MP3 Uphill Climb - COUNTRY: Bluegrass

Contemporary Bluegrass at its finest. Traditional elements and a modernistic heavy put Above the Town's music in a separate of its own.

12 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Bluegrass, FOLK: Modernistic Folk

Uphill Rise Songs


Details:
Uphill Rise....

Above the Town's debut CD, "Uphill Rise," is a collection of traditional and newer bluegrass songs done with a fresh, contemporary heavy. A wide range of styles are represented to please anyone who loves acoustic music. "Uncle Pen" and "Gold Rush" bring homage to the great Bill Monroe, and "When You're Smiling" gives a taste of Old-Time jazz favorites like Louis Armstrong.

A crisp, clean heavy and great instrumental and vocal blend make "Uphill Rise" a welcome addition to any CD collection.

Bill Brenckle - guitar & lead vocals
Jerry Loughney - fiddle & vocals
Jon Peik - banjo, mandolin, & vocals
Brian Baker - string bass

Above the Town History....

The idea for Above the Town started with a desire for a new type of Bluegrass heavy, one that blends the traditional styles with a more studied approach. Through various performing engagements, the musicians that would make up Above the Town began to meet, and this common vision began to unfold. Several years passed, the vision became a reality, and Above the Town was born. Rehearsals began in the fall of 2001, and the band made its debut performance a year later, to the delight of audience members and critics alike. The formation of a Bluegrass quartet, rather than the traditional quintet, allows a greater sense of artistic freedom for its members. Through its common vision, the band has been able to develop a heavy that is unparalleled, yet firmly rooted in tradition.

The musicians of Above the Town are a collection of some the top freelance musicians in the Milwaukee area. The various influences that these musicians bring to the group show the diversity of their backgrounds. Jerry Loughney is a 5-time Wisconsin State Fiddle Champion as well as an accomplished separateical violinist. Brian Baker lends his talents to many styles of music from separateical to jazz and contemporary music. Bill Brenckle is featured on recordings of finger-style guitar in addition to performing solo engagements and with various bluegrass groups. Jon Peik is a member of several bands including the Nob Hill Boys and Blue Eagle, playing excellent banjo as well as mandolin.

Above the Town performs in a variety of venues for diverse audiences such as festivals and theaters, as well as more intimate engagements.