Three-time Grammy nominees The SteelDrivers have cause to celebrate: their new album, The Muscle Shoals Recordings, which was released to great acclaim on June 16 via Rounder Records, has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Chart. The album, which landed at #5 on the Top New Artist Albums Chart, and #125 on the Top Current Albums Chart, achieved the highest first-week sales in the band’s history. The band kicked off release week with a special show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, which was broadcast live on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction. They followed up with a live set and signing at Nashville record mecca Grimey’s, and closed out the day with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
From there, they headed to Muscle Shoals, where they played to a packed house at Florence’s 116 E. Mobile Street. The band is in the midst of a tour of the United States, and will be on the road through the end of the year.
Here’s what some critics are saying about The Muscle Shoals Recordings:
“While you might not initially think of bluegrass as being soulful, it’s probably because you haven’t heard the SteelDrivers.” Jim Casey, Country Weekly
“Impeccable instrumental work, powerful vocals and songwriting that demonstrates that simply told stories can be powerful.” David Morris, Bluegrass Today
“The group has rarely sounded more focused or passionate.” Hal Horowitz, American Songwriter
“The aptly-named The Muscle Shoals Recordings (Rounder), reflects the same soul and blues ache so evident in the town made famous by Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and the Staples family, among many others.” Suzanne Cadgene, Elmore
“The SteelDrivers have established soulgrass as their own little niche…“The Muscle Shoals Recordings continues the band's string of superior bluegrass recordings.” Donald Teplyske, Country Standard Time
For more information, please contact Regina Joskow rjoskow@rounder.com, 917-532-5687, or Ashley Moyer ashley.moyer@concordmusicgroup.com, 615.928.4777 at the Rounder Label Group, or Jules Wortman at Wortman Works, jwortman@wortmanworks.com, 615.431-5059.
The SteelDrivers On Tour:
6/26/2015 Rudyfest Grayson, KY 7/2/2015 The Ready Room St. Louis, MO 7/3/2015 Shawnee Bluff Vineyards Eldon, MO 7/4/2015 Wanderlust Festival Snowmass Village, CO 7/11/2015 Uncle Dave Macon Days Murfreesboro, TN 7/16/2015 Grey Fox Bluegrasss Festival Oak Hill, NY 7/19/2015 Forecastle Louisville, KY 7/23/2015 Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman Nashville, TN 7/24/2015 Musicians Against Childhood Cancer Columbus, OH 7/25/2015 Muncie Three Trails Music Series Muncie, IN 7/30/2015 Infinity Hall Norfolk, CT 7/31/2015 Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival Thorton, NH 8/7/2015 The Bijou Theatre Knoxville, TN 8/8/2015 Mountain Stage Elkins, WV 8/9/2015 Rams Head Tavern Annapolis, MD 8/28/2015 Ocean Lakes Bluegrass Weekend Myrtle Beach, SC 8/29/2015 The Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC 9/5/2015 Cumberland River Music Festival Williamsburg, KY 9/10/2015 The Music Box Supper Club Cleveland, OH 9/11/2015 Park Street Saloon Columbus, OH 9/12/2015 “Party in the Holler” at Ace Adventure Resort – Mendon, WV 9/18/2015 Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival Morehead, KY 9/19/2015 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Bristol, TN 10/2/2015 Greenup Old Fashion Days Greenup, KY 10/10/2015 Clayton Shindig Clayton, NC 10/18/2015 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN 11/7/2015 Boyd County Community Center Cattlesburg, KY