As a founding member of Songs From the Road Band, Sam Wharton has kept a busy national touring schedule, garnering accolades and performing alongside some of the best in the business. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Wharton - like so many other touring musicians - found himself with a calendar full of canceled festivals and show dates. Inspired by the incredible talent surrounding his home of western North Carolina, Sam quickly put together a plan: connect bands to at-home audiences, with top-quality production and the utmost focus on safety and transparency.

And thus, Bands2Fans was born. Wharton teamed with Ambrose West, a West Asheville contemporary event space and music venue, to bring his vision to life. The listening room’s main building, with its high wooden ceilings, hardwood floors, and beautiful lighting, provides a palpable energy that shines through even during these socially-distant events. "Making music for people to enjoy is not just what we do - it's who we are,” remarks Wharton. “So, the opportunity to play on a real stage with lights and professional sound, and to make that available to a 'live audience' at home on their couches is a gift to the players as well as the listeners who tune into Bands2Fans' live streams."

Wharton also made a conscious choice to focus on performer and venue safety, as well as a high level of transparency regarding these precautions. All equipment and surfaces are disinfected before and after each performance. Crew numbers are extremely limited, and social distancing precautions are enforced. “I wanted to make sure we provided the safest environment possible for these live stream concerts,” continues Wharton. “It's important to me that the musicians feel safe and secure to get up on stage, let loose, and do what they love."

The Bands2Fans series kicked off two weeks ago with the Darren Nicholson Band - to an immediate reaction from fans. “We've had a great response already with thousands of viewers,” Wharton says with enthusiasm. “Listeners at home are hungry for quality streams.”

After the show, Nicholson had nothing but positive things to say:  “Not only did we feel completely comfortable and safe, but the production was first-class. All we had to worry about was showing up and playing the music. This took a tremendous load off our shoulders. This was our first live stream as a band since the quarantine, and Bands2Fans made it a first-rate experience for us.”

The second installment in the series featured Josh Daniel, Jeff Sipe, Mark Schimick, and Justin Powell, and was again an energetic, widely viewed success. Week three of the series will prove no exception; on deck are five top notch bluegrass players in western North Carolina. Bands2Fans camera operator, Charles R Humphrey III, also a member of Songs From the Road Band, had the following to say: "These are some of THE best musicians in the business! You're in for a night of truly drivin' bluegrass with Saturday's live stream show.”

Bands2Fans live stream concerts can be viewed each Saturday evening via Facebook Live, YouTube, and TwitchTV. The streams are free to the public, but donations for the bands and the series are encouraged and appreciated.

Asheville, North Carolina’s Songs From the Road Band announces the launch of two new singles. Ahead of their forthcoming sixth album, Wrong Train, Right Time, two songs will release on Tuesday, June 9th.

Co-written by Phil Barker and Songs From the Road Band bassist Charles Humphrey III, the album’s uptempo title track tells the story of a narrator who takes a new direction. “The concept that things happen for a reason - even though one may not understand why at the time - was the motivation for ‘Wrong Train, Right Time,’” says Humphrey.

Songs From the Road Band’s instrumental prowess is on full display on these tracks.  The band includes the talents of award-winning mandolin player Mark Schimick and two-time National Fiddle Champion James Schlender, and these new singles also include contributions from two high-profile guests: Kyle Tuttle, formerly of Jeff Austin Band, on banjo, and Tommy Maher of Fireside Collective on resonator guitar. Songs From the Road Band’s guitarist Sam Wharton sings “Wrong Train, Right Time,” and as the song unfolds, the soaring instrumentals and fast pace evoke the feelings of the song’s narrator, who arrives at a turning point in the second verse.

“The lyric ‘realize now I’m not the engineer, ain't driving the train just a passenger here,’ encourages the thought that there is a bigger life plan than the individual alone can conceive,” continues Humphrey. “The notion of surrendering or putting your life in the hands of the engineer is a moment of realization for the passenger.”

Mark Schimick takes the lead vocal on “Outside of Omaha.” Written by Humphrey along with Marty Dodson and Phil Barker, this tale of love and redemption in the Midwest is driven forward by virtuosic newgrass instrumentation. Songs From the Road Band is known for its three-part harmonies, and the memorable melody of “Outside of Omaha” features them prominently. Though the story is left unresolved, the listener will be left rooting for the song’s narrator in this classic tale of “winning her back.”

On Tuesday, June 9th, “Wrong Train, Right Time” and “Outside of Omaha” will release for download and streaming on all platforms. Listeners who would like to be notified of this and future releases are encouraged to follow Songs From the Road Band on Spotify.

Powerhouse acoustic group Songs From the Road Band has stayed busy throughout the 2020 quarantine, putting the finishing touches on a new album. Wrong Train, Right Time is slated for a 2021 arrival, and its second single “Outside of Omaha” hit #1 on Bluegrass Today’s Grassicana chart. Following up on this recent chart success, the Asheville, North Carolina-based supergroup now announces the release of a new single, “Molasses.”

Songs From the Road Band is regarded for their high-energy performances, tight three-part harmonies, and masterful improvisational jams. Its members - all veteran acoustic musicians - have collectively received top accolades in the bluegrass, Americana, and jam genres.The group features the talents of award-winning contest mandolin player Mark Schimick, founding member and smooth lead vocalist Sam Wharton, and two-time National Fiddle Champion James Schlender. Bassist and songwriter Charles R Humphrey III is a Grammy and IBMA award winner, and the band has recently welcomed acclaimed young banjoist Gabe Epstein.

Schimick takes the lead on “Molasses,” a song he co-wrote with Humphrey and Marty Dodson, a frequent collaborator of the band. Drawing on influences both traditional and progressive, “Molasses” opens with a high-lonesome vocal and a classic G-run, reminiscent of time-honored bluegrass. Yet the lyrics bring a modern twist, telling a humorous tale of a slow-moving relationship. Schimick’s soaring lead vocal is accompanied by Wharton’s tenor and Schlender’s baritone in a showcase of the group’s signature three-part harmonies. Anchored by Humphrey and Wharton’s rock-solid rhythm section, the song features powerful performances from guest musicians Kyle Tuttle (banjo) and Tommy Maher of Fireside Collective (dobro).

“Molasses” debuted on November 19th with a world premiere on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction and is available now for download and streaming on all major music services.

STREAMING LINKS:

Spotify

Apple Music

Their exciting, unpredictable live shows have already been compared to watching a NASCAR race, and Songs From the Road Band is hurtling through 2021 at a speedy pace. In March, they hosted Asheville Winter Grass, a sold-out hometown weekend event; in April, they hosted Camp Stonefly, an intimate destination festival that featured music and camping. In between, this powerhouse band has been hard at work putting the finishing touches on their new album at Asheville’s famed Echo Mountain Recording studio.

“Amarillo Blue” is the latest in a string of singles to release ahead of Songs From the Road Band’s forthcoming album. Sung by mandolinist Mark Schimick, and anchored by the group’s trademark tight harmonies, “Amarillo Blue” offers a fresh perspective on a classic breakup tale.

“The road is a common theme in bluegrass music,” says Charles R Humphrey III, Songs From the Road Band’s bandleader and bassist. “It’s something every musician experiences - the long nights, the time away from home, the drives out to meet the band... ‘Amarillo Blue’ explores these themes and the effects the road can have on a relationship.”

Yet the song moves forward with an uptempo bounce, maintaining a hopeful sense of optimism. Exuberant solos from Schimick, banjoist Gabe Epstein, and fiddler James Schlender evoke the freedom and promise of the highway. Guitarist Sam Wharton and bassist Humphrey hold down a rock-solid rhythm that moves the story along. And, in the end, though our narrator’s heart is a little worse for the wear, he still can’t wait to get out on the road again.

“This song was a really fun co-write with Nick Dauphinais and Marty Dodson,” says Humphrey, “and it mirrors the enthusiasm we have for getting back out on the road after what’s been a difficult year for us all.”

“Amarillo Blue” releases to radio on Tuesday, May 18th, and to all streaming outlets on Tuesday, May 25th. Emerging from the pandemic with renewed energy and an eye for the future, Songs From the Road Band has a full calendar of summer tour dates, and looks forward to the release of their new album in the fall of 2021.

TOUR DATES: 

5/22      Station Inn - Nashville, TN

5/28      Whitewater Center River Jam - Charlotte, NC

6/12      Cherokee Bluegrass Festival - Cherokee, NC 

6/18      Charleston Pour House - Charleston, NC

7/3        Silverados - Black Mountain, NC *performing w/ Jim Lauderdale

7/17      B Chord Brewing - Round Hill, VA *supporting Leftover Salmon

8/21      Chings & Strings - Boone, NC

9/10      Bristol Rhythm & Roots - Bristol, TN

9/11      Ohio River Festival

Known for their instrumental prowess, tight three-part harmonies, and award-winning songwriting, Songs From the Road Band remains a fixture on the Asheville acoustic music scene, while constantly forging ahead on their own path. “You Left Your Lonely,” the latest in a series of singles from the band, offers a thought-provoking twist on a quintessential bluegrass tale.

Written by Songs From the Road Band bassist Charles R Humphrey III, along with frequent collaborators Nick Dauphinais and Marty Dodson, “You Left Your Lonely” summarizes everything a departing lover takes with them: the flowers, the dog, the narrator’s heart... “It’s a classic ‘love-gone-wrong’ tale,” says Humphrey. 

Yet as the song progresses, mandolinist Mark Schimick’s lead vocals reveal another side to the story: the intangible things left behind when a relationship ends. The feelings of loneliness described in the lyrics are punctuated by “high-lonesome” harmonies, sung by guitarist Sam Wharton and fiddler James Schlender, and Gabe Epstein’s lively banjo work moves the tune along. With its juxtaposition of forlorn lyrics and a toe-tapping melody, “You Left Your Lonely” instantly feels like a bluegrass classic - yet also maintains Songs From the Road Band’s trademark freshness and energy. 

Recorded at Echo Mountain Recording in Ashevile, with Charlie Chamberlain as co-producer and Julian Dreyer as engineer, “You Left Your Lonely” is the latest in a string of singles for the band. “We love working with the folks at Echo Mountain,” says Humphrey. “This town, its venues, and its music community are a constant source of inspiration for us.” 

In addition to maintaining a heavy touring schedule, Songs From the Road Band stays busy around their hometown. When they’re not in the studio - or serving as Tunes Ambassadors for Can’d Aid, the charity arm of Oskar Blues Brewing - they’re known for putting together vibrant collaborative events. Songs From the Road Band hosts their second annual Asheville Winter Grass event, featuring special guests Jim Lauderdale and Andy Buckner, at One World Brewing on December 4th and 5th. Tickets are available here.

“You Left Your Lonely” is available for streaming and digital download everywhere on Friday, November 12th.

TOUR DATES: 

11/13    Sunrise Theater - Southern Pines, NC

11/14    Into the Woods Farm - Millboro, VA

12/4-5  Asheville Winter Grass - West Asheville, NC

1/21     185 King Street - Brevard, NC