Chatham County Line

Launched roughly twenty years ago in Raleigh, NC, Chatham County Line built a devoted following on the strength of their genre-bending live show before breaking out internationally with their 2003 self-titled debut. In the years to come, the band would go on to release eight more critically acclaimed studio albums, top the Billboard Bluegrass Chart four times, collaborate with Judy Collins, Sharon Van Etten, and Norwegian star Jonas Fjeld, and share bills with everyone from Guy Clark and Lyle Lovett to Steve Martin & Martin Short and The Avett Brothers. NPR hailed the group as “a bridge between bluegrass traditions and a fresh interpretation of those influences,” while Uncut lauded their “powerful melodies and gorgeous harmonies,” and Pitchfork dubbed their music “timeless.” The band’s latest release, Hiyo, serves as something of a reintroduction to the roots stalwarts, complete with new sounds, new collaborators, and a whole new lease on life. Recorded with co-producer/engineer Rachael Moore, the collection finds the trio, embracing change at every turn, experimenting with fresh sonic palettes and innovative approaches to their instruments. The songwriting remains classic CCL, but the settings have evolved to incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and more electric guitar than ever before. Given the group’s string band roots, the results are nothing short of revelatory, taking an enduring sound and injecting it with a thrilling new spirit of discovery and vitality.