Chatham County Line is a four-man American roots band that emerged from the bluegrass scene in Raleigh, North Carolina at the turn of the millennium. In their matching suits and ties, gathered around a single microphone, they look like a traditional bluegrass band, but in the words of the Washington Post, “the minor chords, patient tempo, and bittersweet irony owe more to Neil Young than to Bill Monroe. This blend of bluegrass arrangements and folk-rock songwriting has led to five terrific, if underappreciated, studio albums from the North Carolina quartet since 2003.”

The band features Dave Wilson on guitar and harmonica, John Teer on mandolin and fiddle, Chandler Holt on guitar and banjo, and Greg Readling on piano, pedal steel, and standup bass.  All four sing, with Dave most often taking lead.  Their vibrant harmonies, poignant arrangements, incisive lyrics, and catchy tunes deliver a contemporary take on timeless traditions.

The Easy Leaves are a duo from Sonoma County who play American roots rock with a country lilt. Kevin Carducci “kicked the banjo habit” and now plays upright bass. Sage Fifield plays guitar. They started performing together in 2008 and have just released their second album, American Times. Influenced by artists from Smokey Robinson to Bob Wills, their sound is a distillation of many forms of American music. When asked the main themes of their music, Sage said, “Celebration, the search to create meaning in the world, love, heartache, solitude and togetherness, gasoline, gold, and fire.”

Visit Chatham County Line's website

visit the Easy Leaves website

Listen to a track from Chatham County Line:

Photo by Kirk Johnson