Walker's Run

Artist Information

Biography

In the late nineties/early aughts, Walker’s Run developed a loyal following in and around Virginia for its unique, fiery Rockbridge County mountain-music. Walking the fine line between tradition and exploration, the group packed major venues and sold thousands of copies of its debut CD before taking a long-term hiatus in 2002, when founding member Brennan Gilmore moved overseas. Since then, the band members have all continued musical explorations of diverse stripes: from collaborations with West and North African musicians to reggae fusion to producing top-notch bluegrass records. In 2009, the group re-formed, welcoming two new members, both well-acclaimed instrumentalists in the national acoustic music scene: mandolin player Andy Thacker (Adrienne Young, Fairweather Bums) and fiddler Nick Reeb (King Wilkie). The rest of the group includes Brennan Gilmore on guitar and vocals and Zack Blatter, who holds it all together on upright bass. Last but certainly not least, Will Lee, who led the legendary Magraw Gap and was an early musical mentor to the Walker’s Run boys growing up in Rockbridge County, often joins the group on banjo and vocals.

Walker's Run and its members have appeared on prestigious stages throughout the United States and overseas, including the Kennedy Center, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Theater at Lime Kiln, and many more.

Instrumentation

Brennan Gilmore - Guitar, Vocals
Andy Thacker - Mandolin, Vocals
Will Lee - Banjo, Vocals
Nick Reeb - Fiddle, Vocals
Zack Blatter - Bass

Discography

Walker's Run (self-titled)

http://www.amazon.com/Walkers-Run/dp/B000059M4W

Links

• Walker's Run Website

Audio

• Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me (Live)
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• East Virginia Blues (Live)
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• Road to Romney/Crooked Tree
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• Natalie
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Popular string band’s on another run [+ Show ]
  

  Ten years ago, Walker’s Run was one of Charlottesville’s most popular local bands. The unconventio...
  Ten years ago, Walker’s Run was one of Charlottesville’s most popular local bands. The unconventional bluegrass group fronted by guitarist and mandolin picker Brennan Gilmore — then a University of Virginia student — built a loyal regional following for its high-energy hoedowns.
  
  The band stopped playing full-time in 2002 as members moved on to start other careers, and since then, reunions have been sporadic. This year, though, Walker’s Run reformed with some new members.
  
  The band just released a six-song EP, “Live at Lime Kiln,” recorded during a gig this past summer at the idyllic outdoor theater in Lexington. It’s the band’s first recording since 2000.
  
  Walker’s Run plays string band music described by Gilmore, who grew up in Lexington, as the fiery Rockbridge County sound purveyed by regional
  
  artists from the area like Larry Keel and Gary Ruley.
  
  High-lonesome harmonies and tight picking are given some edgy grit and youth-charged muscle.
  
  “There’s a roughness to the music,” said Gilmore. “Our sound is more raw mountain music than cleaner traditional bluegrass. Although the lineup is different than it was 10 years ago, that energy is still there.”
  
  In addition to Gilmore and original bassist Zack Blatter, the band now features local Charlottesville mandolin ace Andy Thacker and versatile fiddler Nick Reeb, formerly of King Wilkie.
  
  Longtime friend Will Lee, who was a member of Keel’s McGraw Gap, handles the banjo duties.
  
  The band plays the Southern on Saturday night with support from acoustic duo the Honey Dewdrops.
  
  Songstress Sarah White also is scheduled to sit in with Walker’s Run.
  
  In addition to Walker’s Run, Gilmore, who now resides in Washington, is also still involved with his Appalachia-meets-West-Africa project Kantara and an alt-country soul outfit, Borden Grant.
  
  He juggles these with a full-time job in humanitarian assistance with the State Department that takes him to Africa for months at a time every year.
  
  With work calling in the early part of next year, this will be Walker’s Run’s last local gig until at least the spring.
  
  Cross-continental travels, though, have provided plenty of inspiration for Gilmore’s original tunes. “Kakuma,” from the new EP, delivers a chilling tale of a conflict zone in Sudan from a Blue Ridge front porch.
  
  “A lot of my songwriting has been heavily influenced by the places I’ve traveled,” Gilmore said. “It’s hard to separate the job from music when it is fueling so much of the creative process. I have a lot more to write about now.”
  

• WTJU [+ Show ]
  

  "Well studied but respectfully irreverent, Walker's Run will ride with their guns blazing. Whether ..."Well studied but respectfully irreverent, Walker's Run will ride with their guns blazing. Whether they kick into a traditional standard, or morph an original tune with worldly beats, the touch of reckless abandon keeps your spirit soaring and the soul feeling quenched."
  
  Aer Stephen
  Folk & Beyond
  91.1 FM, WTJU, Charlottesville, VA

• Cville Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  "The Rockbridge County bluegrass heroes breathe scorching mountain sounds." "The best bluegrass i..."The Rockbridge County bluegrass heroes breathe scorching mountain sounds."
  
  "The best bluegrass in town. Bar none."

Setlist

Basic Requirements

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