December 13, 2025
“A Club Called Surrender,” comes out December 17
The HillBenders have never been a band to stay in one lane. For nearly two decades, the Springfield, Missouri quintet has pushed bluegrass into unexpected terrain—from single-mic festival dominance to a full acoustic reimagining of The Who’s TOMMY, a project applauded by Pete Townshend himself and covered widely by Rolling Stone, Billboard, and the Los Angeles Times. Now, as they prepare for a landmark 2026, the band unveils a new single—“A Club Called Surrender”—arriving December 17 and marking a striking shift toward a broader Americana palette.
Written by new band member Andrew Morris, “A Club Called Surrender” explores the strange, delicate beauty found in letting go. Set against imagery of winter’s quiet fade, the song pairs banjo with atmospheric synth in a way that feels both surprising and effortless—another reminder that The HillBenders remain fearless experimenters anchored by acoustic roots. The track meditates on the moment we finally release the people, dreams, relationships, or versions of ourselves we’ve carried too long. Its emotional clarity and textured sound make the single feel like the first page of the band’s next chapter.
That evolution is also reflected in the lineup. Founded by cousins Jimmy and Gary Rea and longtime drummer John Anderson, the band recently welcomed Jody Bilyeu, whose subtle synth work expands their sonic horizon without compromising the raw, organic core that has defined them. The result is a sound that honors tradition while wandering boldly into new territory.
The HillBenders’ history is as colorful as their music. After gaining early recognition as single-mic champions, the band climbed into international acclaim with their acoustic re-creation of WHOgrass, later partnering with genre-shapeshifter Keller Williams on projects like GratefulGrass, PettyGrass, and KellerGrass. Their resume includes collaborations with Sam Bush, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and a standout run of shows at The Capitol Theatre and the Strings & Sol festival.
“A Club Called Surrender” arrives as the band looks ahead to a full-length album and the 2026 launch of BeatleGrass, a new companion production to their wildly popular WHOgrass performance. For a group nearly twenty years into their journey, the single serves as both declaration and invitation—an acknowledgment that growth requires vulnerability, and that endings often make room for deeper beginnings.
As Pete Townshend once said of the band, “I am surrounded by the angels and excited as hell… It should win a f—ing Grammy.” With “A Club Called Surrender,” The HillBenders continue honoring that promise.
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