via Relix
Michael Cleveland, the most awarded International Bluegrass Music Association Fiddle Player of the Year, with twelve wins to his name, has a new album on the horizon titled Lovin’ Of The Game, set to release on March 3 via Compas Records. His last offering, Tall Fiddler–which earned him the Grammy for Best Blue Grass Album in 2019–saw assistance from Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Tommy Emmanuel, Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, Dan Tyminski, Del McCoury, and The Travelin’ McCourys, and his upcoming offering is too, rooted in collaboration.
Though the collaborations were not in person, as the project was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cleveland’s ears and heart were as poised as ever to connect, harmonize and motivate during those dark days and resulting in collaborations with the likes of Jeff White, Dan Tyminsky, Charlie Starr, Josh Richards, Billy Strings, Vince Gill, Greg Poulos and more.
Today, we premiere “One Horse Town,” a song Cleveland first heard from his guitar player in Flamekeeper Josh Richards, after he shared a clip of him playing and singing it on Facebook. The two were unable to play together, and touring had stopped, but Richards told Cleveland about the song’s creators, Blackberry Smoke, and he swiftly became a fan.