So I am glad that I wrote yesterday’s post about emerging bluegrass artists BEFORE my run, because after my run I was wiped out! The run was a solid 4 plus miler and my fastest time over that course this year! Anyway I apologize to the third bluegrass band that I’ve been listening to Monroeville for not posting about their self titled debut album. Monroeville is a six member band hailing from the East Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina areas. The members are: 
Daniel Salyer – Vocals., Bass Travis – Vocals, Dobro Seth Taylor – Guitar Zane Petty – Banjo Matthew Munsey – Mandolin/Vocals Matt Flake – Vocals, Fiddle While the band may be new, the members have a lot of experience! In addition to being the bass player, Daniel Salyer is also fine songwriter having cuts with Junior Sisk, The Lonesome River Band, Mark Newton and many others. Travis Houck has played dobro on stage with Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, and Porter Wagoner and traveled across the country representing the East Tennessee State University (where he graduated from the bluegrass program) in their top band called the ETSU Pride Band. He was a foundational member of Barry Scott & Second Wind where he recieved a GRAMMY® Nomination for his work on their debut project, “In God’s Time.” Travis also is the founder and owner of Blue Edge Knives. At 17, banjo player Zane Petty has been nominated for a GRAMMY®, toured across the country and internationally, been featured in numerous articles and magazines and played for production shows in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Mandolinist Matthew Munsey is also talented producer and recording engineer with a GRAMMY® Nominated project under his belt for the aforementiond band Barry Scott & Second Wind. Not to be outdone by his bandmates Seth Taylor has won several guitar championships including Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina State champion. His biggest accomplishment was winning the Doc Watson Guitar Contest at Merlefest in 2008 when he was only fourteen, and then one year later, in 2009, he won the Merle Watson Banjo Championship! Matt Flake who plays fiddle in the band has won state champion competitions on three different instruments in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Alabama. Together they’ve put out a great debut album with a more traditional sound then the two other bands. While I like the whole album the opening track “Rambler’s Song” is probably my favorite! So check them out! As for me I’m going back and check out some of the other emerging artist at The Mast Farm Inn Emerging Artist Page! Well looking back over the group of bands, there are several bands that I’ve already listened to and liked including: Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, The Hillbenders. Rockin’ Acoustic Circus. Breaking Grass and Town Mountain! All I can say is the folks at The Mast Farm Inn know their bluegrass!
Here’s the band performing “Devil’s Rope” read more
If you’ve read this blog in the past you know that in many instances the biggest part of my musical listening is the picking! Yes I love good lyrics, but I also love the instruments whether it’s a harmonica, organ, guitar, banjo, fiddle or dobro put them in the hands of a master and I’m all ears!
