Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jesse Smathers announces his first single, ahead of his debut solo album releasing in early 2022. “Nothing in the World to Do” releases to streaming and radio on November 12th, and features an all-star cast of supporting musicians.

Hailing from Eden, North Carolina, Jesse Smathers comes from a long line of musicians. His grandfather, Harold Smathers, and grand uncle Luke Smathers, recorded for June Appal and were awarded the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1993 for their contributions to North Carolina Folk Music. Jesse began playing the guitar at age 11, mandolin at 15, and was heavily influenced by the music around him in his youth. In 2009, he won the guitar championship of the Virginia Folk Music Association. The following year, after graduation, he began his career as a touring musician with the James King Band on mandolin and vocals, and later rejoined the band performing guitar and vocals.

Jesse joined Nothin’ Fancy in 2014. The same year, he was also inducted into Phi Mu Alpha, a music fraternity, as a Sinfonian - joining such greats as John Phillip Sousa, Count Bassie, Duke Ellington, and Andy Griffith. In 2015, Lonesome River Band welcomed him to the group as a vocalist and mandolin player, and in 2017, Jesse won the IBMA Momentum Award for Vocalist of the Year! After the departure of Brandon Rickman from the Lonesome River Band, Jesse switched over to guitar duties in 2021.

Through the struggle of the 2020 pandemic, Jesse found time to get his creative mind working. He began to work on something he dreamed about doing for many years: organizing his own solo project. The stellar line up of some of his dearest musical comrades captures the essence of what has always been important to Jesse: the power of a jam, when five or six like minded musicians come together for the love of the music and song.

“‘Nothing in The World To Do’ is a song written by Scott Patrick and myself,” says Jesse. “It is the product of a late evening songwriting jam in the middle of the pandemic. Though the song talks about a man who is lost in this world after he lost his gal, the inspiration came from the crazy 2020 year, as we all spent a lot of time isolated and feeling lost.”

The song features Jesse on guitar and vocals, along with Jonathan Dillon on banjo, Jason Moore on bass, Jessie Baker on mandolin, Jason Carter on fiddle, Gaven Largent on dobro, and Heather Berry Mabe on harmony vocals.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4wy2fjol7QtmjAdOmUZ8z8?si=TtryxR4HQ6aD_r…

Jesse has also launched a Kickstarter campaign for his upcoming solo album. Campaign backers can choose from a variety of rewards, including stickers, shirts, music lessons from Jesse, and more. The campaign opens on November 15th and runs for 30 days - fans interested in backing the project can sign up here.

“Nothing in the World to Do” is available now on Spotify and all major streaming platforms, and on AirPlay Direct for radio downloads.

“Nothing in the World to Do,” Jesse Smathers’ debut single as a solo artist, recently made its first appearance on the Bluegrass Today weekly charts. Hot on its heels, Smathers announces the release of a second single, “Yesterday’s Blues.”

A native of Eden, North Carolina, Smathers now resides in Floyd, Virginia. He’s a full-time member of seminal Southwest Virginia group Lonesome River Band, and a music instructor at the Handmade Music School - where he met fellow instructor and songwriter Andrew Small.

“When I moved to Southwest Virginia, I made friends with Andrew,” Smathers explains. “He’s a tremendous talent, whose musical tastes are very much in line with mine. As I was picking out tunes for the album, I put a lot of thought into choosing songs that are authentic. On a whim, I asked Andrew if he had any tunes. He shared ‘Yesterday’s Blues’ with me, and it was an instant decision: this tune would be on the project.”

The hard-driving tune features Jesse on guitar and vocals, with instrumental support from bassist Joe Hannabach, banjoist Johnathan Dillon, and fiddler Jason Carter. Harmony vocals are provided by Heather Berry Mabe and Jessie Baker, the latter of whom also plays mandolin on the track.

To Smathers, “Yesterday’s Blues” has all the hallmarks of a classic bluegrass song: “It covers a topic bluegrass can cover like no other genre: heartache.” And he isn’t alone in that sentiment. Writer Andrew Small submitted “Yesterday’s Blues” into the 2021 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at Merlefest in 2021 - shortly after Smathers recorded the tune. It took first place in the bluegrass category.

“I knew all along this tune was a must-have for my project,” Smathers concludes. “I am excited for you to hear it!”

“Yesterday’s Blues” releases to streaming on Friday, February 18th. Fans can pre-save on Spotify here. Interested DJ’s can download the track on AirPlay Direct. DJ's who do not use AirPlay Direct are encouraged to reach out via the press contact information below.

ABOUT JESSE SMATHERS:

Hailing from Eden, North Carolina, Jesse Smathers comes from a long line of musicians. His grandfather, Harold Smathers, and grand uncle Luke Smathers, recorded for June Appal and were awarded the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1993 for their contributions to North Carolina Folk Music. Jesse began playing the guitar at age 11, mandolin at 15, and was heavily influenced by the music around him in his youth. In 2009, he won the guitar championship of the Virginia Folk Music Association. The following year, after graduation, he began his career as a touring musician with the James King Band on mandolin and vocals, and later rejoined the band performing guitar and vocals.

Jesse joined Nothin’ Fancy in 2014. The same year, he was also inducted into Phi Mu Alpha, a music fraternity, as a Sinfonian - joining such greats as John Phillip Sousa, Count Bassie, Duke Ellington, and Andy Griffith. In 2015, Lonesome River Band welcomed him to the group as a vocalist and mandolin player, and in 2017, Jesse won the IBMA Momentum Award for Vocalist of the Year! After the departure of Brandon Rickman from the Lonesome River Band, Jesse switched over to guitar duties in 2021.

Jesse’s debut album as a solo artist is slated for release in May 2022.

PRESS CONTACT:

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“One of the biggest joys in my life is playing music with friends,” says Jesse Smathers. “I have always had a goal to capture that joy and excitement that comes from a circle with five or six musicians.” Music has always been an important part of Smathers’ life - his grandfather, Harold Smathers, and granduncle Luke Smathers, received a North Carolina Heritage Award in 1993 for their contributions to North Carolina folk music. 

Hailing from Eden, North Carolina, and now living in Floyd, Virginia, Jesse began playing the guitar at age 11. He picked up the mandolin at 15, and was heavily influenced by the music around him in his youth. In 2009, he won the guitar championship of the Virginia Folk Music Association. The following year, after graduation, he began his career as a touring musician with the James King Band.

Jesse joined Nothin’ Fancy in 2014. The same year, he was also inducted into Phi Mu Alpha, a music fraternity, as a Sinfonian - joining such greats as John Phillip Sousa, Count Bassie, Duke Ellington, and Andy Griffith. In 2015, Lonesome River Band welcomed him to the group as a vocalist and mandolin player, and in 2017, Jesse won the IBMA Momentum Award for Vocalist of the Year! After the departure of Brandon Rickman from the Lonesome River Band, Jesse switched over to guitar duties in 2021. 

Through the struggle of the 2020 pandemic, Jesse found time to get his creative mind working. He began to work on the solo project he had dreamed of doing for many years. “This album is composed of like minded friends and musicians who I have been blessed to make music with over the years and musicians who have had a great impact on me,” Smathers shares. And, though he had a sound in mind that he wanted to capture, “the energy and what happened in the studio couldn’t have been planned,” he continues. “It was true magic.” 

The latest single from Smathers’ self-titled debut album, “Under the Weather” was written by award-winning songwriter Mark “Brink” Brinkman. “Brink sent me a handful of songs, and ‘Under the Weather’ stood out immediately,” Smathers explains. “When I heard the lyric and melody, it was so reminiscent of the first generation bluegrass that I love so much.”

In addition to Smathers on guitar, octave mandolin, and vocals, the song features Jonathan Dillon on banjo, Gaven Largent on dobro, and Joe Hannabach on bass. Harmony vocals are provided by Patrick Robertson and Jessie Baker, and “Under the Weather” also features Jason Carter and Mike Hartgrove on twin fiddles. “The song truly draws inspiration from all the pioneers of bluegrass music,” declares Smathers.

In conclusion, Smathers addresses listeners: “I hope that you get the same joy listening to this project as we did playing and recording it.” 

Jesse Smathers’ debut album releases on Friday, May 13th. CD copies of the album are available here, and the album is available on all major streaming platforms. The album is also available for radio downloads via AirPlay Direct. Jesse - along with an all-star cast of musicians - will celebrate the album release with a live performance at the Floyd Country Store in Floyd, VA on Sunday, May 15th. Tickets are on sale here.

Known for high-energy performances, tight three-part harmonies, and masterful improvisational jams, Songs From the Road Band has built up a devoted following through many concert and festival performances each year. Smoky Mountain News calls them a “band of melodic pirates, roaring down the highways and backroads of Southern Appalachia, in search of a stage to play…” Now, the hardworking Asheville-based band has captured a bit of that on-stage energy with their latest single - a longtime crowd favorite.

“We added ‘Suspicious Minds’ to the live set several years ago,” explains Charles R Humphrey III, the group’s bassist. “It’s a classic song that we reworked in the bluegrass style.”

Originally written by Mark James in 1968, “Suspicious Minds” was popularized by Elvis Presley. Humphrey explains that a line can be drawn from the song back to bluegrass: “Elvis recorded Bill Monroe’s ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ in the 1950’s, arranging it in a more uptempo pop style. We wanted to take a classic Elvis tune and arrange it bluegrass-style. To us, it makes sense - and it’s really fun to play!”

The arrangement is a natural fit for Songs From the Road Band, showcasing the band’s instrumental chops and allowing them to stretch out vocally and instrumentally. Mandolinist Mark Schimick - an award-winning contest mandolin player - sings lead on “Suspicious Minds.” Founding member and guitarist Sam Wharton and two-time National Fiddle Champion James Schlender provide harmony vocals. “Suspicious Minds” also features guest performances from Kyle Tuttle (of Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway) on banjo and Tommy Maher (of Fireside Collective) on dobro.

Since the song has become a staple at Songs From the Road Band shows, the group recently decided the time was right to record it. They headed Nashville recording studio Forty-one-Fifteen, and tapped Charlie Chamberlain to co-produce and engineer the track.

“We had just as much fun recording it as we do playing it live,” Humphrey concludes, “and we hope you’ll have just as much fun listening to it!”

“Suspicious Minds” releases everywhere on Friday, June 3rd. Listeners can look for it on the streaming service of their choice, and interested radio programmers can download the song from AirPlay Direct.

A mainstay in the world of Americana and bluegrass music, Darren Beachley is best known for his longtime role as guitarist and lead vocalist with Doyle Lawson’s seminal group, Quicksilver. With his new album, Beachley proves there’s a lot more to his musical story - and that, after a career spanning more than three decades, he’s just getting started.

“This project explores the road I didn’t take,” explains Beachley. “Many people don’t know that I started off in the music world as a Dobro player.” The Maryland native began his journey playing alongside his musician parents in venues across the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. “I got my first big break with a bluegrass great, Bill Harrell,” Beachley continues, “who hired me to play Dobro with his band the Virginians.” From there, Beachley went on to share the stage with everyone from Tony Rice to beloved DC bluegrass pioneers the Seldom Scene, and many more along the way.

When the role with Doyle Lawson came along, Beachley's musical career headed down a different path. With Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Beachley performed as a guitarist and lead vocalist on stages all across the globe, including Los Angeles’ famed Hollywood Bowl and the country world’s holy grail, the Grand Ole Opry. Afterwards, he formed Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac, an all-star group of DC-area musicians. “Even when I wasn’t performing on the Dobro, it’s always been important to me,” says Beachley.

Like so many musicians, Beachley found himself with extra time on his hands during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My son has a home studio,” he explains, “And since nobody was working, I was able to put together an amazing lineup of artists I admire. What came about was a project that takes me back to my roots as a Dobro player.”

Aptly titled The Road Not Taken, Beachley’s new album features performances from fellow Quicksilver alums Scott Vestal, Curt Vestal, and Josh Swift - along with Alan Bibey, Clay Hess, Marshall Wilborn, Sam Bush, Carl White, Pat White, Mike Phipps, Wyatt Rice, Shawn Lane, Troy Engle, Kristen Bearfield, Kenny Ray Horton, Stephen Burwell, Joe Wolking, Rebekah Speer, Christy Shaver, Tina Eck, Cynthia Marie, and more.

“I had a lot of songs I had saved over the years with the goal of doing a project like this,” says Beachley, “and with this group of players, I really went for it!” The resulting album contains a variety of genres and influences from Beachley’s life, presented in his signature bluegrass and Americana style. “River Full of Blues,” a powerful progressive tune about love gone wrong, kicks off the project. “Memories of My Younger Days” hearkens back to the classic sound of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and “Pictures I Still Carry” finds Beachley reflecting on where he’s been and what still lies ahead.

The album also features an eclectic mix of tasteful covers. “I heard Jonathan Edwards do Nanci Griffith’s ‘Listen to the Radio’ many years ago and it always stuck with me,” describes Beachley. “It gave me the chance to play some lap steel - another instrument that I love.” With “Forever Man,” Beachley and his crack team of studio musicians even venture into 80’s power-rock. “Eric Clapton is one of my longtime musical heroes,” explains Beachley. “We wanted to put a newgrass spin on this one, so I called the one and only Sam Bush.” The album’s illustrious cast of musicians has inspired Beachley to reach for new heights. “When you work with the best, it’s the best,” he concludes. After the recording sessions wrapped in 2021, Beachley signed to Turnberry Records to help bring the project to life.

Songs From the Road Band announces the release of a new single, “Where Lonely Lives" - ahead of their upcoming 7th studio album due out summer of 2024. The hard-driving bluegrass song was written by Charles Humphrey III and frequent collaborator Darren Nicholson. Mandolinist Mark Schimick handles the lead vocal in this lonesome tale of life’s ups and downs. Gabe Epstein’s rock-solid banjo playing is ever-present throughout the entire track. Guitarist Sam Wharton and fiddler James Schlender handle the harmony vocals, while Humphrey holds down the low end. Coming off a 3 month summer tour of the US, the band couldn’t be more thrilled to share new music with the DJ’s and radio listeners!

"Where Lonely Lives" is available now on all streaming outlets. Stream the song on Spotify here.

ABOUT THE BAND:

Songs From The Road Band is an Asheville, North Carolina based bluegrass supergroup featuring Mark Schimick (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Sam Wharton (guitar), James Schlender (fiddle), and Gabe Epstein (banjo). The band takes flight with virtuosic picking, singing, and grammy award winning songwriting. Several of their most recent singles have gone to the top of the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. They have 6 studio albums available at all musical outlets.

Just in time for the holidays... Songs From the Road Band announces the release of an original Christmas song. “Green Garland” is the second single to release ahead of the band's 7th studio album.

Written by Songs From the Road Band bassist Charles R Humphrey III along with Charlie Chamberlain and Brew Davis, "Green Garland" takes the listener on a stroll down memory lane, revisiting holidays past. Mark Schimick delivers a heartfelt lead vocal while Sam Wharton and James

Schlender provide rich harmonies. The tune evokes the emotions of love and joy that occur when family and loved ones travel from far and near to be together for the holidays. Gabe Epstein tastefully decorates the song with his banjo while Humphrey's tasteful bass work puts a bow on the performance. "Green Garland" is highlighted by a beautiful solo from two-time National Fiddle Champion, James Schlender.

Songs From the Road Band recorded "Green Garland" at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville. The band is happy to share this new original tune with you, and hopes it finds a spot on your holiday playlist for years to come.

Songs From The Road Band is an Asheville, North Carolina based bluegrass supergroup featuring Mark Schimick (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Sam Wharton (guitar), James Schlender (fiddle), and Gabe Epstein (banjo). The band takes flight with virtuosic picking, singing, and grammy award winning songwriting. Several of their most recent singles have gone to the top of the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. They have 6 studio albums available at all musical outlets.

Multi-instrumentalist Gabe Epstein announces the release of his debut solo album, Washington Express. A graduate of the East Tennessee State University bluegrass program and a member of progressive bluegrass supergroup Songs From the Road Band, Gabe is known for his hard-driving, innovative banjo style. On Washington Express, Gabe’s talents as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter are also highlighted.

Gabe Epstein grew up in Bethesda, Maryland and discovered the banjo at the age of fourteen. In the following years, he immersed himself in bluegrass, Celtic, and other related styles. This passion eventually led him to attend college at East Tennessee State University, where he obtained a degree in Bluegrass, Old-Time, Country, and Celtic Music Studies. After graduating in 2019, Gabe moved to Asheville where he has been based since. In 2020, Gabe became the banjo player for the Asheville-based Songs from the Road Band, with whom he tours locally and nationally.

His time in the ETSU program left an indelible impact on Gabe, and after graduating, he found that it was important to him to stay connected to the college and community. “Moving to Asheville after graduating from East Tennessee State University, I began to feel disconnected from what I had accomplished as a musician during my time there and how much it meant to me,” Gabe explains. “As a result, I felt that making a solo album at the ETSU campus studio would be the right thing to do. In addition, being able to tour with Songs from the Road Band helped give me the confidence to do so.”

Gabe gathered an all-star cast of ETSU alumni in the college’s recording lab, and the songs that would become Washington Express were born. The album features the talents of Troy Boone (Sideline, Amanda Cook Band) on mandolin and vocals, alongside Carter Giegerich (Ol’ Dirty Bathtub, Caleb Caudle) on dobro and Layla Cantafio (Dave Adkins Band) on fiddle and vocals. Joe Cicero (Fireside Collective) handles guitar duties along with harmony vocals, and Tyler Griffith (Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper) provides vocals and holds down the low end on bass. The engineer, Ben Bateson, teaches sound reinforcement and live sound at ETSU, as well as being a banjo player himself.

The album’s material features several original compositions by Gabe (“Washington Express,” “Difficult Run,” “Crossing Alabama,” and “The Departure”), alongside tasteful covers from folks he admires (Gordon Lightfoot’s “Long Way Back Home,” Don Reno’s “Follow the Leader,” Paul Kelly’s “Dumb Things,” and others).

Gabe says the album, and its tracklist, is a natural next step in his musical career. “Like so many other artists, I decided I was ready to put out an album featuring my own original music - as well as covers that I felt would pay tribute to my musical heroes. Getting to make this album with my friends at ETSU was an amazing experience, and I hope folks enjoy listening to the final product!”

Washington Express is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever music is streamed and sold. Interested radio programmers can download the album from AirPlay Direct.

Mountain music has been in Jesse Smathers’ family for generations. His grandfather, Harold Smathers, and grand uncle Luke Smathers, recorded for June Appal and were awarded the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1993 for their contributions to North Carolina folk music. And that’s just one piece of the family tree: the Smathers musical tradition can be traced back to when the family first settled in the North Carolina mountains in the 1700s. So it’s only natural that Jesse Smathers picked up the guitar at age 11 and hasn’t looked back since.

With “What’ll I Do With the Baby-O,” Smathers carries on his family tradition with a track that’s both timeless and fresh. This traditional mountain lullaby is given an uptempo treatment and an arrangement that will have listeners ready to dance. “Whether it be a swinging two-step or a square dance tune, my family has always made music folks could move to,” says Smathers. “That influence has carried on into the music that I strive to make today.”

Smathers gathered a group of friends at The Shop Studio in Candler, NC to put together the exuberant, lighthearted track. “It’s a simple, classic melody,” says Smathers, “It drives along the verses, which are full of cute visuals that get sillier as the song goes on.” The song features remarkable interplay between Hunter Berry’s driving fiddle and Corbin Hayslett’s outstanding banjo work in classic string band fashion, while Nick Goad (mandolin), Joe Hannabach (bass), and Smathers hold down the rhythmic fort. Patrick Robertson joins in on harmony vocals, and a good time is had by all.

“It was such a treat getting to record ‘What’ll I Do With the Baby-O’ on Jesse’s new project,” says Hayslett. “Putting a high-energy spin onto this old chestnut with a powerhouse bunch of musicians stands as a highlight of making music for me. Who says you need more than two chords to have a knockout track?”

With a new full-length album slated for release later this year, Smathers hopes “What’ll I Do With the Baby-O” will offer a taste of what’s to come - and make folks smile. He encourages listeners to “slip on your dancing shoes, and burn a hole in the floor!”

“What’ll I Do With the Baby-O” was released to streaming services worldwide on Friday, February 9.