Blue Moon Rising
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Blue Moon Rising

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | MAJOR

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | MAJOR
Band Americana Bluegrass

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Superb"

"The musicianship is top notch and that includes the songwriting. There's always something satisfying with a band that can create their own material. The arrangements are very well done and the recorded sound is superb." Roots66.com Review by Bill Yates about "On the Rise" - Roots66.com


"Quality, innovative bluegrass"

“As time goes on and things change (as they always do), the vision of Blue Moon Rising has remained steadfast: Play quality, innovative bluegrass, with a depth and commitment seldom found. Bluegrass bands everywhere could (and should) learn from them. Their fans already know that these guys will always ‘deliver the goods’ when it comes to great music.” Kyle Cantrell
- Sirius XM Radio


"Compelling vocals"

“One could easily say that Blue Moon Rising has now risen! This lively Tennessee-based group formed over a decade ago, and they have worked hard appearing at noteworthy festivals and venues, touring and recording. - CD INSIGHT review of Strange New World


"Great and innovative, smooth grass..."

“BMR aka Blue Moon Rising- has risen to new heights (if that’s even possible!) with Time to be Movin’ On - WOW! If you haven't heard them - and their fantastic brand of bluegrass music - its time for YOU to be movin' on --down to a festival to see them LIVE or over to their site - www.bluemoonrisingband.com and pick up their latest CD. Actually once you hear them, you'll want to own their entire collection of GREAT and INNOVATIVE, SMOOTH 'GRASS... ITS HOT!!
I can never get enough of BMR!" - Gracie Muldoon
- World Wide Bluegrass


"Top 20 New Songs for 2010"

"Time To Be Movin' On, the first release from the STRANGE NEW WORLD CD by Blue Moon Rising really sets the tone for this great project and it is at the top of my list of
Top 20 New Songs for 2010!”
- Charlie Hall, Radio Host


"Music News Nashville"

Blue Moon Rising - one of the hottest new groups in bluegrass music today is definitely on the rise. - Music News Nashville


"Music Worth a Listen"

Blue Moon Rising performs contemporary bluegrass with a style that sits somewhere between Blue Highway, Mountain Heart and the Lonesome River Band. Tight vocal harmonies combined with precise instrumentals give them the crisp, polished sound of a modern bluegrass band. - Vintage Guitar Magazine


"On the Rise"

From the opening notes on "This Old Martin Box" you know it's a class production. Its got crystal clear vocals, flowing close harmonies, talented musicianship and an overall well balanced production with some great songs. Standout tracks for me are "This Old Martin Box" "Cold Kentucky Nights" (with great fiddle), the classy road song "Big Wheels Turnin' " which closes the CD and the story song "The Crime I'm Guilty Of", a story of passion beneath a willow tree. Ricky Skaggs recommends the album ".Their album is a great collection of bluegrass that I'm sure folks are going to enjoy." and I would certainly agree with him on this band and this CD . Check out the band's web site at www.bluemoonrisingband.com or the record company at www.lonesomeday.com and try to get a copy, if you like bluegrass music this one is for you.The 13 tracks runs for 40 minutes.
- Country Music & Dance Scotland


"Five Star Review"

BMR's third recording is destined to be one of the best of the year. It is an energetic project that provides toe-tapping enjoyment from start to finish. On a five-point scale of excellence, this release merits a very strong five. - Louisville Music News


"Top instrumental players"

Top instrumental players and some fine songwriting within the band keeps Blue Moon Rising's sound original and true to its Tennessee roots. Band member are Chris West, guitar; Keith Garrett, mandolin; Randall Massengill, vocals; Justin Jenkins, banjo and Tim Tipton, bass. Randy Kohrs guests on Dobro and Ron Stewart adds some fine fiddle work as well as produces. West wrote six of the 13 songs and his storytelling songs range from the lonely hoping for love, The Next Big Thing, the sage wisdom of old-time farmers and preachers, and the outlaws made by passion, The Crime I'm Guilty Of or alcohol, Modern Day Outlaw. Each tune has a fine musical setting with three-part harmonies and melding instrumentals. It's hard to beat the banjo-driven Big Wheels Turning and the intricate instrumental Sling Blade. BMP

- Bluegrass Music Profiles


"Music Row"

"This one comes with an endorsement by Ricky Skaggs. Titled On the Rise , it showcases this band as super slick pickers and really fine writers. The vocals are sturdy, too, especially on a track like this one....."
- Robert K. Oermann, Music Row-


"Rare and Hot Commodity"

"Blue Moon Rising is a rare and hot commodity in the bluegrass world – fantastic young musicians who do justice to the roots of the genre. They play with an energy and spirit that indicates their relative youth, but their harmonies and songwriting belie their age.” - Haymaker Productions


"Flanked by Exceptional Songwriters"

"Flanked by exceptional songwriters in Chris and Keith, BMR brings new and very well crafted songs delivered with arrangements that evoke a very lonesome, picturesque, and passionately true sound to our music. Every song, either on stage or in studio, is delivered with the same fervor and emotion in which one can easily feel they were written - the very essence of Bluegrass Music. I've had the pleasure of meeting them at our Winter Bluegrass Jubilee Show where BMR was our headline act and they really nailed it. We had to have them back as a headline act at our renouned PEI Bluegrass Festival the following summer, an unprecedented feat. In both instances, BMR delivered a superb show with fine style, professionalism and drive and all the while, picked up a whole bunch of fans. They are great guys both on and off stage, a breath of fresh air in our music, we're very proud of them and we'd love to have them back!...Serge Bernard, Bluegrass Island, 630 CFCY Charlottetown, PEI, Canada."
- Bluegrass Island


Discography

"Strange New World" 2010 (Rural Rhythm Records)

"One Lonely Shadow" 2008 (Lonesome Day Records)

"On the Rise" 2005 (Lonesome Day Records)

"Where Wood Meets Steel" 2003 (indie)

"Raised on Pain" 2001 (indie)

Photos

Bio

Blue Moon Rising is a national touring band based out of East Tennessee comprised of Chris West (lead vocals and guitar); Tony Mowell (bass and vocals); Brandon Bostic (mandolin, guitar, vocals); and Owen Piatt (banjo.) In 2010, Rural Rhythm Records released the band's new album, "Strange New World," (the group's fifth career album).

This new album is certainly gaining tremendous attention as it has hit all the major charts including but not limited to: SiriusXM Top 40 Songs, Bluegrass Music Profiles, Roots Music Report, Cashbox Magazine and many more single and album charts.

Blue Moon Rising first hit the national spotlight with their third album, “On the Rise” (Lonesome Day Records) that proved to be a symbolic title for the group. The album debuted at #14 on the BILLBOARD Top 50 Bluegrass Chart in 2005; spent 10 months on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine's (BU) Top 15 Album Chart along with the single, “This Old Martin Box” spending the entire 2006 calendar year in the BU Top 30 Singles. The CD also garnered tremendous media attention including being named in the "CMT.com Top 10 Bluegrass Albums of the Year" and "Gritz Magazine's Top Overall Albums” of 2005." IBMA members honored the group with a 2006 nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year with band leader, Chris West performing in the 2006 IBMA Songwriter’s Showcase.

Fans had eagerly awaited their July 2008 release of their fourth album, “One Lonely Shadow (Lonesome Day Records) and were not disappointed. The album highlights the band’s ability to perform their original well-crafted bluegrass songs and also throwing in a few surprises to the mix. “One Lonely Shadow” still received airplay and chart success into 2010 on major radio stations including SiriusXM.

Blue Moon Rising is lead by the multi-talented guitarist and acclaimed songwriter, Chris West, who writes many of the band’s songs. His original tunes have become the signature sound of the band, including fan favorites: Living Water, Time to Be Movin' On, The Hanging Tree, Crime I'm Guilty Of, The Old Time Preacher Man, Good Time for Going Home, Revival, He Arose, and so many more.

Simply put, this band has it all. They play well, sing well, and write well…Blue Moon Rising is the complete package.