Tightrope by Chatham County Line

Entering their second decade as an ensemble, Chatham County Line bring a deep reverence for traditional American roots music and timeless bluegrass instrumentation to insightful, poetic original songs that are powerfully contemporary yet rich with the complex resonance of their southern heritage. Over the course of six studio albums and performances around the world, they have pursued a singular style that is entirely their own, yet connects with audiences from all walks.

Dynamic and captivating, Chatham County Line are equally capable of classically hard-driving bluegrass and sparse, haunting ballads. The key to their sound lays in the close collaboration of the band's four members: Dave Wilson (guitar), John Teer (mandolin, fiddle), Chandler Hold (banjo), and Greg Readling (bass). This partnership enriches their latest album Tightrope (Yep Roc), which was forged over a year's worth of intensive rehearsals where they put every element under the microscope.

"At the end of the day," explains Wilson, "you want to write songs that have a reason for existing. For Tightrope, there was a lot of scrutinizing. We wanted every song to make the future Greatest Hits."

In person, the band is a marvel of rugged soulfulness, veering from winningly loose to thrillingly tight. It's readily apparent that these four men share a profound friendship, and love what they do. "With this band," Wilson says, "you can't just rotate a guy out and replace him. It's something larger than that. It's a big train we're riding on, and everybody's enjoying the ride."

Strange Fascination marks a turning point in CCL's steady growth and evolution. It's the final release with co-founding banjo player Chandler Holt, the first line-up change since 2001, and the first w/ drums on all songs.

The core — Dave Wilson (guitar/vocals), John Teer (mandolin/fiddle/vocals), and Greg Readling (bass/pedal steel/piano)—now add percussion to its line-up - Dan Hall on drums.