Beehive Field Recordings: County Sales at IBMA, Vol. 1
This set of Beehive Field Recordings – featuring Bill and the Belles, Mile Twelve, Clay Hess & Kyle Estep, and David Davis & the Warrior River Boys – was captured live in Raleigh, NC during the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) annual “World of Bluegrass” conference.
These sessions were co-produced with Dylan Locke and sponsored by County Sales Records.
Stay tuned for Volume 2!
—
Bill and The Belles – “I’ll Never Be Happy Again”
Bill and the Belles, the Johnson City, TN-based stringband began as a project to explore the space created between hillbilly and urban, between vaudeville and down home, but has arrived somewhere new. Featuring Kris Truelsen (guitar), Kalia Yeagle (fiddle), Helena Hunt (banjo) and Andrew Small (bass), the band was nominated for IBMA awards in both 2017 and 2018 and have played alongside America’s top country and roots music artists (including Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Hot Rize, the Cactus Blossoms, the Earls of Leicester, and more). They are also the house band for radio program “Farm and Fun Time” presented by Radio Bristol.
Facebook: BillandtheBelles
Instagram: @BillandtheBelles
—
Mile Twelve – “Down Where The Drunkards Roll”
(written by Richard Thompson)
Although their sound is rooted in traditional bluegrass, Mile Twelve surveys a broader landscape on their newest album, City on a Hill. All five band members bring their own influences and observations into the music, resulting in a project that feels contemporary, thoughtfully crafted, and relevant. With members based in Boston and Nashville, the lineup includes David Benedict (mandolin), Catherine “BB” Bowness (banjo), Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle), Evan Murphy (acoustic guitar, lead vocals), and Nate Sabat (bass, lead vocals).
Facebook: MileTwelve
Instagram: @MileTwelve
—
Clay Hess & Kyle Estep – “Salt Creek”
Clay Hess is from Athens, Ohio and is the leader of The Clay Hess Band. Clay’s first introduction to many was as the lead guitarist for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, winning a Grammy Award during his tenure there. After departing Skaggs, Hess toured and recorded with several of the top bands in the genre. With the help of long time friend and musical comrade Randy Kohrs, Clay recorded his solo CD ‘Rain’ with the title track going to #1 on the Bluegrass Today chart.
Born and raised in the Lansing, MI area, Kyle Estep began playing music with a Michigan-based gospel bluegrass band called Jericho Road and toured for several years. In 2010, he and his father and brother formed New County Grass with banjo player Dean Dubois.
Facebook: ClayHessMusic
Instagram: @clayhessband
—
David Davis & The Warrior River Boys – “He Rambled”
Alabama native and member of The Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, David Davis has traveled and performed as frontman for the bluegrass group, David Davis and the Warrior River Boys since 1984. He is recognized as one of the foremost practitioners of the Monroe mandolin technique. His interest in old-time and bluegrass music grew organically from a musical family, both his father and grandfather were players and singers. His uncle, Cleo Davis, was Bill Monroe’s original Blue Grass Boy.
Session lineup:
David Davis: Mandolin
Robert Montgomery: Banjo
Marty Hays: Bass
Stan Wilemon: Guitar
Billy Hurt: Fiddle
Facebook: DavidDavisAndTheWarriorRiverBoys
Instagram: @daviddavis369
Field Recordings sponsor County Sales boasts the world’s largest selection of old time and bluegrass music. The store has been a fixture of downtown Floyd, VA since they opened in 1965. They carry an amazing collection of music from box sets to vintage vinyl. Visit them next time you are in Floyd, VA, or check out their online store.
