(Franklin, TN) – West Virginia’s Rachel Burge & Blue Dawning showcase
their love of tight, well-honed harmonies and solid musicianship on
today’s self-titled debut release on Mountain Fever Records.
Comprised
of five musicians with a combined professional bluegrass history of
over 70 years experience, Rachel Burge & Blue Dawning bring a
contemporary style of bluegrass to the forefront and fans are
responding.
Rachel is ready for fans to hear it.
“I am very excited about the release of our debut album and hope
that listeners will take us in with open arms. We have been blessed with
the opportunity to be a part of the Mountain Fever Records family and
thank Mark Hodges for that opportunity. Blue Dawning and I are
excited about what lies ahead for us and we hope that when our music is
heard, the listener enjoys it as much as we have enjoyed creating it!”
Hodges
knew how unique Burge was when he first heard her sing. “There are not
many women in the business that can sing driving bluegrass but Rachel
pulls it off effortlessly,” says Mountain Fever owner Mark Hodges.
Burge
blends the lines of traditional and congemporary bluegrass as band
leader and mandolin player, styling her playing after some of the
greatest mandolin players on the circuit today. People are paying
attention including radio listeners and DJs.
“I
was fortunate to hear and meet many first generation bluegrass
musicians. Even today, when I hear really good bluegrass music, it makes
me cry. Rachel’s CD made me cry,” says Bob Mitchell, DJ with WKWC (FM), WFPK (FM/Internet), WMAK(AM/Internet), “The Bluegrass Mix” (Internet), “The Bluegrass Jamboree” (Internet) and “Crescent Hill Radio” (AM/Internet)
“I
use a personal 5 point rating scale for each track to determine which
songs will receive airplay. Every song on Burge’s release is a 5. I
especially enjoyed “Kentucky Mandolin” since that’s the theme song for
my weekly program. Rachel and her new band, Blue Dawning, provide first
rate entertainment and I highly recommend this release,” Mitchell adds.
A
graduate of Glenville State College, she holds a degree in Music
Education as well as a certificate in Bluegrass Music. She was able to
participate in one of the only Bluegrass music certificate programs in
the nation. As a result, she has performed with the likes of Jesse McReynolds, Mac Wiseman, Ronnie Reno, The Dillards and many others.
Blue Dawning musicians Lance Gainer on guitar and vocals, Radford Vance (formerly with Northwest Territory) on five-string banjo, Michele Birkby-Vance (formerly with Northwest Territory) on fiddle, and Rick Westerman
(Buck and Company, Rarely Herd, The Hart Brothers) on bass and tenor
vocals, all form an experienced group able to interpret Burge’s musical
vision.
