Summertown Road releasing self-titled debut on Rounder
Category: CD Release
By Travis Tackett
November 20, 2009
Burlington, MA – Rounder Records is pleased to announce the release of the self titled debut album by Summertown Road on February 16. Produced by renowned bluegrass musician Don Rigsby, “Summertown Road” is a fresh collection of bluegrass tunes – with 9 out of 14 tracks written by members of the band. With their skillful songwriting, emotional vocals, tight harmonies, and first-rate musicianship, Summertown Road manages to straddle both sides of the bluegrass spectrum at once – the traditional and the contemporary – appealing to every bluegrass fan imaginable. (see below for complete track listing).
Summertown Road broke onto the bluegrass scene straight out of Ashland, Kentucky in 2008 and although this is their debut album, this is hardly a band of upstarts – the band members have a combined century’s worth of experience. Fiddle player John Rigsby (Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Melvin Goins) delivers smoky leads which are the essence of Kentucky. Banjoist Jack Hicks (Bill Monroe, The Whites, Jim & Jesse, Lester Flatt) has played with some of the greatest artists the genre has ever produced. Both crackle with enthusiasm and precision on this album. Singer Bo Isaac started off his career at age 5 at the Kentucky Opry, then toured with Dave Evans and eventually as a solo artist. His tenor voice is piercing and true and appeals to listeners searching for a modern lead vocalist sound. Rounding out the quartet is bassist Randy Thomas (The Peach Mountain Boys, Dave Evans), who anchors and propels the band’s infectious rhythms.
Summertown Road will be touring throughout the U.S. in 2010. See below for upcoming tour dates.
Summertown Road Track Listing:
- If I Win
- Right Back to the Start
- Rosalee
- Two Medals
- Dennie Braden
- You’re Not Easy to Forget
- I’m Leavin’ You
- Too Much of a Good Thing
- Fiddlin’ John
- Goin’ Home to See My Baby
- For the Love of the Game
- That’s Kentucky
- Winds of Change
- Hide Me, Rock of Ages
Summertown Road Appearances
January
- 15-16 — American Legion Post 144 – Columbus, OH
- 30 — Bluegrass Palace – Watts, KY
February
- 13 — Beckham Combs CC – Hindman, KY
- 26 — Shepherdsville Opry – Shepherdsville, KY
- 27 — Meadowgreen Park – Clay City, KY
March
- 5 — Gateway City Bluegrass Festival – St. Louis, MO
- 6-7 — Shorty’s Strickly Bluegrass Festival – Peoria, IL
- 12 — Kentuckians of Michigan – Romulus, MI
- 13 — Bluegrass Opry Barn – Oakwood, OH
- 26 — Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival – Wilmington, OH
– From Rounder Records
• Bo Isaac • Don Rigsby • Jack Hicks • John Rigsby • Randy Thomas • Rounder Records • Summertown Road

