It all started with a call from our buddy, Joe Kyle Jr., about an intriguing musical collaboration with The Waybacks, a band with whom he plays the bass. He proposed we join The Waybacks as guest vocalists for a special show which they had been doing for the past seven years at Merlefest Music Festival in North Carolina. We were stoked!
“The Hillside Album Hour” is an epic event at Merlefest. For the Album Hour, The Waybacks cover an entire album (which remains secret) with a cast of fabulous guest musicians. We of course said yes to being a part of this exciting and clandestine project! After a few long rehearsals with the band, we were ready to rock over to North Carolina for the music festival.
We had such a blast with all of the amazing musicians from The Waybacks — Joe Kyle Jr., Warren Hood, Chuck Hamilton and James Nash –along with other fabulous guests including Jim Lauderdale, Celia Woodsmith (Della Mae), Jens Kruger (Kruger Brothers), Christian Sedelmyer, and Ben Morrison (Brothers Comatose).
It was a huge crowd on a beautifully sunny and sweltering day and everyone went wild when James Nash played the first riff of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s album, “Deja Vu.”
We hope to be back at MerleFest next year!
