Customer Reviews

Ripe

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So it's Friday AM at MerleFest, we're walking around and pass the great big Watson Stage. Suddenly we hear these otherworldly harmonies that stops us dead in our tracks. Now this is saying something, because for those of you who have never attended MerleFest, good music is everywhere, all the time on the 15 different stages, over the four days of the festival. There's so much good music; you almost get to the point that you tune it out. So the Dixie Bee-Liners are very special to make you suddenly stop, listen, think, dream and enjoy. This is their latest CD. Really original scores, most written by Brandi & Buddy. Blue-new-grass at it's finest. Suspect they will soon be headliners on the order of Allison Krauss and Union Station & Nickel Creek. Buy this CD only if you like awesome music that you'll want to play over and over. Cause you will, play it, over and over.

As a bonus, also had an opportunity to play with them at the pickin' tent on Saturday. They're really nice people too who are doing what God meant for them to do on this planet - make beautiful music for us all to enjoy.

The CD package is bright and modern ---cheered me up on a windy, chilly day in Arctic Alaska. Then the music is a delicious blend of traditional bluegrass, hard-driving bango and here and there a splash of rock.
Vocalist Brandi Hart sings with sunshine over her shoulder,and fresh energy on each song. The music is vibrant, the songs are ripe, fresh, sometimes thoughtful and sometimes just plain fun, like "Bugs in the basement."
Get the CD and keep an eye on this group --I can see them heavily involved in some new movie about the backroads and rich history of Virginia and the south. Go for it!
Earl in Barrow

This is one of my favorite bluegrass albums, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a friend of the lead singer's brother.

I am certainly not an expert of this particular genre, but I know when I hear good music. And every time I hear one of these tracks, I'm impressed. That's not something that happens very often with other artists.

Anyway, this is a great album, and I assure you that the musicians you are supporting with the purchase are good people working hard to make a living doing what they love.

The Dixie Bee-Liners (DBL) sweet-picked and packed for freshness all the songs on their latest album, RIPE. For the followers of this group, the artists, the label and the producer, you are in for a fresh apple with this album. Brandi Hart's vocals are layered on top of the instrumentals like the skin on a ripe apple. It just sounds natural to be there. But, with this album, there's more. A whole bushel more! The Dixie Bee-Liner's have put together a fresh new release with the assistance of producer and songwriter Bil VornDick. The Executive Producer, Tom Riggs, is well known in acoustic and bluegrass circles and between Riggs, VornDick and the Dixie Bee-Liners, a new album full of new and refreshing musical fruit.

The Dixie Bee-Liners' latest album is filled with tales of the South. Starting with the the lead track "Down On The Crooked Road" was penned by Buddy, Brandi and the album's producer, Bil VornDick. This album is an acoustic ride down Virginia's Crooked Road as it reflects on the musical heritage of the mountain region with particular focus on the Stanley Brothers. Carrying on the traditon of Virginia and the Appalachian Mountain Music, there is more about Dixie and the Civil War with "Dixie Grey To Black" that also adds to the texture of this album. The song's lyrics tells a mother's tale of the death of her boy who was forced to fight in that war. Along the heritage and history of the album, "Grumble Jones" is an up-beat song about the Confederate General W.E. "Grumble" Jones. The song describes how his attitude grew from a loss of his wife. Tim Stafford assisted historically in the writing of the song.

There are, some other varities of music of this album as well. Lets start with the title track, "RIPE." Here is a song that deviates from the rest of the album musically yet, seems to fit right in. More of a folk ballad than a bluegrass or acoustic tune, "RIPE" has different instrumentation and the vocal style is fresh and light. This song is a nice way to wrap up this volume and it leaves you wanting another taste -- another bite from the apple. The "buggy" song about fire-flies and "Bugs in the Basement" is a rapid-fire song with a strong banjo run through out. There's even a bit of love and tenderness with "Yellow-Haired Girl" that, in bluegrass fashion, doesn't turn out quite right. And, yes, there is more. "Old Charlie Cross" is sure to get you charged up a bit.

This album shows just how original this group is. From the lyrics and music to how it is all perfectly put together, the Dixie Bee-Liners have a sound all their own and, it's a pleasing lively sound! If this is the direction contemporary bluegrass music is headed, I'm all for it. In fact, I'll take a bit more! The Dixie Bee-Liners planted the roots of tradition solidly and then branched out in various directions and let their musical fruit ripen in the Sun. In this case, the fruit is southern bluegrass grown and packed in Virginia. These contemporary bluegrass artists have the drive, the beat, the songs and the presentation that will keep them headed in the right direction for some time to come.

Most fans of The Dixie Bee-Liners know of Buddy Woodward from his time with Buddy Woodward & The Nitro Express. The apple in the group's eye is, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Brandi Hart. Bristol native fiddler and sweet-voiced thrush Rachel Renee Johnson has played with The Stevens Family and The Boohers. Double-bassist Jeremy Darrow has performed with the The Philadelphia Bluegrass Band and The Acoustic League of Justice. Jonathan Maness is an outstanding lead guitarist and mandolin player that has played with Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike. British-born banjoist Sam Morrow was formerly with Mac Puckett & the Good Company Band.

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