Mountain Heart Return with 'Blue Skies' May 6th

Mountain Heart is set to return with Blue Skies, their first studio album in five years.  The new project, being released on May 6th via Compass Records, finds Mountain Heart completely reinventing themselves around long-time members Josh Shilling and Aaron Ramsey.  Jeff Partin and Seth Taylor joined after the band’s last album was released and violinist and vocalist Molly Cherryholmes (of 5-time Grammy-nominees Cherryholmes) joined just weeks before Blue Skies studio sessions were to begin.  

The same soulfulness that gave the band its name in the first place is still there, but now voiced through a blend of musicians that make room not just for their bluegrass legacy, but also for the introspection of singer/songwriter ballads, the simplicity of classic country, the excitement of R&B, and the atmospherics of modern folk pop. The 10-song set was produced by the band and recorded live in the studio without edits or studio trickery; the first single from the album, “Addicted” premieres today via  PopMatters. Check it out here: http://www.popmatters.com/post/mountain-heart-addicted-audio-premiere/

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Shilling, barely into his 30s, is the group’s senior both in age and tenure.  A sought after songwriter, he wrote most of the material on Blue Skies, with a Chris Stapleton & Ronnie Bowman co-write and a stellar rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm” rounding out the set.  The group’s pool of talent has been profoundly deep and rich since its inception, and the lineup changes allowed Shilling and Ramsey the opportunity to handpick their favorite musicians on the planet. Every member of the new Mountain Heart is a multi-instrumentalist and could also be considered a lead singer, which makes the possibilities both onstage and in the studio limitless.  Shilling states, “Imagine being in a band full of producers, in-demand songwriters, session players, and singers!  It’s a dream come true musically speaking.  This reinvention and the time between our last record has allowed us the creative space to write the best batch of songs we’ve ever released.”  

Shilling states, “‘Blue Skies’ is not only the title track from the new album, but in so many ways, it’s also the new Mountain Heart mission statement.  Rather than focusing on the past, clouding our time with negativity or anxiety, we’re focusing on living in the here and now and celebrating every opportunity we have together.  Our love and passion for each other and the music we create is transparent on and off stage.  We live our lives doing what we love while making lifelong memories every night with our friends and supporters around the world.  What more could we possibly ask for?”
 
Mountain Heart Blue Skies Track Listing:
1. Blue Skies
2. Miss Me When I’m Gone 
3. Maggie’s Farm
4. No One To Listen 
5. She’ll Come Back To Me 
6. Addicted 
7. The Bad Grounds 
8. Have You Heard About The Old Hometown 
9. I Can’t Get Over You 
10. Hurting

Photos Courtesy: Missing Piece Group

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