barn hill station

Concord couple teams up on Americana album

By Andi Petrini
Independent Tribune

Putting together their first EP was a labor of love for Doug and Kimberly Barnhill of Barn Hill tation, but it’s ready in time for their Saturday night performance at the George Washington Tavern in Concord. “There were a few things we had to overcome,” Kimberly said of the process. “There were a lot of trials. ... But they way we look at it, things work the way they’re supposed to. We ended up with a better CD then we originally had.” The couple, who has been married for almost eight years, has lived in Concord since 2000 when they moved from east Charlotte. During the recording process, they had to switch engineers after their original engineer lost what the couple had recorded. Doug also developed lyme disease during the process, which had to be treated. “I’m doing a lot better now,” he said.

After regrouping, the Barnhills found Epiphonic Studios in Lenior, which is housed in a former Catholic church from the early 1900s. The Barnhills music style incorporates country and bluegrass with injections of Cajun, funk and rock. The couple writes their own
music. The Saturday night show will have Doug playing guitar accompanied by Kimberly’s vocals, Mark Crowder on fiddle and
Chris Garges on Percussion. Fiddler player Mark Crowder is a friend of the Barnhills and also appears on the CD.

On the album, the Barnhills were accompanied by hand-picked band members. “For the people we play with, chemistry is important,”
Doug explained. In Cabarrus County, the couple have performed at the Tavern on a regular basis.

They’ve also performed at several venues in Charlotte including the Evening Muse and Neighborhood Theatre. The couple’s musical roots are in artists such as Buddy and Julie Miller, Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris. “I grew up listening to Led Zeppelin,” Doug said, citing Pat Travers, Johnny Cash and Stevie Ray Vaughn as other influences. Kimberly’s influences include Julie Miller, Leslie (Sam) Phillips and Natalie Merchant because of their creativity.

The couple transitioned into alternative country and americana soon after moving to Concord. Woven into the couple’s blend of music is “swampy, Cajun blues,” Doug said. Kimberly used to perform church and gospel music as a professionally trained soprano. Doug played in several cover bands, the most recent was "Mama Said" with Kimberly. “We got burnt out doing covers,” she said. They played with cover band Mama Said for seven years. The couple said the turning point for them was during a show in Myrtle Beach. “We were just playing songs college kids could drink to,” Kimberly explained. “I said to Doug ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ We didn’t know what we were supposed to do. None of this was planned out.”

The Barnhills wrote a little and tinkered around with some songs, playing a few venues along the way. “If you have music in your
blood, you never quit playing,” Doug said. “Our faith and where that takes you through life comes out in our songwriting.” The couple said they pray for creativity, and often surprise themselves when writing songs together. “A lot of our music is passion driven,” Kimberly said. “Faith is a big influence in the way we see things.” One of the Barnhills goals is to not sound like anyone else, Kimberly said. “I don’t think
there’s a ton of local acts with female singers doing what we’re doing,” Doug said. “It’s hard to pigeonhole our music. We go from one end of the spectrum to the other. “We wanted to write music we would like to listen to.” The Barnhills said that being married and performing together makes it sometimes difficult to separate the work from their personal life. “It’s very interesting,” Doug aid. “We’re our own worse critics. ... It works
really well.” But being married and performing together does have advantages, too. The practice room is in the loft of their home. “It makes it a whole lot easier,” Doug said. Being able to read each other’s thoughts well makes performing on stage easier as well, Kimberly said. The couple met through a mutual friend about 15 years ago. “I was playing a gig and I saw a beautiful girl outside the bar,” Doug recalled. They began chatting and Doug asked her to audition to sing with their band. “I thought she was great. A little bit proper,” he said of Kimberly’s audition and professional training. “I told her, ‘You need to grit it up a little bit.’” “They untaught me,” Kimberly said of her experience singing with Doug’s band. “Now my voice is totally different from what is used to be.” The Barnhills said they plan to launch a full-length album by the end of the year. For more information about the band, log onto www.barnhillstation.com.

• Contact Andi Petrini at
704-789-9149 or apetrini@independenttribune.com
If you go: Barn Hill Station CD release party
" Where: George Washington Bookstore & Tavern, 16 Union St. S., Concord
" When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday
" Info: Call 704-788-1561 for show information or visit www.barnhillstation.com for band information
" Barn Hill Station will also perform at 8 p.m. tonight at the Evening Muse in Charlotte.


By Andi Petrini
Independent Tribune

- Andi Petrini

Barn Hill Station recently released their debut EP, Fairy Tale World, which showcases their unique songwriting and style that draws from the Americana and alternative country vein. The four-song EP was recorded by Art Bordeaux at The Sound Farm in Stallings, NC (with vocals for their version of Buddy Miller's "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" recorded by Chris) and was mixed by Chris at Epiphonic Studios in Lenoir, NC. The CD was mastered by Hoyt Dooley at Open Door Productions in Nashville, TN.


www.chrisgarges.com/news.html - Chris Garges - Buzz

Barn Hill Station transforms the pastoral Americana sound into beautiful textures that draw on themes of hope and redemption and evoke a warm sense of province.

Good enough to dazzle airwaves and eccentric enough to leave an impression on college radio, this talented duo subvert traditional Americana songwriting with a dash of personality. Every song is worthy of praise!

With Kim's compelling vocals atop rustic gallops Barn Hill Station is sure to leave an impression on any first-time listener. We here at Shut Eye are excited about the opportunity to feature Barn Hill Station on the second edition of our "United State of Americana" compilation to be released March 2005.
http://www.shuteyerecords.com/the_united_state_of_americana2.htm - Ryan Hoffer, A&R

Various Artists "The United State of Americana, Volume 2"
This release hit #70 on the Americana Music Association terrestrial radio chart this week with 418 official spins. It is receiving airplay on CountryBear.com, KWRP, KBCS, WHEE, KDHX, KFAN, KZSU, WGCS, WFDU, WFPK, WMKY, WRIU, WVMR, WVLS, WCHG, WWUH, KUSH and WYOU. It was also creditied with the #5 most added album the week of June 15, 2005 (tied with Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez and Old School Freight Train). The US of A, Vol 2 is also hit #74 on the Internet AMA Americana Chart with 217 spins on: CountryBear.com, KWRP, KBCS, WHEE, KDHX, KFAN, KZSU, WGCS, WFDU, WFPK, WMKY, WRIU, WVMR, WVLS, WCHG, WWUH, KUSH and WYOU. - Americana Music Association

September 16-18, 2005

We just got back from attending the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Show in Bristol, Tennessee. What a well run festival! It was very clean, organized, and wholesome. There were so many good performers there: Jim Lauderdale, Be Good Tanyas, Rhonda Vincent, Donna the Buffalo, Tim O'Brien and many more. We were honored to get to perform "4 times" during the festival and they said they definitely wanted to have us back next year (imagine that!). We were exhausted at the end of the weekend but it was well worth it. - Kimberly

Doug was awarded a full artist Endorsement by Robert Godin of Seagull Acoustic Guitars and Godin Electric Guitars.
http://www.godinguitars.com/endorsees.htm

In the Charlotte/Concord area Mullis Music S. Union St. Concord.
704.788.2515


- Godin Guitars

We just got back from our Nashville trip and had a great time doing 3 shows over there. Playing at the Bluebird Cafe lived up to all the hype we had heard about the famous venue! With larger than life pictures of Dolly, Ralph Stanley, Emmylou & Jim Lauderdale ( to name a few) you quickly got the message that this wasn't your average listening room.

The show started at 6:30 and the place was packed. You could hear a pin drop as we took the stage. There is a no talking rule there and the crowd was very enthusiatic and responsive to every song during our 45 min spotlight show! What a blast and a memory we won't soon forget. If you ever get the chance to visit the Bluebird you will thoroughly enjoy yourself!! Thanks to all our friends who came out in Nashville to hear us...you guys are awesome!

I just got word from Barbara at the Bluebird and we will be going back for another show later on this fall. Stay tuned to our calendar for more info on this. - doug

I'd also like to take the time to tell you about several other cool projects I've been busy with-go check out them all!

"Eden's Highway"-by Barnhill Station-cool alt country!! Lovely singer-mountain-man guitar player-cool band members and me here and there. Buy it!

- Jamie Hoover on his website www.jamiehoover.net