BLUE MOON RISING is a national touring band based out of East Tennessee who garnered international recognition with the release of their last album, On the Rise. The CD proved to be a symbolic title for the group’s first Lonesome Day Record album debuting at 14 on the Billboard's Bluegrass Chart in 2005 and still charting into 2007. The Album received tremendous recognition including, but not limited to, "CMT.com Top 10 Bluegrass Albums" and "Gritz Magazine's Top Overall Albums†of 2005." On the Rise spent ten months on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine's Bluegrass National Survey Top 15 Album Chart and the single, This Old Martin Box," spent the entire 2006 calendar year in the Top 30 Singles. IBMA members honored the group with a 2006 nomination in the Emerging Artist category.
So it comes as no surprise fans eagerly await the January 2008 release on their new Lonesome Day album. The first single, Where Theres a Road and also a bonus track, The Hanging Tree (written by Chris West) was released on a Lonesome Day Records compilation CD at the recent International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass in Nashville.
Blue Moon Rising is fortunate to have two outstanding lead singers including the rich, soulful vocals of Keith Garrett, also lending his mandolin, guitar and songwriting talents to the band. Keith’s vocals have received international attention and are often compared to the likes of Alan Jackson and Keith Urban. The band has recorded a number of Keith's original songs including, Far Away From Home, Jeffrey's Hell and Moonshine Hard Times. He co-wrote the instrumental, Sling Blade with Justin Jenkins and the song, Mountain Boy his Dad, William Garrett.
Also sharing lead vocals is multi-talented guitarist and acclaimed songwriter, Chris West who writes many of the band’s songs including: The Hanging Tree, Crime I'm Guilty Of, The Old Time Preacher Man, Modern Day Outlaw and He Arose just to name a few. Chris was chosen to perform his songs at last year’s IBMA Songwriter Showcase and leads numerous songwriting workshops at the band’s numerous festival performances.
This five-piece band also includes Justin Jenkins on banjo and baritone vocals. “Jenks†started performing at the age of six and was a regular member of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. He made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 2003. The newest member of the band is multi-instrumentalist, Jon Anderson on bass. Jon has also graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry at age 16.
Simply put, this band has it all. They play well, sing well, and write well…it's the complete package. With credentials like that, it's safe to say this Blue Moon is definitely rising.
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