Announces new album to release early 2024
Larry Griffin
lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Bryson City based bluegrass band Appalachian Smoke, now signed to a new label and poised to release their second album, feels like bluegrass isn’t going anywhere.
Mikel Laws, who does vocals, banjo and guitar for the five-piece band, said the album was finished in September but had not been released. The band has signed to the label Mountain Fever, which they said was an honor for them – the label also features some of their own favorite bands, like Volume 5, Junior Sisk and Ramblers’ Choice and the Amanda Cook Band.
“It’s an opportunity in the bluegrass world,” Laws said.
The band has been seeing a lot of momentum lately, according to Laws – they’ve recently played at the International Bluegrass Music Association, and they played a few showcases for Mountain Fever artists. They’ve also made a lot of new fans playing on Bluegrass Country Radio.
The band’s sound is classic bluegrass, with bright, melodious banjos, easy on the ears folk melodies and high pitched southern-twanged singing.
Laws said the inspiration comes from the Appalachian surroundings they’ve all lived in all their lives. “Our big driving inspiration is, we love the local mountain history,” he said. “The Appalachian history is personal to us, we just love the mountain history. We are writing songs and stories about mountain people, the hard times they’ve overcome, things of that nature.”
Laws noted that the band has been rising in popularity a little in the bluegrass world.
“It’s going well,” Laws said. “We’ve got our feet wet, we’ve got more radio play. We’re starting to get noticed a little more. You could say we’re one of many. There are a lot of bands doing really well. We’re taking our shot at making it.”
Bluegrass, like many niche subgenres of music, has its own devoted fanbase that keeps making as well as checking out new music, far after its heyday decades ago. “It’s the constant introduction of new artists with new music, that keeps the younger audience interested in what’s coming next,” Laws said.