Fiddler’s Pastime is the debut solo album that establishes fiddler Bronwyn Keith-Hynes as one of the most exciting bluegrass musicians of her generation. This powerful collection of original fiddle tunes and traditional songs features world renowned guest artists Sierra Hull, Tim O’Brien, Sarah Jarosz, Chris Eldridge, Laura Orshaw and James Kee. Release date Sept. 4th.
With the release of the album’s first single, Open Water, featuring guest mandolinist Sierra Hull, Keith-Hynes showcases the creativity of both her fiddling and writing abilities. “This was the first tune I wrote for the album, and I think it captures something I love in bluegrass music which is that combination of haunting melody and rocket-like propulsion. I remember having my fiddle out in a quiet corner of the hotel at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s yearly event in Raleigh, NC last September, and the first part of the tune came to me then. I thought of Sierra for this track because I wanted a fiddle/mandolin unison sound for a lot of the melody and her incredible tone and groove seemed like the perfect fit.” The track also includes Jake Stargel on guitar, Jeff Picker on bass and Wes Corbett on banjo.
Created with the help of producer and Sam Bush Band banjo player Wes Corbett, Fiddler’s Pastime is a celebration of her first year of living in Nashville, TN. “I moved down here in 2018 and it’s been a really inspiring time in my life, being surrounded by this incredible music scene” Bronwyn says.
Originally from Charlottesville, VA, Bronwyn picked up the fiddle at age 3 and never looked back. The daughter of a first-generation Irish American father and southern American mother, her first musical love was traditional Irish fiddling. But after a childhood of deep immersion in Irish music and culture, she traced its immigration across the Atlantic ocean and into the Appalachian Mountains and found a sound that resonated even more completely with her in the bluegrass music she heard as a teenager.
In 2014, she formed bluegrass band Mile Twelve and has toured with them for the past 6 years across the United States, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Europe as well as releasing 2 full length albums. With accolades that include winning the 2014 Winfield Fiddle Championship and the 2015 FreshGrass Festival Fiddle Contest as well as being named International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2018 Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year, Bronwyn emerges with Fiddler’s Pastime, expressing her uniquely creative voice in bluegrass fiddle. The album is available for pre-order at: www.bronwynkeithhynes.com
"Bronwyn's fiddle playing is about being present. You can sense the presence of mind, presence of heart, presence of the unmistakable Bronwyn in every note she plays. Her impeccable care in selecting what is to be presented on her fiddle translates to a preternatural tone quality that draws our ear and says, "Here is a musician with something to say… it's Bronwyn… wow!" - Darol Anger
