Michael Cleveland and Flame Keeper on the road

• Jun 7 - The Globe Theater - Atlin, BC
• Jun 10 - KIAC Odd Fellows Hall - Dawson City, Yukon
• Jun 12 - Chilkat Center for the Arts - Haines, AK
• Jun 13-15 - Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival - Haines Junction, Yukon
• Jun 18 - Bill Monroe Beanblossom Bluegrass Festival - Beanblossom, IN
• Jun 20 - Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival - Sidney, ME
• Jun 21 - Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival - Ligonier, PA
• Jun 22 - Tottenham Bluegrass Festival - Tottenham, ON
• Jun 27 - Music in the Mountains - Summersville, WV
• Jun 28 - Goin’ Back to Harlan - Harlan, KY
• Jun 29 - Utah Arts Festival - Salt Lake City, UT

Burlington, MA – Rounder Records is proud to announce the release of Leavin’ Town, the debut album by Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper on July 29. Leavin’ Town provides the perfect setting for Cleveland’s continued exploration of the fusion of original ideas with those from bluegrass music’s forefathers and showcases the countless talents of each group member.

While other Cleveland recordings have been predominantly instrumental, Leavin’ Town is balanced out by vocal solos, duets, and trios – creating the effect of what would likely be heard at a Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper concert. The material comes from sources as varied as 78 rpm records made in the 1950s (The Lonesome Pine Fiddler’s “I’m Feeling For You [But I Can’t Reach You]”) to compositions written by members of Flamekeeper within the last couple of years (Todd Rakestraw’s “I’m Ridin’ This Train,” and “Kickin’ Back,” by Jesse Brock).

Cleveland is a five-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Fiddle Player of the Year award who rose to prominence in the bands of Dale Ann Bradley and Rhonda Vincent. Leavin’ Town, Cleveland’s fourth album for Rounder and the first to feature the line-up of Jesse Brock, John Mark Batchelor, Todd Rakestraw and Marshall Wilborn, delivers the same high standard you’ve come to expect from Cleveland’s previous recordings – Let ‘Er Go Boys! (2006), Live At The Ragged Edge (2004) and Flame Keeper (2002) – each of which was awarded the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Instrumental Album of the Year”.

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper features Union Station founding member Todd Rakestraw on guitar and lead vocals, former Lynn Morris Band mandolinist Jesse Brock on tenor vocals, John Mark Batchelor on banjo, and veteran bass player, singer and songwriter Marshall Wilborn.

Track Listing:

1. Sold Down the River
2. In My Mind to Ramble
3. My Blue Eyed Darling
4. I’m Feeling For You (But I Can’t Reach You)
5. Northern White Clouds
6. Troubles ’Round My Door
7. Leavin’ Town
8. Sunday Morning Christian
9. Jerusalem Ridge
10. I’m Ridin’ This Train
11. Come Spring
12. When You Were Mine
13. Kickin’ Back
14. Farewell for a Little While