When their instrumental prowess earned them a vast following on social media, childhood friends turned all-star act Shadowgrass found sudden success. But as a young band, the expectations that came with a large audience proved daunting. “We felt a lot of pressure to make something uniquely us because we had such a big following, and we felt they deserved more than what we had given them so far,” explains the band. The group dug deep into their musicality and tried to block out the noise for their sophomore release, All That Will. “It turned out that dropping those self-imposed expectations and just writing/making music for our own enjoyment was the key to finding our collective voice and making a record we are all proud of.”
Fans can listen to the first single “Pleasantly Aimless” here.
All That Will is a stunning collection of original songs and tunes, peppered with one Stanley Brothers cover. The arrangements demonstrate an inarguable ability to play straight-ahead bluegrass while stretching out in unexpected ways, taking turns into electronic experimentation and extended solos after slowly drawing the listener in with pensive and thoughtful lyrics. “Dirt” feels like a classic old-time or country number, while “Nothing Matters” is a swing-influenced tune that spirals into an extended improvisation section complete with piano, synth, and bass solos. “Polyurethane” is a blazing bluegrass instrumental that shows off the band’s chops within the confines of a traditional sound, leaving no doubt that these folks can really play, no matter the setting.
“I would say jamgrass describes the band best, but that doesn’t stop us from reaching into completely different genres,” explains the band. “Some of our favorite songs to play live are traditional covers like ‘Highway of Regret,’ and some are 15-minute open-ended jams like ‘Walls.’”
Shadowgrass began in 2014 when Clay Russell (banjo), Luke Morris (mandolin), and Kyser George (guitar) were jamming at the Grayson County Fiddler’s Convention in Elk Creek, VA. Sometime before their first real show, the name Shadowgrass was suggested simply because they thought it sounded “cool.” Kyser, Clay, and Luke were 9, 13, and 14 years old at the time. Now in their early twenties, their influences and listening habits have changed drastically, but the group has always grown in the same direction musically. They have welcomed fiddle player Madison Morris, who also lends vocals and songwriting prowess, and bass player Evan Campfield. Luke and Madison trade off lead vocals and harmonize seamlessly with one another. Their commitment to and keen interest in songwriting brings additional dimensions to the band, allowing the group to appeal to listeners outside of the expected jam band community.
All That Will was recorded live with minimal overdubs. The band tested the songs on the road to let the jamming develop naturally, with the audience's energy feeding into their exploration. When it came time to go into the studio, they tried to recreate the feeling of a live performance, recording with their live rigs and pedal boards alongside the studio mics. Luke then mixed the record himself. “I view mixing as an extension of the arrangement process and even an extension of the writing process,” he explains. “When it comes to effects like reverb and delay, different approaches to ‘space’ in a mix can drastically change the emotion of the track.”
As a very young band that has already been playing together for a decade, Shadowgrass has a unique bond. “We’ve grown up together and have watched each other evolve into the people we are today,” they say. “It sounds cliché, but we act more like siblings than bandmates.” On All That Will, the group explores themes of anxiety and uncertainty and questions the people they want to become. Luckily, they’ve had each other to share these experiences with, and it seems that their companionship has only pushed their artistic and musical abilities to new heights.
All That Will will be available on 10/4/2024.
Full List of tour dates below:
July:
7/18: Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival - Oak Hill, NY
7/19: West Art - Lancaster, PA
7/20: Easy Wind Farm - Burgess, VA
7/28: Carbondale Mountain Fair - Carbondale, CO
7/30: The Alibi - Telluride, CO
7/31: Old Town Pub - Steamboat Springs, CO
August:
8/1: The Lariat - Buena Vista, CO
8/2: Delicious Orchards - Paonia, CO
8/3: Rhythms on the Rio Music Festival - Del Norte, CO
8/4: Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival - Keystone, CO
8/17: Barrelhouse Ballroom - Chattanooga, TN
8/24: The Big What - Pittsboro, NC
8/31: Earl Scruggs Music Festival - Mill Spring, NC
September:
9/1: Appaloosa Festival - Front Royal, VA
9/5: Whimmydiddle - Hamilton, OH
9/7: Chili n' Beer Festival - Crested Butte, CO
9/14: 50th Stokes Stomp Festival - Danbury, NC
9/19: Healing Appalachia Festival - Lewisburg, WV
October:
10/4: TBA - Fort Collins, CO
10/5: TBA - Denver, CO
10/10: The Ramblefest - Darlington, MD
10/17: Grandin Theatre - Roanoke, VA
10/18: 13th Annual Bluegrass Island Music Festival - Manteo, NC
December:
12/31: Asheville Music Hall - Asheville, NC
