Event

Chatham County Line

Based on looks alone, Chatham County Line conjures a sepia-toned timelessness by huddling around a single microphone on stage, playing traditional string band instrumentation while clad in suits and ties. But for nearly two decades, the Raleigh, NC-based outfit has consistently crafted top-notch, original modern acoustic music that draws upon American roots forefathers like bluegrass inventor Bill Monroe and folk innovator John Hartford while acknowledging its own members backgrounds in rock n roll band

Characterized by poignant songwriting and inventive arrangements, Chatham County Lines latest album, Autumn, sees the quartet working comfortably in its sweet spot: Built around songwriter/guitarist Dave Wilsons clever lines and compelling vignettes, the record is a treasure trove of the wistful balladry and dynamic toe-tappers thatve become the band hallmarks. John Teer (mandolin/fiddle), Chandler Holt (banjo), and Greg Readling (bass) add stellar three- and four- harmonies for vocal highlights, while their impeccable yet unconventional pickingrooted in bluegrass but informed by a wealth of other influencesimpresses without overshadowing Wilsons rich storytelling.

From elegant European concert halls to large American folk festivals, Chatham County Line has become a fixture on both sides of the Atlantic, where the musical relationships fostered by its consistent line-up are apparent through an unspoken chemistry that allows the freedom for improvisational flashes that seem as polished as the rest of its set. For a veteran ensemble thats long made music on its own terms, perhaps its toughest task is now choosing which of the many gems from its seven albums get to shine in a given performance.