High Lonesome High Notes: Rusty Gear Returns to Nashville for All-Star Bluegrass Project
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Americana singer-songwriter and Nashville recording artist Rusty Gear is once again making waves in Music City. Fresh off the success of his recent EP, Born With Two Hands, Gear has returned to the studio to explore a sound that has long resonated with his audience: the driving rhythms and soulful storytelling of Bluegrass.
The upcoming eight-song album marks a deliberate pivot toward the genre, inspired by the overwhelming response to Gear’s previous acoustic-leaning tracks.
A Nashville “A-Team” in the Studio
To capture the authentic high-energy feel of the genre, Gear’s longtime producer, Brad Hill, assembled a literal “who’s who” of world-class session players. The lineup for the record reads like a roll call of bluegrass royalty:
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Jason Roller: Known for his work with Alabama and the Grand Ole Opry house band, Roller lends his expertise on guitars and fiddle.
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Justin Moses: A multi-instrumentalist who has performed with Ricky Skaggs and Sierra Hull, Moses provides the backbone of the record on banjo and mandolin.
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Scotty Sanders: A true Nashville veteran, Sanders brings the signature sliding soul of the dobro to the tracks.
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Evan Winsor: Currently touring with Josh Turner, Winsor rounds out the rhythm section on the upright bass.
Adding to the vocal depth of the project is award-winning Americana artist and frequent collaborator Hannah Bethel, who will be featured on two of the album’s tracks.
“We really enjoyed cutting previous bluegrass-style songs like Born With Two Hands and Bad Outlaw, and our audiences love them in live performances, so Brad and I decided to make a bluegrass record,” Gear explained. “We were delighted to work with such a talented and accomplished band… having Hannah on two songs was icing on the cake.”
New Originals and Reimagined Classics
The project features a balanced mix of five brand-new original songs and three bluegrass “remixes” of Gear’s fan favorites: “It’s Still You,” “What We Believe,” and “Won’t Forget.”
These tracks serve as the latest additions to Gear’s ongoing American Way of Life Collection. Listeners can expect a rich tapestry of biographical storytelling, deeply reflective ballads, and high-tempo “plain fun” numbers—all delivered with the catchy, foot-stomping energy that defines modern bluegrass.
Building on Global Momentum
The timing for a full-length bluegrass project couldn’t be better. Gear is currently riding a wave of international momentum following his last EP. The title track, “Born With Two Hands,” reached No. 5 on Europe’s HotDisc Top 40, while the poignant “They Forgave Me” became a staple on independent country radio.
Perhaps most impressively, his track “Ranch Water” has become a viral sensation, collecting millions of streams and appearing on over 1,000 Instagram Reels, proving that Gear’s songwriting resonates across both traditional airwaves and modern digital platforms.
With a masterclass band behind him and a collection of songs that celebrate the grit and grace of American life, Rusty Gear’s foray into the world of bluegrass is shaping up to be his most compelling work to date.