East Nash Grass exemplifies the best of what bluegrass has to offer—as being named the 2024 IBMA [International Bluegrass Music Association] New Artist of the Year would suggest. But their breathtaking talent as singers, instrumentalists, and composers are just the beginning, the secret to East Nash Grass lies in their unflinching ability to be themselves. With a lifetime of experience in both new and legacy acts (Dan Tyminski, Tim O’Brien, Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, etc.), the tradition of bluegrass is fundamental to who they are as musicians and performers. Yet it’s their irreverent, adventurous, and audacious tendencies as next-gen performers that light a fire under audiences. After hundreds of sets (and countless late-night jams), through personnel changes, industry changes, and a never-ending string of unprecedented world events, East Nash Grass has coalesced into the hair-raising ensemble of Harry Clark [mandolin], Cory Walker [banjo], James Kee [guitar], Maddie Denton [fiddle], and Jeff Partin [bass/dobro]. Their love of both bluegrass and the absurd can be felt in both their live shows and on their new album All God’s Children (due out August 22nd via Mountain Fever). Expectations of what should and shouldn’t work are challenged as the paradox of authenticity is revealed. This is no mere imitation of bluegrass; this is bluegrass
Make no mistake, the band’s upcoming LP, All God’s Children isn’t a gospel album, despite where its title may lead. But, it’s not exactly not a spiritual album, either. The quintet have whittled down their immense catalog to an all-new, ten-song collection featuring five new originals, two deep-cut covers, two tunes from friends, and a string-band reimagining of a traditional Liberian chant; a feat only accomplished by the no-rules mentality of one of the most talked-about bands on the scene. A worldly blend of spirituality, connectedness, and world-class picking—members of East Nash Grass formerly accompanied Dan Tyminski, Tim O’Brien, Sierra Hull, Rhonda Vincent, and more—All God’s Children is Harry Clark (mandolin), Cory Walker (banjo), James Kee (guitar), Maddie Denton (fiddle), and Jeff Partin’s (bass/dobro) next chapter in their interstellar rise to greatness.
Today, Glide is excited to offer an exclusive premiere of the standout track “Bend in the Road,” which finds the band firing on all cylinders as they unleash a raucous and catchy bluegrass romp. Featuring fast picking, bright harmonies, and timeless lyricism, the song encapsulates what makes this group so impressive and very much a talent to watch as word spreads of their bluegrass prowess. For this group, it’s all about balancing those instrumental breakouts with strong songwriting, making for the kind of perfect combination that has worked so well for peers like Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle.
“Cory and I had been working on this song for a while. We had a first verse and some other stuff about Granny Women and Worm Dirt, but no cradle to rock that sweet baby. As luck wouldn’t have it any other way, I had written a whole bunch of verses down to songs with no melody. The kind of stuff you tuck away for a rainy day. Several in particular about my grandmother and her family driving to California from Arkansas in the mid-1940s. After eating so much shortening bread and turtle soup that we thought we would perish, we relapsed into a state of pure bloated bliss and were blessed with this dirty ditty about our hometown of Madison, TN” – Harry Clar
LISTEN:
