Sat, 02/11/2023 - 1:30 pm

Ned Luberecki and Stephen Mougin, who perform as the duo "Nedski & Mojo", release their new single "A River To Cross". The song premiered today on Hawkesbury Radio on Mike Kear's show "Music From Foggy Hollow" in Australia, and is available for downloading and streaming HERE.

Stephen Mougin shares: "The concept for "A River To Cross” came about as Ned and I were cycling in the Shelby Bottoms greenway, here in Nashville.There is a terrific bridge across the Cumberland river, but it takes a bit of “doing” to ride up the hill to the bridge, then more “doing” to go up the hill on the other side. We always debated how much “doing” our adventure would include.

We had the line “A river to cross and another bridge to burn” and began to think about other bridges in our lives. Ned began reflecting on his sobriety and the memories leading up to his decision to make that change. He told me that he spent tons of time running from one situation to another, finally realizing “you can’t run away from yourself."

Trying to paint a picture of the characters frustration and determination, we built the verse melody and chord progression to be an ever-changing target. It begins on a minor five chord and ends on a flat seven, totally on the brink of disaster until the chorus hits with resolve.

I’m proud of Ned and his willingness to tell his story, directly or through song. We aren’t ready to put out a full album just yet, but we felt like it was time for this song to be heard.”

Broadcasters, DJs, radio programmers can download HERE, or send a request to Jana Mougin.

ABOUT NEDSKI & MOJO:

NEDSKI : Ned Luberecki plays banjo with the Becky Buller Band and is an On-Air personality for SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction. He is a first call banjo instructor at banjo camps across the US and Europe and a part time journalist for Banjo Newsletter.

MOJO: Stephen Mougin plays guitar with The Sam Bush Band and owns Dark Shadow Recording. He has been producing and engineering a myriad of up-and-coming bluegrass acts as well as artists outside the genre. Stephen holds a degree in Vocal Music Education and leads many vocal workshops and private vocal coaching sessions.

When not on the road with their regular gigs, you can find Nedski and Mojo performing a variety of original songs and instrumentals, along with a few classics from the worlds of Bluegrass, Newgrass, Blues and even a funny song or two. Their debut album NOTHING MORE features popular bluegrass radio songs: “Another Way To Get To You” and “Ginny Danced”.

ABOUT DARK SHADOW RECORDING

Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and record label led by award-winning Stephen Mougin, located on a hilltop that surveys Music City's electric skyline. The label produces and turns out music from some the industry's most promising artists in the Bluegrass, Americana, Country, and Folk genres.

Sat, 02/25/2023 - 2:44 pm

The 2022 International Bluegrass Association's "NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR" Rick Faris, releases a cover of the Huey Lewis mega-hit "The Power Of Love". The single premiered on Sirius XM Bluegrass Junction Thursday morning, and Bluegrass Today premiered the accompanying music video.

Faris' third album on the Dark Shadow Recording label, Uncommon Sky is scheduled for release in June. Rick Faris has been breaking new paths in the bluegrass scene with his incredible singing, picking, writing, and musicality. Again listing the help of some of his closest pals, and some musical heroes, Uncommon Sky leans deeply into the ground he's already paved.

Rick Faris shares: "This is a song of my childhood from one of my favorite movies. This song was so much fun to reimagine with Stephen Mougin producing the plot and the amazing cast of friends acting out with their talents and personalities. Grab your shades and 80’s-anthem-out with us."

The track features Rick (Lead Vocal, Harmony Vocal, Guitar) along with Laura Orshaw (Fiddle), Harry Clark (Mandolin), Zak McLamb (Bass), and Stephen Mougin (Harmony Vocal) and as all DSR releases, is produced, engineered, and mixed by Mougin.

ABOUT RICK FARIS:

Faris has been playing Bluegrass music since he could talk. He got his first break when the Bluegrass stalwart, Greg Cahill, called and asked him to audition for Special Consensus. The job was to be transformative for Faris because Greg hired him to play mandolin rather than the guitar he had been honing since he was a child. With 5 weeks to learn the mandolin and win the audition, Rick Faris stepped into the next stage of his career. After 6 years, 1 Grammy-Nomination and 2 IBMA Awards he switched back home to guitar and the band picked up another 3 IBMA Awards and a 2nd Grammy Nomination. Rick spent a total of 11 years with the globetrotting Special Consensus. Under Greg Cahill, he learned the meaning of professionalism and giving back to the Bluegrass community.

Rick signed a deal as a solo artist with Dark Shadow Recording in 2018 and released his debut album Breaking In Lonesome in 2019. With watertight harmony singers and mind-blowing pickers, Rick set out to show the world what his brand of Bluegrass sounds like. His second album, The Next Mountain (2021) garnered industry-wide attention with intense chart action and both SPBGMA and IBMA "Song of the Year" nominations as well as a "New Artist of the Year" win at IBMA 2022.

For more information about Rick Faris, please visit: www.rickfaris.com

Sun, 03/19/2023 - 2:35 pm

Chicago based band Henhouse Prowlers release their first single, "My Little Flower" from their album Lead and Iron (September). The song premiered Tuesday morning on Smoked Country Jam with Michelle Lee on WOBL Gold Country and Bluegrass Today premiered the accompanying music video.

The song was written by the band's mandolinist, Jake Howard, who also sings the lead. The band is completed by Ben Wright on banjo/vocal, Chris Dollar on guitar/vocal, and Jon Goldfine on bass/vocal.

Producer Stephen Mougin shares: "The Henhouse Prowlers really knocked it out of the park with this tune and can’t wait for folks to hear it! Solid, uptempo, traditional bluegrass with a twist, trio vocals throughout the entire song, and some fiery solos - what more could you ask for?!”

Ben Wright, one of the founders of Henhouse Prowlers, says: “We’re so excited to release the first song from our new album, Lead and Iron. The Prowlers have always straddled the line between traditional and progressive bluegrass, and we know Jake’s My Little Flower exemplifies that perfectly. The drive and lyrics embrace both sides of the music we love so much.”

For more information on Henhouse Prowlers tour dates, please visit: https://www.henhouseprowlers.com/tour

About Henhouse Prowlers:

Founded 17 years ago with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, this quartet now finds themselves at the intersection of performance, diplomacy and education. On stage, the group's enthralling performances give audiences a sense of how much they love what they do. On record - including their 2021 release and ninth full length album, The Departure - the band explores their collective life experiences through songwriting and intricate instrumentation. While bluegrass is the undeniable foundation of the Prowlers music, the band bends and squeezes the traditional form into a sound all their own.

Working with the U.S. State Department and under their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors, the Prowlers have toured over 25 countries across the globe. The group's experiences with people and musicians across Africa, Asia, Europe, and The Middle East have shaped the band’s world view and broadened the group’s direction towards bridging cultural gaps with music, educational programs and workshops. Using traditional American music as a foundation, connecting folk music and cultures the world over, the Prowlers incorporate international elements into their already robust repertoire of unique traditional American music.

Whether performing live or presenting workshops, and wherever they are, the Henhouse Prowlers find and spread the commonality we share as human beings through the universal language of music. You can feel it at every show.

Fri, 05/26/2023 - 9:27 am

Chicago based band Henhouse Prowlers release their second single and title cut from their album Lead and Iron (September). The Bluegrass Situation premiered the accompanying MUSIC VIDEO on Wednesday morning. The song was written by the band's mandolinist, Jake Howard, who also sings the lead.

Stream/purchase: HERE

Jake shares: "I wrote this song from the perspective of a parent who has lost a child in a school shooting. I found myself thinking about the quote that no parent should have to bury their child. That quote always hit me hard and I couldn’t imagine the pain of losing a child, especially from a school shooting, a place meant for peace and learning. I wrote this one at the end of last summer, I wonder if it was a way for myself to mentally preparing for the next school year and the potential of another deadly shooting (the potential which seems to come true every year).”

The band is completed by Ben Wright on  cello banjo, Chris Dollar on guitar/vocal, and Jon Goldfine on bass/vocal.

Producer Stephen Mougin shares: "It’s hard to write and perform music about real tragedy without it sounding trite or patronizing. I’m very proud of the Henhouse Prowlers for tackling such a heavy subject with class and humility, and really digging deep with a compelling track. I sincerely hope that this release sparks conversations that can lead to meaningful change."

Ben Wright, one of the founders of Henhouse Prowlers, says: “I realized what this song was about halfway through listening to it on a rough demo Jake sent us in October last year and it immediately gave me chills. There’s something about the perspective of it all that continues to rock me when we are rehearsing it. That line about ‘first words spoken and tying shoes’ hits hard.”

Fri, 06/09/2023 - 3:52 pm

The 2022 International Bluegrass Association's "New Artist Of The Year" Rick Faris, releases his third album on Dark Shadow Recording, Uncommon Sky.

Faris offers: "I've always owned a bit of the songs I've written, but these particular stories came to me in the last couple of years and I felt compelled to tell them. Gathered from friends or personal experience of pain and joy, there's lots of truth on this project. I'm thankful to my cowriters Rick Lang and Evan Dickerson for joining me on this journey.

The album is about celebrating the Uncommon Skies in our lives. Every sunrise brings unique challenges and opportunities and I'm grateful for each one.

Having Del McCoury and Jerry Douglas on my album is a particular thrill and I'm blown away that they shared their talents. I feel like I continue to refine my sound and my songwriting voice, and Uncommon Sky is evidence of that."

Producer Stephen Mougin shares: "Clearly showing his growth as an artist, songwriter and performer, Uncommon Sky is the third project we’ve worked on together. Supported by a cracker-jack band and some powerful guests, he continues to push his own musicality. I’m proud to see Rick carving his own special place in the Bluegrass universe."

Faris wrote or co-wrote every track on the album, except for a cover of the Huey Lewis mega hit "The Power Of Love", released as a single in February this year.

The album features Rick (Lead Vocal, Harmony Vocal, Guitar) along with Laura Orshaw (Fiddle), Harry Clark and Ronnie McCoury (Mandolin), Zak McLamb (Bass), Jerry Douglas (resonator guitar), Russ Carson and Luke Munday (banjo) and vocalists Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Dani Flowers, Stephen Mougin, Eddie Faris, and Ben James. As with all DSR releases, Uncommon Sky was produced, engineered, and mixed by Mougin.

TRACK LISTING:

01 Don’t Hold Back

02 The One That Got Away

03 The Power Of Love

04 Please Don’t Say Goodbye

05 Too Lonely, Way Too Long

06 Love Sweet Love

07 Hellfire Club

08 Misery-Go-Round

09 Kansas Cornfields

10 You Can’t Slow The River Down

11 Topeka Twister

12 I’m Not Waiting ‘Round

ABOUT RICK FARIS:

Faris has been playing Bluegrass music since he could talk. He got his first break when the Bluegrass stalwart, Greg Cahill, called and asked him to audition for Special Consensus. The job was to be transformative for Faris because Greg hired him to play mandolin rather than the guitar he had been honing since he was a child. With 5 weeks to learn the mandolin and win the audition, Rick Faris stepped into the next stage of his career. After 6 years, 1 Grammy-Nomination and 2 IBMA Awards he switched back home to guitar and the band picked up another 3 IBMA Awards and a 2nd Grammy Nomination. Rick spent a total of 11 years with the globetrotting Special Consensus. Under Greg Cahill, he learned the meaning of professionalism and giving back to the Bluegrass community.

Rick signed a deal as a solo artist with Dark Shadow Recording in 2018 and released his debut album Breaking In Lonesome in 2019. With watertight harmony singers and mind-blowing pickers, Rick set out to show the world what his brand of Bluegrass sounds like. His second album, The Next Mountain (2021) garnered industry-wide attention with intense chart action and both SPBGMA and IBMA "Song of the Year" nominations as well as a "New Artist of the Year" win at IBMA 2022.

For more information about Rick Faris, please visit: www.rickfaris.com

Fri, 06/23/2023 - 3:28 pm

Ten time IBMA Award winner Becky Buller and legendary singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale combine forces on the Reno and Smiley classic “Wall Around Your Heart”. Re-imagining this traditional song as a partner duet, they are joined by Jeremy Stephens (banjo), Lauren Price-Napier (mandolin), Missy Raines (bass), Stephen Mougin (guitar), and Stuart Duncan (twin fiddle). This single will be included in a full-length album of songs that inspired and informed Becky in her formative years.  

Producer and DSR label-head Stephen Mougin adds: “When Becky brought up this song, I flashed back to the Reno and Smiley cut, as well as a few other very traditional versions recorded in the past. For me, the only way to do this was to bring in folks who specialize in the classic sound of that era. The track really came to life in studio with the rock-solid foundation of Missy Raines, the Monroe-esque mandolin of Lauren Price-Napier, the epic twin fiddles of Becky and Stuart Duncan, and I’m not sure anyone plays better Reno-style banjo than Jeremy Stephens. Jim Lauderdale was the perfect duet partner for Becky and it feels like the song was written for them!”

Buller, known for her boundless energy and enthusiasm for music of many styles, digs deep in the Bluegrass well for this gem. When asked about her motivation to record this song, she says: “The Bluegrass Album Band introduced me to this lovely Reno And Smiley tune.  The wide-ranging melody caught my attention; the line about ’the walls of Jericho’ reeled me in.  I truly feel there’s a parallel dimension wherein we’re all talking about the songwriting of Don Reno in the same hallowed tones as that of Hank Cochran, Willie Nelson and Bill Anderson.  This is probably the most traditional bluegrass cut I’ve ever recorded; Jeremy, Lauren, Missy, Stuart and Mojo gave it just the right vibe.  And, of course, it was a blast getting to sing with Jim.  Hope y’all enjoy this and thanks so very much for giving it a listen!”

Ronnie Reno, longtime member of Reno and Smiley and son of Don Reno offers: “Congratulations to Becky and Jim for a great performance on ‘Wall Around Your Heart’. I know Daddy Don would be extremely proud and thankful for this recording. I want to wish Becky and Jim much success with this song. By the way, love the twin fiddles and the Reno style banjo break.”

Sat, 07/08/2023 - 12:27 pm

Chicago based band Henhouse Prowlers release their third single, Subscription To Loneliness from their album Lead and Iron (September).

This 50's-style country shuffle, completed with the twin fiddles of Becky Buller and Laura Orshaw, is composed by singer and bassist Jon Goldfine, along with bluegrass songwriter Rick Lang. It's a toe-tapping, feel-good song that offers a very different attitude within the lyric.The unfortunate character simply cannot get a break as he recollects occasions he has been let down. This song is a departure from typical Henhouse Prowler material and they enjoyed recreating this classic feel.

Jon Goldfine shares: "It was an honor to write this with Rick Lang - our first cowrite together! I brought it to the table as song based on my own real-life follies of a teenager-early 20something’s quest for everlasting love, and learning to anticipate the inevitable heartbreak to come. A few decades of perspective on those relationships allowed for a comical, tongue-in-cheek spin on the stories. While the end result may be slightly more fictionalized (to protect the innocent, of course), it was Rick’s expertise that helped hone in on what I initially wanted the song to capture."

"Putting this tune together was a blast!", says producer Stephen Mougin. "It’s always a challenge to re-create the authentic feel of those early country shuffles, and the Prowlers really dug in and made it happen. From the stride-up-beat pulse (ala. Pig Robbins) to the twin fiddle licks of Becky and Laura (ala. Tommy Jackson), completed with walking bass (ala. Bob Moore), this track has it ALL!"

Stream/purchase: HERE

The band is completed by Ben Wright on banjo, Chris Dollar on guitar/vocal, and Jake Howard on mandolin and vocals.

Fri, 08/18/2023 - 12:52 pm

Chicago based band Henhouse Prowlers release their fourth single, "My Last Run" from their album Lead and Iron, set to release in on September 15th.

“My first tour with the Henhouse Prowlers took us on a six week tour overseas.", shares Chris Dollar, who joined the band in 2018. "It was the farthest I’d ever been from home and the longest my wife and I had ever been apart. It still holds that record too. Wherever the gig, there is always a long stretch of highway between us which inspired this song.”

Dollar, who is one of the main songwriters for the band, adds: “Traveling is a wonderful thing we get to do, but coming home is the best feeling. My family, the endless highway, and my Bloomington home are responsible for this tune.”

Producer Stephen Mougin says: “The band had a ton of fun with this feisty number, opening with a blazing call/response motif from the guitar and mandolin. The energy is infectious and true to form from a band that spends a LOT of time touring and playing music together.”

Stream/purchase: HERE

Fri, 09/01/2023 - 4:56 pm

2022 IBMA Momentum Band Award winner and 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition winner, Michigan-based Full Cord releases their second single “I Laugh When I Think How I Cried Over You” from their upcoming album Cambium.

Producer Stephen Mougin shares: "One of the things that attracted me to Full Cord was their deep knowledge and understanding of many styles of music. Western Swing is clearly a passion for several band members and this tune provides a fantastic showcase of their skills. From the bouncy harmony lines to the “shout-chorus” style solo, this song makes you want to give it a Bob Wills: ‘Ah-ha’."

“Fans of traditional bluegrass music love the playing of Bill Monroe, while bluegrass is a main influence on my playing, a bigger inspiration for me would be the swing mandolin playing of Tiny Moore.”, says mandolin player and vocalist Brian Oberlin. “I first heard ‘Laugh’ from the Billy Jack Wills western swing band that was led by Tiny Moore on vocals and mandolin. Clever chorus & lyrics make for a swingin' song.”

Full Cord's album Cambium is scheduled for release in November.

For more information on Full Cord tour dates, please visit: https://fullcord.net/shows

Sat, 09/16/2023 - 12:16 pm

Chicago based band Henhouse Prowlers release their long awaited album Lead and Iron with a special performance at the legendary Station Inn, Nashville.

Producer Stephen Mougin says: “Lead and Iron is the next step on a long adventure that is the Henhouse Prowlers. I truly enjoyed the entire album process with these guys, from preproduction song selection and arranging, to tracking. They were a joy to work with and have a clear vision for their trajectory as a group. Always eager to try new musical approaches and dig farther into their musicality, this record puts their talents on full display. I’m proud of Lead and Iron and I think folks are going to be listening to this album for years to come.”

Lead and Iron features eleven original songs from band members, with all four as featured lead vocalists. DSR label-mates Becky Buller and Laura Orshaw guest on twin fiddles for track five.

Henhouse Prowlers are Ben Wright  (banjo,cello banjo, vocals), Jon Goldfine (bass, vocals), Jake Howard (mandolin, octave mandolin, vocals) and Chris Dollar (guitar, vocals).

Track Listing:

1. Home For (2:50)

Chis Dollar  (Acoustic Currency, ASCAP)

2. Lead and Iron (4:00)

Jake Howard (World’s Worst, ASCAP)

3. My Last Run (3:28)

Chris Dollar (Acoustic Currency, ASCAP)

4. Wobbly Dog (3:18)

Jake Howard (World’s Worst, ASCAP)

5. Subscription To Loneliness (3:58)

Jon Goldfine, Rick Lang (Henhouse Publishing, ASCAP;  Haley Anna Music, BMI)

6. Passenger Train Boogie (4:36)

Chris Dollar (Acoustic Currency, ASCAP)

7. Forgotten Gravestones (3:55)

Ben Wright (Henhouse Publishing, ASCAP)

8. Rolling Wheels (3:26)

Chris Dollar (Acoustic Currency, ASCAP)

9. Died Before Their Time (2:58)

Jon Goldfine, Ben Wright, Jake Howard, Chris Dollar, Stephen Mougin (Henhouse Publishing, ASCAP; World’s Worst, ASCAP; Acoustic Currency, ASCAP; Timberdoodle Tunes, ASCAP)

10. The Show (3:04)

Chris Dollar (Acoustic Currency, ASCAP)

11. My Little Flower (2:35)

Jake Howard (World’s Worst, ASCAP)

Sun, 10/15/2023 - 10:57 am

Renowned bluegrass ensemble, Full Cord, is thrilled to announce the release of their third single, “Reelin' In The Years” (https://sc.lnk.to/bIHJ92), extracted from their forthcoming album "Cambium" (https://sc.lnk.to/TT9CGT). Full Cord, celebrated recipients of the 2022 IBMA Momentum Band Award and victors of the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, continue to ride the wave of success and musical innovation, thrilling fans and critics alike with their impeccable musicianship and inventive arrangements.

Stephen Mougin, the esteemed producer behind “Cambium,” recounts his initial exposure to the band’s rendition of “Reelin’ In The Years”: “I heard Full Cord perform “Reelin’ In The Years” a couple of times and it knocked me out. They have a firm grasp of the bluegrassy version, but also fully commit to the funky rhythm of the original Steely Dan recording. When we started planning for the album, I insisted that this be part of the full project. They dug even deeper in the studio and I’m really proud of the way this turned out!”

In “Reelin' In The Years,” the talented lineup featuring Brian Oberlin (Vocal/Mandolin), Eric Langejans (Harmony Vocal/Guitar), Grant Flick (Fiddle), Todd Kirchner (Bass), Ricky Mier (Banjo), and guest artist Katie Kirchner (Guest Harmony Vocal) meticulously weave elements of traditional bluegrass with the distinctive funk rhythms iconic to the original Steely Dan recording. The result is a fresh and invigorating take on a classic, showcasing Full Cord's ability to dance across genre boundaries with finesse and a profound respect for musical roots.

A Night of Energetic Bluegrass to Celebrate “Cambium”

Full Cord invites fans, fellow musicians, and music enthusiasts to join them in celebrating the release of "Cambium" with a special performance at The Station Inn in Nashville, TN, on November 10. The night promises a captivating showcase of the band's latest work, vibrant arrangements, and the raw, kinetic energy that has solidified Full Cord as a must-watch act on the bluegrass scene.

Explore the rhythmic layers and melodic prowess of Full Cord in "Reelin' In The Years" and stay tuned for the complete auditory journey in "Cambium."

For more information on Full Cord, upcoming tour dates, and booking inquiries, please visit: https://fullcord.net/shows.

About Full Cord

Full Cord is a Michigan-based bluegrass band celebrated for their intricate arrangements, innovative covers, and masterful, genre-transcending musicianship. With accolades including the 2022 IBMA Momentum Band Award and triumph in the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, Full Cord continues to explore, expand, and elevate the bluegrass genre, offering audiences a rich, dynamic, and thoroughly enjoyable musical experience.

Sun, 11/12/2023 - 2:11 pm

2022 IBMA Momentum Band Award winner and 2022 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition winner, Michigan-based Full Cord releases their long-awaited album Cambium on Dark Shadow Recording.

Following three singles that received strong airplay, spending time on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana Charts, as well as a #1 for “I Laugh When I Think How I Cried Over You” (Bluegrass Planet Radio), Full Cord presents their full-length project Cambium. Comprised of a wide range of genre-appropriate tunes and themes, the collection ranges from light-and-bouncy to substantially deep. The popular Steely Dan cover of “Reelin' In The Years” is a long-time fan favorite, “Yellow Leaves Of Autumn” a classic western ballad, “Wild Mountain Rose” a Telluride-inspired cowboy tale, the painfully sentimental “Blue Trail” hits home in a big way, and their take on the Carter Family “Dixie Darling” is a sprightly turn towards the positive. That's just scratching the surface.

From producer Stephen Mougin: “We worked hard to capture some of the spark from their live shows. The material is complex, both musically and emotionally, and it was a fun challenge to dig deeper into those songs and find new ways to connect.”

Tonight Full Cord will celebrate Cambium with an album release concert at the World Famous Station Inn, Nashville, TN and on Saturday (11/11) the band will play on the WDVX's “Blue Plate Special” live at Noon in Knoxville, TN.

TRACK LIST:

01. Ghost Of Good Times (4:30)

Glenn House, Grinshine Publishing, BMI

02. Maces Spring (2:42)

Brian Oberlin, Mandoberlin Music, ASCAP

03. Blue Trail (3:36)

Eric Langejans, Cedar Trail, ASCAP / Brian Oberlin, Mandoberlin Music, ASCAP

04. Logan's Farewell  (3:09)

Ricky Mier, Banjo Daddy Publishing, ASCAP

05. I Laugh When I Think How I Cried Over You (2:59)

Maxine Fowler, Bob Wills, Hill & Range Songs, BMI

06. Wild Mountain Rose (3:09)

Brian Oberlin, Mandoberlin Music, ASCAP

07. Yellow Leaves Of Autumn (3:38)

Kay Traywick, Veda Jo Publishing, BMI

08. Train Train (Carry Me Away) (2:51)

Bill Graham, Songs ow Windswept Pacific, BMI/ Wilton Weller, Universal Music, BMI

09. Sallie's Dancing (3:33)

Brian Oberlin, Mandoberlin Music, ASCAP

10. Reelin' In The Years (3:44)

Walter Becker & Donald Fagen, Universal Music Corp. OBO Red Giant Inc, ASCAP

11. Dixie Darling (3:24)

Alvin Pleasant Carter, Peer International, BMI

12. Blue Eyes Look My Way  (2:35)

Luke Gitchel, Tamarack Creek Publishing, ASCAP

Produced and Engineered by Stephen Mougin at Dark Shadow Recording.

Mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

Album cover photo by Scott Simontacchi.

For more information on Full Cord tour dates, please visit: https://fullcord.net/shows

DJs, broadcasters a radio programmers can download Cambium on AirPlay Direct

Fri, 02/23/2024 - 3:45 pm

Just prior to the 2020 shutdown, 10-time IBMA award winning fiddler/singer/songwriter Becky Buller and Grammy winning singer/songwriter Aoife O'Donovan collaborated to create this air of wistful longing for mental, emotional and spiritual rest. “Jubilee”   fell into the dark dearth of the pandemic years, laying dormant until the FreshGrass Foundation commissioned Becky to write a performance piece for debut at their 2023 Bentonville, AR, festival. This song is the seed that bloomed into an entire song cycle of the same name, which chronicles Becky's lifelong struggle with acute depression and anxiety.

The album “Jubilee” is set for a May 2024 release from Dark Shadow Recording.

This single, along with the entire project, was recorded in a day and a half, live, in one room save harmony vocals. By tracking in this classical style, the song cycle was allowed to exist in its natural form, each player reliant on one another with no safety net.

“Jubilee” gives Becky’s exquisite band a chance to showcase the full breadth of their talent, delivering a Bluegrass sonic footprint, while pushing beyond boundaries.

Musicians:

Becky Buller:  vocals, fiddle

Aoife O’Donovan:  vocals

Jacob Groopman:   guitar

Daniel Hardin:  bass

Wes Lee:   mandolin

Ned Luberecki:  banjo

Produced and mixed by Stephen Mougin for Dark Shadow Recording

Recorded at Studio 9, North Adams, MA

Engineered by Dave Sinko

Mastered by David Glasser for Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO

Aoife O’Donovan’s vocals tracked by Darren Schneider at Audio Temple at Full Sail, Winter Park, FL

Arranged by The Becky Buller Band

Single cover art: Nicholas “NDTank” Tankersley

Fri, 04/05/2024 - 7:48 am

Alone” is the second single from Becky Buller's upcoming album Jubilee, set for a May 2024 release from Dark Shadow Recording.

"As the pandemic shutdown persisted, I was careening toward a mental health crisis",  shares Buller. "Instead of viewing it all as a much needed break, I could only see a black hole intent on devouring me. I had a new album coming out with no gigs to promote it…no band to play any gigs anyway. Although I had a great team around me and an extremely supportive husband, they couldn’t help because there were no right answers. When one more financial pebble was thrown at me, I shattered into a million pieces. ‘Alone’ is my attempt to distill off this poison.”

Photography: Shayna Cooley

This single, along with the entire project, was recorded in a day and a half, live, in one room save harmony vocals. By tracking in this classical style, the song cycle was allowed to exist in its natural form, each player reliant on one another with no safety net.

Producer and mixer Stephen Mougin adds: “The Becky Buller Band really gets a chance to show off their Bluegrass virtuosity on this cut, especially in the instrumental improvised section. No one soloing for solo sake, rather a tumultuous musical experience that draws the listener closer to the pain and chaos of the topic. I'm so proud of their work and careful attention to melody and mood.”

Musicians:

Becky Buller:  vocals, fiddle

Jacob Groopman:   guitar, harmony vocals

Daniel Hardin:  bass, harmony vocals

Wes Lee:   mandolin

Ned Luberecki:  banjo

Produced and mixed by Stephen Mougin for Dark Shadow Recording

Recorded at Studio 9, North Adams, MA

Engineered by Dave Sinko

Mastered by David Glasser for Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO

Arranged by The Becky Buller Band

Single cover art: Nicholas “NDTank” Tankersley

Photography: Shayna Cooley

Fri, 05/17/2024 - 9:57 am

10-time IBMA Award winning fiddler, singer, songwriter and Minnesota Music Hall of Fame member Becky Buller celebrates the release of her most personal album to date - Jubilee. This album is a song cycle, meant to be listened to as sequenced and in its entirety. The song cycle Jubilee was commissioned by the FreshGrass Foundation and originally debuted at the FreshGrass Festival in Bentonville, AR in 2023.

Producer and mixing engineer Stephen Mougin shares: "When Becky brought me a full rehearsal recording of this project, I was immediately hooked. I’ve known her since ’97 and I feel like this is her best work to date, both as a songwriter AND as a performer. She bares her soul and shares her story. It’s thematically deep and musically intense.

Since it was a “classical-inspired” song cycle, I suggested that we track it live in one room, to embrace that tradition. It offered Becky and her amazing band a challenge, and an opportunity to try something new in the recording process. By the date of the session they had already performed the song cycle, in its entirety, a number of times and really had it dialed in. Becky is such an amazing live performer, I had every confidence that this would work.

We were fortunate to be able to use the Studio 9 in North Adams, Massachusetts, thanks to the Freshgrass Foundation and I decided to bring along the amazing Dave Sinko to engineer the tracking session so I could focus on the minutiae of producing. Recording in one room poses a few challenges such as instrument bleed on all of the microphones, which requires each note of each performance to be solid. There’s no safety net for solos or vocals. If one person makes a mistake, the whole band has to redo the take.

The song cycle was tracked in a day-and-a-half with all solos and lead vocals performed absolutely live. I’m so proud of Becky, Ned, Jacob, Wes, and Daniel for their exquisite musicality.

We all hope that the subject matter will offer hope and help to those in need, and that this project will remain sonic bliss for years to come."

MUSICIANS:

Becky Buller - vocals, fiddle, cello banjo

Jacob Groopman - vocals, guitar

Daniel Hardin - vocals, bass

Wes Lee - mandolin

Ned Luberecki - banjo

Special guest (courtesy of Yep Roc Records): Aoife O'Donovan  - vocals (track 5)

TRACK LISTING:

01.Prelude
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP

02.Kismet
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

03.Woman
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

04.Interlude
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP

05.Jubilee
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP

06.Spiral
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

07.Alone
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

08.Descent
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

09.Whale
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

10.Postlude
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP

Produced and mixed by Stephen Mougin for Dark Shadow Recording

Recorded at Studio 9, North Adams, MA

Engineered by Dave Sinko

Mastered by David Glasser for Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO

Aoife O’Donovan’s vocals tracked by Darren Schneider at Audio Temple at Full Sail, Winter Park, FL

Arranged by The Becky Buller Band

Single cover art: Nicholas “NDTank” Tankersley

Sat, 06/08/2024 - 2:37 pm

This re-imagined cover of the Tim O'Brien/Seldom Scene classic "Like I Used To Do"  features a husband/wife duo singing back and forth, cherishing their love. Jana, originally from Slovakia, and Stephen are joined by an all-star cast of musicians including Darol Anger, Sharon Gilchrist, Dennis Crouch, and Jana's former bandmate from Slovakia Henrich Novak. The song, a longtime favorite of the couple, showcases a congruous taste in bluegrass, even though they grew up on different continents.

“When Tim O'Brien's album “Odd Man In” came out in the early 90s,” Jana shares,  “I listened to it over and over and always loved this song. I decided to learn it last year and I told Stephen it would be a great song for us to sing as a duet. Around the same time we bought a car that used to belong to our dear friend Joyce, who lost her long battle with cancer. Joyce was a huge bluegrass fan who had been in Stephen’s life since his early childhood and she was one of his biggest fans. I met her when I started touring with Fragment and she would come to our shows in different states. She loved to travel and she was a very important guest at our small wedding. When we got her car, there were still a few of her personal things in there… including a couple of CDs. The Seldom Scene “Like We Used To Be” was one of them. I knew that album (we recorded “Some Morning Soon” with Fragment), but I totally forgot “Like I Used To Do” was a part of it too! When I put that disc in the Cd player and  I heard this song, it was a sign for me. We had to record it!”

The single debuted on SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction - The Fishbowl Session with Joey Black and the interview with Stephen and Jana is available for listeners on the Sirius XM app.

SONGWRITERS: Patrick Alger/Timothy O'Brien

MUSICIANS:

Stephen Mougin - lead vocal, guitar

Jana Mougin - lead vocal

Darol Anger - fiddle

Sharon Gilchrist - mandolin

Henrich Novak - resonator guitar

Dennis Crouch -bass

Recorded and mixed by Stephen Mougin at Dark Shadow Recording, Goodlettsville, TN.

Mastered by David Glasser at AirShow Mastering, Boulder, CO.

ABOUT STEPHEN MOUGIN: Most musicians wear many hats, and Stephen “Mojo” Mougin is no exception. Mojo is best known as a member of the Sam Bush Band and a sought-after instructor. But he is also an award-winning producer and engineer, a label head, mentor, songwriter, band coach, and more. Mojos’ commitment to high standards and dedication to everything he works on have made him an in-demand partner and collaborator for any creative endeavor in the world of acoustic music. He is that rare musician that can help grow a band or artist from developing talent to professional quality performer; and shepherd artistic visions from one end of the creative process to the other. If a new bluegrass band has caught your ear in recent years, or a new song given you goose-bumps, it’s very likely that Mojo had something to do with it. Stephen released his solo album in 2020 and he plans to start working on a new one in the near future.

ABOUT JANA MOUGIN: Slovakian born and classically trained vocalist, Jana Mougin oversees radio promotion, publicity and social media for Dark Shadow Recording. Jana holds a master’s degree in audio-visual media journalism from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.  

Jana was introduced to Bluegrass music when she was fifteen years old, and in 1993, she joined the European Bluegrass band Fragment as lead vocalist. She later became the groups’s bassist. She served twelve years in the band during which they recorded eight albums and toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States and won several awards within the European industry.

In 2006, Jana married Stephen, who was a guitarist with the Sam Bush Band at the time, and she made her permanent move to the United States. The couple founded the Dark Shadow Recording label in 2009, with their focus being releasing top-notch bluegrass music as well as instructional material to musicians. She and Stephen have a son, Sammy, who has also been bitten by the Bluegrass bug and loves spending time in the studio, following in his parents’ footsteps.

Jana's first solo single  "If I Didn't Love You" released in 2023 (followed by a music video) and received significant airplay and chart action. She also maintains her love of music by moonlighting as a studio vocalist for the artists who record with their label. Her vocals can be heard on albums from Becky Buller, Breaking Grass, Rick Lang, April Verch, Laura Orshaw, the Daughters of Bluegrass, Rick Faris, Nedski & Mojo, and many more.

ABOUT DARK SHADOW RECORDING: Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and record label led by award-winning Stephen Mougin, located on a hilltop that surveys Music City's electric skyline. The label produces and turns out music from some the industry's most promising artists in the Bluegrass, Americana, Country, and Folk genres - Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, Stillhouse Junkies, Henhouse Prowlers, Full Cord, Jana and Stephen Mougin.

Thu, 07/18/2024 - 9:34 am

Congratulations to Rick Faris on his 2024 IBMA Award nomination in the Song of the Year category!

Too Lonely, Way Too Long” (written by Rick Faris, produced by Stephen Mougin) is a song from Rick's third solo album release Uncommon Sky (2023) on Dark Shadow Recording.

The song features Del McCoury on harmony vocals, Jerry Douglas on resophonic guitar and Rick's studio band - Laura Orshaw on fiddle,  Zak McLamb on bass, Harry Clark on mandolin and Luke Munday on banjo.

IBMA Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), the professional nonprofit association for the bluegrass music industry.

Results of the balloting will be revealed at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, September 26, at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina.

About Rick Faris: Faris has been playing Bluegrass music since he could talk. He got his first break when the Bluegrass stalwart, Greg Cahill, called and asked him to audition for Special Consensus. The job was to be transformative for Faris because Greg hired him to play mandolin rather than the guitar he had been honing since he was a child. With 5 weeks to learn the mandolin and win the audition, Rick Faris stepped into the next stage of his career. After 6 years, 1 Grammy-Nomination and 2 IBMA Awards he switched back home to guitar and the band picked up another 3 IBMA Awards and a 2nd Grammy Nomination. Rick spent a total of 11 years with the globetrotting Special Consensus. Under Greg Cahill, he learned the meaning of professionalism and giving back to the Bluegrass community.

Rick signed a deal as a solo artist with Dark Shadow Recording in 2018 and released his debut album Breaking In Lonesome in 2019. With watertight harmony singers and mind-blowing pickers, Rick set out to show the world what his brand of Bluegrass sounds like. His second album, The Next Mountain (2021) garnered industry-wide attention with intense chart action and both SPBGMA and IBMA "Song of the Year" nominations as well as a "New Artist of the Year" win at IBMA 2022. “The Power Of Love” from his latest album “Uncommon Sky” was nominated for 2023 IBMA Song Of The Year. In April 2024 Rick was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall Of Fame.

For more information about Rick Faris, please visit: www.rickfaris.com

Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and record label led by award-winning Stephen Mougin, located on a hilltop that surveys Music City's electric skyline. The label produces and turns out music from some the industry's most promising artists in the Bluegrass, Americana, Country, and Folk genres - Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, Henhouse Prowlers, Full Cord, Jana and Stephen Mougin.

Fri, 08/09/2024 - 1:01 pm

Ned Luberecki and Stephen Mougin, who perform as the duo "Nedski & Mojo", release their new single “Act Naturally".

Ned says; “I remember Buck Owens on Hee Haw as a kid, but never gave him much attention. It was years later, when I heard the live at Carnegie Hall album, that I really got excited about their music.”

This single follows their chart-topping 2023 release “A River To Cross".

Stephen adds; “Ned and I quickly bonded over Buck Owens music when we first started playing together, often adding some Buck tunes in Nedski and Mojo setlists. As we neared his 95th birthday, we decided to celebrate by recording one of his biggest hits. I hope everyone enjoys the spirit of Buck (and Don) in our version!"

DJs, broadcasters and radio programmers can download the single here:

ABOUT NEDSKI & MOJO:

NEDSKI : Ned Luberecki plays banjo with the Becky Buller Band and is an On-Air personality for SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction. He is a first call banjo instructor at banjo camps across the US and Europe and a 2024 inductee of the Banjo Hall Of Fame.

MOJO: Stephen Mougin plays guitar with The Sam Bush Band and owns Dark Shadow Recording. He has been producing and engineering a myriad of up-and-coming bluegrass acts as well as artists outside the genre. Stephen holds a degree in Vocal Music Education and leads many vocal workshops and private vocal and band coaching sessions.

When not on the road with their regular gigs, you can find Nedski and Mojo performing a variety of original songs and instrumentals, along with a few classics from the worlds of Bluegrass, Newgrass, Blues and even a funny song or two. Their debut album NOTHING MORE features popular bluegrass radio songs: “Another Way To Get To You” and “Ginny Danced”.

ABOUT DARK SHADOW RECORDING: Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and record label led by award-winning Stephen Mougin, located on a hilltop that surveys Music City's electric skyline. The label produces and turns out music from some the industry's most promising artists in the Bluegrass, Americana, Country, and Folk genres - Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, Stillhouse Junkies, Henhouse Prowlers, Full Cord, Jana and Stephen Mougin.

Fri, 11/01/2024 - 10:09 am

 “Line The Avenues”, written by the Henhouse Prowlers singer/banjo player Ben Wright, releases today to celebrate the upcoming Veterans Day. 

“This is one of those songs that really hits hard if you’re listening close," shares producer Stephen Mougin. “I was standing at Ben's kitchen table when he played it for me and my eyes welled up with tears. Thinking of all of the service men and women who have given so much, many who never returned and many who returned broken by the horrors of war. My father served in Vietnam and rarely talks about it, but I can see his pain and the fear that still strikes. ‘Line The Avenues’ is a powerful reminder to both honor our service members and make every effort to strive for peace.”

Richard Marion Wright, Ben's grandfather was a B-25 pilot in the 12th Bombardment Group over North Africa in World War 2. When Ben turned 10, his grandpa woke him up early in the morning and showed him his photo books from the war.

Ben Wright shares: “It hits me harder now than it did as a 10 year old that his plane was called ‘Sad Music’, unsurprisingly.  He grew up in a small Indiana town not far from where the Wright Brothers had their bicycle shop and there was always talk of how it only made sense to him that he should fly like his cousins. Whether or not the family connection is true, I never needed more of a reason to think he was cool. ‘Cappaw’, as my brother and I called him, got me up early one day when I was a boy and talked me through his experience in the war, using his own stunning photos to jog his memory and help me understand this experience that he knew he was lucky to have survived. When it came time to finally write this song, I asked my father to send me those photo books and I went back to the morning again. The reasons for fighting may change, but the consequences don't. I can't help but think that’s part of why he woke me up early that morning—so I might come to that conclusion someday.”

Henhouse Prowlers at Dark Shadow Recording studio,  looking at the photo album from Ben's Grandfather's memorabilia, that inspired Ben to write Line The Avenues. (L-R: Jake Howard, Ben Wright, Chris Dollar, Jon Goldfine). Photo by Jana Mougin.

The “Line The Avenues” single art is an actual photo from the book, featuring Richard Marion Wright along with his crew and his plane.

Line the Avenues | Henhouse Prowlers

DJs, broadcasters and radio programmers can download the single HERE:

Founded nearly two decades ago with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, this quartet now finds themselves at the intersection of performance, diplomacy and education. Onstage, the group's enthralling performances give audiences a sense of how much they love what they do. On record – including their latest offering, 2023’s Lead and Iron, released on Dark Shadow Recording – the band explores their collective life experiences through songwriting and intricate instrumentation. While bluegrass is the undeniable foundation of the Prowlers’ music, the band bends and squeezes the traditional form into a keenly developed sound all their own.The Prowlers have now been to more than 25 countries across the globe, working with the U.S. State Department and under their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors, and incorporating music from Africa, Asia, the Middle East & more into their already robust repertoire of unique traditional American music. On stage, in workshops and wherever they are, the Henhouse Prowlers find and spread the commonality we share as human beings through the universal language of music.

Sat, 11/16/2024 - 4:36 pm

Following the success of their debut release Like I Used To Do, husband-and-wife duo Stephen and Jana Mougin are back with their evocative new single, Frozen In Time. The song, penned by Rick Lang and Lincoln Meyers, beautifully captures the frosty charm of drifting snow and crisp winter air—an ode to the cold-weather nostalgia often missing from their Nashville surroundings.

Having relocated to Music City two decades ago from their hometowns in Massachusetts and Slovakia, Stephen and Jana have poured their longing for true winter into this uptempo track. With its heartfelt lyrics and captivating melody, Frozen In Time is sure to resonate with audiences far and wide.

ABOUT STEPHEN MOUGIN

Known widely as “Mojo,” Stephen Mougin is a musical powerhouse whose career spans roles as a guitarist in the Sam Bush Band, award-winning producer, label head, songwriter, and sought-after mentor. With a reputation for elevating artists to their highest potential, Stephen has left an indelible mark on acoustic music. His 2020 solo album showcased his immense talent, and fans can anticipate more solo work in the near future.

ABOUT JANA MOUGIN

Slovakian-born Jana Mougin is a classically trained vocalist who discovered bluegrass music at age 15. A former lead vocalist and bassist for the European bluegrass band Fragment, Jana has earned acclaim both in Europe and the United States. Since co-founding Dark Shadow Recording with Stephen in 2009, Jana has become a driving force in the bluegrass industry. Her debut solo single If I Didn’t Love You received significant airplay in 2023, showcasing her vocal prowess and storytelling ability.

ABOUT DARK SHADOW RECORDING

Located atop a scenic hill overlooking Nashville, Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and label helmed by Stephen Mougin. Known for its high-quality productions in bluegrass, Americana, country, and folk music, the label boasts an impressive roster of artists, including Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, and the Henhouse Prowlers.

STEPHEN MOUGIN ON “FROZEN IN TIME”

“It was an extremely short time between deciding to record a new track and actually making it happen,” shares Stephen Mougin. “When Jana and I heard this song from Rick Lang, we immediately knew it was the one. Everything aligned perfectly, from the incredible musicians who joined us in the studio to the flawless execution of the track. This song was meant to be, and I’m so glad we brought it to life.”

PERFORMERS ON “FROZEN IN TIME”

  • Jana Mougin – Vocals
  • Stephen Mougin – Guitar/Vocals
  • Kyle Triplett – Banjo
  • Scott Napier – Mandolin
  • Byron House – Bass
  • Christian Sedelmyer – Fiddle

 

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Stephen Mougin, the track was mastered by David Glasser.

Mon, 01/06/2025 - 8:52 am

Celebrated fiddler, vocalist, and songwriter Becky Buller kicks off 2025 with the release of her empowering new single, Reach.” Featuring a powerhouse lineup of Alison Brown (banjo), Sierra Hull (mandolin, harmony vocals), Missy Raines (bass), and Molly Tuttle (guitar, harmony vocals), this vibrant track is a testament to collaboration and musical excellence.

Originally penned by Johanna and John Hall and recorded by Orleans, “Reach” was later popularized by New Grass Revival, whose rendition has become a touchstone for Buller. With her reimagining, Buller infuses the song with her signature sound while honoring its deep roots.

“‘Reach’ has become an anthem for me,” shares Buller. “The verses feel like a mirror, reflecting my driven, restless nature. But the chorus? That’s pure liberation—an open-armed call to embrace the dreams I’m chasing. Recording this track stretched me in ways I didn’t expect, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the journey.”

(L-R): Missy Raines (bass), Alison Brown (banjo), Becky Buller (fiddle, lead vocal), Molly Tuttle (guitar, harmony vocal), Sierra Hull (mandolin, harmony vocal)  and Stephen Mougin (producer, recording engineer). Photo by Madison Thorn.

Producer Stephen Mougin praises the collaboration, saying, “Working with Becky and this incredible group of musicians was a privilege. Their reverence for the New Grass Revival version shines through, but they also brought their unique artistry to the track. It’s an infectious song with an uplifting message, and I’m confident listeners will love it.”

About Becky Buller

Becky Buller is a trailblazing force in bluegrass, boasting 10 IBMA Awards and a groundbreaking career. She made history as the first artist to win both instrumental and vocal categories at the IBMA Awards in 2016 and remains the only woman to be named Fiddle Player of the Year. A core member of the First Ladies of Bluegrass, Buller’s work has been celebrated with a feature exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Buller’s songs have graced Grammy-winning albums by Molly Tuttle (2023), The Infamous Stringdusters (2019), and The Travelin’ McCourys (2018). In 2021, she fulfilled a lifelong dream with her debut at the Grand Ole Opry, and in 2023, she was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Learn more at BeckyBuller.com.

About Dark Shadow Recording

Dark Shadow Recording, led by award-winning producer Stephen Mougin, is a full-service studio and record label based in Nashville, TN. Known for its commitment to fostering talent in bluegrass, Americana, country, and folk, the label represents a stellar roster of artists, including Becky Buller, Rick Faris, and Henhouse Prowlers. Visit DarkShadowRecording.com for more information.

Fri, 01/10/2025 - 9:43 am

Three Seasons", written by Chris Dollar (guitar, vocals), is the second single from the Henhouse Prowlers' album, scheduled for the release this spring.

“This song was inspired by watching the shadows from my window change where they fall through the course of a year, and how eventually they end up back at the beginning,” shares Dollar. "The three seasons are, to me, the seasons of life (Spring Summer Fall) brought to you by the season of death (Winter). It is a necessary cycle of rebirth that happens every year, and it wasn't until I wrote this song that I began to be more conscious of what an entire year of time feels like."

L-R: Stephen Mougin (producer, recording and mixing engineer, with Henhouse Prowlers - Jon Goldfine, Chris Dollar,  Ben Wright, and Jake Howard at the Dark Shadow Recording studio. Photo by Jana Mougin.Chris Dollar - Lead Vocal/Guitar
Ben Wright - Banjo/Harmony Vocal
Jake Howard - Mandolin/Harmony Vocal
Jon Goldfine - Bass

Sat, 01/25/2025 - 4:41 pm

Dark Shadow Recording is thrilled to announce the release of Laura Orshaw’s new single, “Red Bandana, a bluegrass reimagining of Merle Haggard’s classic hit. The single features a remarkable collaboration with the acclaimed Canadian bluegrass band, The Slocan Ramblers, marking a milestone moment in both their careers.

“Getting to spend time in the studio and bring this track to life with The Slocan Ramblers was such a treat,” shares Orshaw. “We’ve crossed paths at several festivals through the years, but we had never played music together before this day in the studio. Working through the instrumental harmonies to emulate the twin guitar intro was so exciting. My favorite moment was seeing the look on everyone’s faces when it all finally clicked!”

Produced by Grammy-nominated Stephen Mougin, the track captures the energy and attitude of traditional bluegrass while paying homage to Merle Haggard’s timeless songwriting. Mougin reflects on the collaboration: “I’ve been a fan of The Slocan Ramblers since I first heard them play, and I’ve been trying to put this collaboration together for a couple of years. When they gathered at the studio and started to play, it was even better than I imagined. This track is full of attitude! So much fun!”

The session, held at Dark Shadow Recording Studio, brought together an exceptional lineup of performers:

  • Laura Orshaw - Lead Vocal/Fiddle
  • Frank Evans - Banjo/Harmony Vocal
  • Darryl Poulsen - Guitar/Harmony Vocal
  • Adrian Gross - Mandolin
  • Charles James - Bass

 

The single was engineered and mixed by Stephen Mougin and mastered by David Glasser.

About Laura Orshaw:
Laura Orshaw is a trailblazing force in bluegrass music, celebrated as the first female to win SPBGMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year. Known for her dedication to traditional bluegrass sounds, Orshaw’s 2021 debut album, Solitary Diamond, garnered significant acclaim. In addition to her solo career, she has performed with the Grammy-nominated Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and shared stages with icons such as Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, and Sarah Jarosz.

About Dark Shadow Recording:
Dark Shadow Recording, led by award-winning producer Stephen Mougin, is a premier studio and label based in Nashville. Known for championing bluegrass, Americana, country, and folk music, the label’s roster includes talents like Becky Buller, Rick Faris, and Henhouse Prowlers.

“Red Bandana” Credits:

  • Songwriters: Merle Haggard, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing OBO Shade Tree Music, Inc.
  • ISRC: QMEAX2500100
  • Label: Dark Shadow Recording
Sun, 02/09/2025 - 8:46 am

2024 IBMA Songwriter of the Year Rick Faris proudly unveils his uplifting new single, “Bend, Don’t Break,” available now via Dark Shadow Recording. A song of resilience and hope, “Bend, Don’t Break” showcases Faris’s evolving artistry and songwriting prowess, backed by an all-star lineup of collaborators. Listen here: https://sc.lnk.to/Ar65ql.

“I’m so proud of Rick’s growth, both as a songwriter and artist,” shares producer, engineer, and mixer Stephen Mougin. “As we enter our fourth album together and I wonder what ground we haven’t already covered, he brings songs like ‘Bend, Don’t Break.’ It’s such a positive, uplifting, and motivational tune, performed by an all-star cast. It’s clear he’s got a lot more to say!” Co-writer Rick Lang adds, “‘Bend, Don’t Break’ is a song brother Rick and I were meant to write together. We poured so much emotion into it—lyrics came straight from our hearts. We’ve both faced and overcome adversities that tested us, challenged us, and pushed us to the limit. When that happens, we rely on our core beliefs—our faith, family, and friends—to pull us through. ‘Bend, Don’t Break’ is a song of hope for all humanity, that no matter the circumstance, we can weather any storm and rise to any challenge.”

Recorded and released under the Dark Shadow Recording label (ISRC: QMEAX2500016), “Bend, Don’t Break” features Rick Faris on lead vocals and guitar, Dan Tyminski on mandolin and harmony vocals, Ron Block on banjo, Laura Orshaw on fiddle, and Mark Schatz on bass. Co-written by Rick Faris (Rickyland Publishing, BMI) and Rick Lang (Haley Anna Music, BMI), the track was produced, engineered, and mixed by Mougin, with mastering by David Glasser. For more information on Rick Faris and his music, visit https://rickfaris.com/home or follow him on social media.

Sun, 02/23/2025 - 1:10 pm

Full Cord, the celebrated Michigan-based bluegrass ensemble, is building on the momentum of their 2022 double-win as IBMA Momentum Band of the Year and Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition champions with a brand-new single, “Annie Moved On.” Produced, recorded, and mixed by award-winning musician and Dark Shadow Recording founder Stephen Mougin, the tune delivers a riveting blend of tight harmonies and masterful instrumentation wrapped in a plaintive story of love gone wrong.

“Over the last couple of years, I heard them play this tune live a few times, which comes across great on stage,” says Mougin. “They have a knack for bringing Luke Gitchel’s tunes to life, and his catalog really suits the ’90s era bluegrass that we all love. While the band was in tracking their Christmas single, we took a little time to tweak arrangements and recorded this one as well. Hope you dig it!”

Featuring the ensemble’s signature interplay of voices and strings, the new release spotlights:

    George Guthrie (banjo, harmony vocal)
    Brian Oberlin (lead vocal, mandolin)
    Chase Potter (fiddle)
    Eric Langejans (guitar, harmony vocal)
    Todd Kirchner (bass)

Known for their dynamic stage presence and keen musicianship, Full Cord continues to raise the bar for modern bluegrass. Their 2023 album, “Cambium,” further highlights the band’s ability to marry tradition with contemporary flair across a wide range of genres and themes.

About Full Cord

Full Cord has steadily carved out a prominent place in the bluegrass world. In 2022, the Michigan-based quintet captured two of the genre’s most prestigious awards: Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition champions and the IBMA Momentum Award Band of the Year. Mandolinist Brian Oberlin points out that the group’s music “is new and fresh to the ears of seasoned bluegrass fans,” yet their dedication to time-honored tradition is unmistakable. With decades of collective experience, members Oberlin, guitarist Eric Langejans, and bassist Todd Kirchner have graced stages from Michigan to Oregon, weaving together a sound that resonates with both casual listeners and die-hard bluegrass enthusiasts.

About Dark Shadow Recording

Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and record label perched on a scenic hilltop overlooking Music City’s skyline. Helmed by acclaimed musician and producer Stephen Mougin, the label is home to some of the most promising artists in Bluegrass, Americana, Country, and Folk, including Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, Henhouse Prowlers, Full Cord, and Jana & Stephen Mougin.

“Annie Moved On” is now available on all digital platforms. For more information on Full Cord, their latest releases, and upcoming tour dates, visit fullcord.net and darkshadowrecording.com.

Sun, 03/23/2025 - 9:49 am

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Rick Faris welcomes his milestone 40th birthday by unveiling his latest single, “On The Right Track.” Available now on all streaming platforms, the track sets the tone for Faris’s upcoming fourth solo album on Dark Shadow Recording, slated for June.

A Reminder to Keep Love in Good Standing
“I can really see this movie playing in my head of how this guy is just screwing up,” Faris explains. “He’s rallying the troops to try to correct a mistake that’s been made. We’ve all been there; we’ve all made mistakes. It’s an encouragement to keep things on the right track. I think we need to see that it can go south for someone else, to remember we don’t want that for us. It’s just a good reminder to keep that beautiful love in good standing.”

Co-writer Rick Lang speaks to the creative partnership he shares with Faris: “I love writing songs with Rick, we have such good chemistry. He has a great mind for lyric, and a great feel for melody and rhythm. With ‘On The Right Track,’ we were shooting for an up-tempo, straight-ahead ‘real deal’ bluegrass number. The story line is a familiar one—trying to salvage a troubled relationship. We could not be happier with the way it turned out.”

The single features Faris on lead vocals and guitar, alongside acclaimed artists Dan Tyminski (mandolin), Ron Block (banjo), Laura Orshaw (fiddle), Mark Schatz (bass), Justin Moses and Stephen Mougin on harmony vocals, with Mougin also producing, engineering, and mixing the track. Mastering was handled by David Glasser.

Faris just wrapped up recording his fourth solo album for Dark Shadow Recording, promising an exciting next chapter following the success of his 2022 release. Fans can look forward to his signature blend of heartfelt songwriting and virtuosic musicianship in June.

SONG: “On The Right Track”
ARTIST: Rick Faris
LABEL: Dark Shadow Recording
ISRC: QMEAX2500201
RELEASE DATE: March 21, 2025
SONGWRITERS: Rick Faris, Rickyland Publishing, BMI / Rick Lang, Haley Anna Music, BMI
PERFORMERS:

    Rick Faris – Lead Vocal / Guitar
    Dan Tyminski – Mandolin
    Ron Block – Banjo
    Laura Orshaw – Fiddle
    Mark Schatz – Bass
    Justin Moses – Harmony Vocal
    Stephen Mougin – Harmony Vocal

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Stephen Mougin
Mastered by David Glasser

For more information, visit RickFaris.com.

Fri, 04/04/2025 - 10:46 am

Dark Shadow Recording is proud to announce the release of “Ride On By,” the new single from Becky Buller’s forthcoming album of cover songs that have shaped her celebrated career. This dynamic rendition, penned by songwriter and wildlife biologist Dick Kimmel, is a longtime staple of Buller’s live shows and now makes its official debut on record.

Originally written as a protest song when interstate construction carved through parts of West Virginia, “Ride On By” made its way to Minnesota when Kimmel accepted a job with the Department of Natural Resources in the early 1980s. There, fate intervened.

Becky Buller Band  (L-R: Daniel Hardin, Jacob Groopman, Becky Buller, Ned Luberecki, Wes Lee) Photo by Jay Strausser.

“His band most likely performed this song at the Butterfield Threshing Bee that fateful day when my folks were in attendance,” shares Buller. “Dad was mesmerized by the mandolin, eventually bartering carpentry work for lessons from Dick. He introduced my folks to Gordy and Roxy Schultz; together they formed Prairie Grass, the group I picked up fiddle to sing with… and bluegrass music has dominated my destiny ever since.”

Tracked by her current road band—guitarist Jacob Groopman, banjoist Ned Luberecki, mandolinist Wes Lee, bassist/harmony vocalist Daniel Hardin, and Buller herself on fiddle and lead vocals—this spirited track was produced, engineered, and mixed by Stephen Mougin. Fans of Buller’s live shows will recognize the epic “not-so-secret space jam,” a segment that has grown over time and is designed to showcase the ensemble’s collective prowess.

“The arrangement has morphed through the years, most recently to include an epic not-so-secret space jam which gives all of us a chance to show out instrumentally as the hippies dance,” Buller adds. “I’m thrilled it’s finally found a home on this upcoming covers album.”

About Becky Buller

A 10-time IBMA award-winning Bluegrass artist, Becky Buller made history as the first-ever artist to win in both instrumental and vocal categories in the same year at the IBMA Awards, and is also the first female to claim IBMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year. She moonlights as a member of the all-female supergroup The First Ladies of Bluegrass, recently honored at the Country Music Hall of Fame with their own exhibit. Buller fulfilled a dream in 2021 by making her Grand Ole Opry debut. Her songwriting achievements extend to Grammy Award-winning albums by Molly Tuttle (2023), The Infamous Stringdusters (2019), and The Travelin’ McCourys (2018). In 2023, she was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall Of Fame. Connect with Becky online at BeckyBuller.com.
About Dark Shadow Recording

Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and record label based in Nashville, TN, overlooking the city’s vibrant skyline. Led by award-winning Stephen Mougin, the label is known for producing high-caliber projects in the Bluegrass, Americana, Country, and Folk genres—working with artists such as Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, Henhouse Prowlers, Jana and Stephen Mougin.

SONG: “Ride On By”
ARTIST: Becky Buller
ALBUM: SINGLE
LABEL: Dark Shadow Recording
ISRC: QMEAX2500002
DATE: 4.4.2025
SONGWRITER: Dick Kimmel

Performers:

    Becky Buller – Vocal/Fiddle

    Ned Luberecki – Banjo

    Jacob Groopman – Guitar

    Daniel Hardin – Harmony Vocal/Bass

    Wes Lee – Mandolin

Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Stephen Mougin
Mastered by David Glasser

Sun, 06/01/2025 - 3:32 pm

Becky Buller celebrates the release of her new single “Muddy Waters” from her up-coming album of cover songs that had a huge impact on her musical career.

 

Songwriter Phil Rosenthal says: “I’m thrilled to have Muddy Waters given new life in this creative rendition by Becky Buller and the band. It’s especially nice to have Seldom Scene offspring Chris Eldridge and Jay Starling on board!”

 

“Muddy Waters was on my short list for this album well before Hurricane Helene’s historic destruction of the Southern Appalachian region,” says Buller. “With so many friends in our bluegrass, old-time, and roots music community directly impacted, I heard this song in a profoundly more visceral way. I lament and mourn with them through the arms of Phil Rosenthal’s bleak lyric.” 

 

“Becky and I have been working on this album for a while, and it was put on pause to make way for the Jubilee project last year," shares producer Stephen Mougin. “When she sent me her funky version of Muddy Waters, originally performed by the Seldom Scene, I knew it was powerful. It occurred to me that we should invite a couple of Scene Sons.  With Chris Eldridge (guitar) and Jay Starling (dobro/vocal) on the session, joined by Casey Campbell (mandolin) and Jeff Picker (bass), we gave it a fresh coat of paint and dug deep into the meaning and story of the song. As we started doling out solos, Chris asked if he could have the beginning section so he could quote some of his dad’s legendary banjo break… of course we said yes. It’s amazing!  I’m really proud of the arrangement, the sonics, and the powerful performance that each musician brought to this track.”

 

ABOUT BECKY BULLER: Becky Buller is a 10-time IBMA award-winning Bluegrass artist. A celebrated musician, singer and songwriter, Buller made history as the first-ever artist to win in both instrumental and vocal categories at the 2016 IBMA Awards, as well as being the first female to ever win IBMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year. Since 2018, Becky has moonlighted with the all-female supergroup, The First Ladies of Bluegrass, which was recently recognized at the Country Music Hall of Fame with their own exhibit. Buller achieved a lifelong goal in 2021 when she made her Grand Ole Opry debut. Her songs appear on Grammy award-winning albums by Molly Tuttle (2023), The Infamous Stringdusters (2019) and The Travelin’ McCourys (2018). Buller is a 2023 inductee into the Minnesota Music Hall Of Fame. Connect with her online at BeckyBuller.com.

 

ABOUT DARK SHADOW RECORDING: Dark Shadow Recording is a full-service studio and record label led by award-winning Stephen Mougin, located on a hilltop that surveys Music City's electric skyline. The label produces and turns out music from some the industry's most promising artists in the Bluegrass, Americana, Country, and Folk genres - Becky Buller, Rick Faris, Laura Orshaw, Henhouse Prowlers, Jana and Stephen Mougin.