Balsam Range

Rosta Capek presents…

Balsam Range (USA)
The first league of contemporary bluegrass in Prague!

May 23rd, 2017
Pyramida Hotel (Dlabacov Hall), Prague 6

Balsam Range - Bluegrass & Newgrass from North Carolina
In Haywood County, deep in North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains, where the Smokie Mountains meet the Blueridge Mountains, there is an impressive chain of hills called Balsam Range. The perfect band name, the five Bluegrass musicians thought, they all live in this region and only a few miles apart. They have always been a collective and not a band with a leader and some sidemen. This spatial and inner, almost magical connection is her trademark and has lifted her to the throne of the Bluegrass world within a few years. Balsam Range have recently been honored as "Entertainer of the Year" and "Vocal Group of the Year", and their CDs dominate the Bluegrass Music Charts for a long time. Violinist and singer Buddy Melton became a "singer of the year", a particularly great honor in the surroundings of all the great vocalists in the Bluegrass. The band consists exclusively of musical champions and as an honor, the residents of the home country even created the "Balsam Range Day".
The brilliant vocals and breathtaking instrumental solos have made them become leading stylists in the Bluegrass. They are inspired by the tradition of the Bluegrass pioneer generation and the distinctive North Carolina Hardcore Bluegrass, as well as by the avant-garde musicians of Newgrass and the New Acoustic and Jam Band Music. As a result, the band is at the forefront of giving Bluegrass an intensive, modern and fresh sound without losing its commercial smoothness.
Meanwhile, the current album "Mountain Vodoo" has been released and will be presented to the European audience on their first short and exclusive European tour in May 2017. The Tour includes 5 shows - 2 of them in Prague. On their sixth work they immerse themselves deeply in the mysticism and the special mood of the remote mountains of the Appalachians. The songs deal with eternally valid lifestyle, experiences and insights, variedly packaged in the typical Balsam Range mix of gospel, oldtime, jazz, country, swing, acoustic rock and bluegrass music.
All five Balsam Range musicians play in the top class of the first league, definitely an all star ensemble!
Marc Pruett on the banjo - a legend! Ever since his first Earl Scruggs 45s single, it was clear for him to become a banjo player. Meanwhile, he is a Grammy winner, played with the Bluegrass giants Jimmy Martin and Ricky Skaggs, and is well-versed in the big stages such as in Las Vegas and the Grand Ol 'Opry in Nashville.
Buddy Melton at the violin - at the same time one of the best singers of the current Bluegrass scene. ("Singer of the Year 2014") His late, career-only career led him away from rural Haywood County to Nashville and from there on tour with Sam Bush, Porter Wagoner, Rhonda Vincent and Tony Rice all over the world.
Caleb Smith plays guitar. Not just any, but it's his own self-made. He is a sought-after guitar builder, for example Bryan Sutton, the Bluegrass guitarist of the year, plays a "Smith". At the age of seven, Smith began making music, which included him in the bands of Doyle Lawson and Larry Sparks. He is also an outstanding singer.
Darren Nicholson on the mandolin, is a "gentle giant". In his case, the small mandolin appears even smaller than usual. His virtuoso, yet always tasteful and dynamic performance brought him Grammy Nominations, IBMA Awards and countless jobs on legends like George Jones, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard and Marty Stuart.
Tim Surrett - bassist and producer, labelchef and much sought after session musician. He also switched directly from the school bus to the first tour bus and soon to the big stages, (Carnegie Hall, Ryman Nashville, Grand Ol 'Opry) not only in America. The list of his musical partners is very long, ranging from Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Rhonda Vincent, Tony Rice to Larry Sparks. In 2015 he became the "Bassist of the Year" of the IBMA, comparable to the importance with the Oscar in the film scene. From time to time he grabs the resonator guitar, a kind of Hawaiin Guitar, which is played horizontally in front of the body with a steel bar.

Concert photogallery (photos by Nada Murmakova)