Columbus, NC January 8th, 2012 – Pinecastle Records is proud to announce that it has signed Mark Newton and Steve Thomas to its roster. Their debut album is titled Reborn
and will be released on April 9, 2013. With the two banded together,
the “sideman” becomes a “frontman,” and the “frontman” becomes a
“partner.” Both men are native Virginians who both struck out seperately
in the music business decades ago, with both having completely
different experiences. Now that both of their paths have converged, they
are eager to blend their various musical flavors together to share with
bluegrass and Americana fans everywhere. They are joined by bass player
Matt Wallace who rounds out the trio that will be touring the country.
and will be released on April 9, 2013. With the two banded together,
the “sideman” becomes a “frontman,” and the “frontman” becomes a
“partner.” Both men are native Virginians who both struck out seperately
in the music business decades ago, with both having completely
different experiences. Now that both of their paths have converged, they
are eager to blend their various musical flavors together to share with
bluegrass and Americana fans everywhere. They are joined by bass player
Matt Wallace who rounds out the trio that will be touring the country.
Mark Newton was born into a musical family and he became interested in bluegrass and
county music at the early age of six after his family moved to
Fredricksburg, VA. In 1983 Newton teamed up with Rickie and Ronnie
Simpkins and Sammy Shelor to form the Virginia Squires, a band which
would go on to record five albums. Newton then went on to perform with
the Tony Rice Unit and The Seldom Scene. In 1997 Newton teamed up with
Bill Emerson and recorded A Foot in the Past, A Foot in the Future for Pinecastle Records, solidifying his Pinecastle pedigree. Newton is especially proud of his project, Follow Me Back to the Fold, which is a tribute to women in bluegrass that won IBMA’s “Recorded Event of the Year” in 2001. His most recent album, Hillbilly Hemingway, was nominated for an IBMA award in 2007.
county music at the early age of six after his family moved to
Fredricksburg, VA. In 1983 Newton teamed up with Rickie and Ronnie
Simpkins and Sammy Shelor to form the Virginia Squires, a band which
would go on to record five albums. Newton then went on to perform with
the Tony Rice Unit and The Seldom Scene. In 1997 Newton teamed up with
Bill Emerson and recorded A Foot in the Past, A Foot in the Future for Pinecastle Records, solidifying his Pinecastle pedigree. Newton is especially proud of his project, Follow Me Back to the Fold, which is a tribute to women in bluegrass that won IBMA’s “Recorded Event of the Year” in 2001. His most recent album, Hillbilly Hemingway, was nominated for an IBMA award in 2007.
At an early age Steve Thomas started playing in his father’s Gospel
band with members of their church. That early experience and an
influential championship fiddle player propelled him on to play with the
Roanoke Youth Symphony, after which he cut his chops with Roanoke area
bands East Virginia Grass and The New Grass Revue. Thomas has won best
fiddler awards at numerous championships as well as being an award
winning mandolin player. Thomas teamed up with Tim Austin to form the
Lonesome River Band as well as stints playing with Del McCoury, Jim
& Jesse and the Virginia Boys, The Whites, The Osborne Brothers, not
to mention country stars like Aaron Tippin, Brooks and Dunn, LeeAnn
Womack, Kenny Chesney, John Michael Montgomery, Ronnie Bowman, and
Lorrie Morgan.
band with members of their church. That early experience and an
influential championship fiddle player propelled him on to play with the
Roanoke Youth Symphony, after which he cut his chops with Roanoke area
bands East Virginia Grass and The New Grass Revue. Thomas has won best
fiddler awards at numerous championships as well as being an award
winning mandolin player. Thomas teamed up with Tim Austin to form the
Lonesome River Band as well as stints playing with Del McCoury, Jim
& Jesse and the Virginia Boys, The Whites, The Osborne Brothers, not
to mention country stars like Aaron Tippin, Brooks and Dunn, LeeAnn
Womack, Kenny Chesney, John Michael Montgomery, Ronnie Bowman, and
Lorrie Morgan.
So it is that sideman Steve Thomas and frontman Mark Newton have
now become partners and are poised to serve up their bluegrass and
country inspired music to the masses. When the two men got together and
heard the results, they couldn’t resist teaming up together.
now become partners and are poised to serve up their bluegrass and
country inspired music to the masses. When the two men got together and
heard the results, they couldn’t resist teaming up together.
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