3 IBMA 2015 Nominees: Song of the Year, Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year, AND Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year
“Featuring four-time IBMA banjo player of the year Sammy Shelor and Brandon Rickman on guitar and lead vocals, Lonesome River Band creates modern bluegrass music that burns with passion and precision.” – Steve Stone, AUDIOPHILE
“LRB has done what few bands have done, continuously reinvented itself through the years, staying both popular and relevant.” – Keith Lawrence, BLUEGRASS NOTES
“For three decades, the Lonesome River Band has been one of the top Bluegrass acts in the format. One of the reasons for that is that their sound has always continued to evolve. This collection is sterling proof of that. The songs are ones their fans are no doubt familiar with, but each of the songs have been re-cut to celebrate the band’s milestone.” – Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville
Lonesome River Band continues their reputation as one of the most respected names in bluegrass music. Led by five-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Banjo Player of the Year, 2011 winner of the 2nd Annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, 3-time winner of the SPBGMA Banjo Performer of the Year Award and Virginia Country Music Hall of Famer Sammy Shelor, the group holds a powerhouse line up of award-winning players including vocalist and songwriter Brandon Rickman on guitar, Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, Barry Reed on bass and Jesse Smathers on mandolin and vocals.
Lonesome River Band’s enduring career includes 17 albums, three of which were released in 2012 in celebration of the group’s 30th anniversary. The band received the 2012 IBMA Award for Instrumental Recorded Event of the Year for their song “Angeline the Baker” from their CHRONOLOGY Volume One album along with Sammy Shelor taking home his fifth win as the 2012 IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year. Lonesome River Band has received other awards from IBMA including Album of the Year, along with numerous awards from SPBGMA including being named Bluegrass Band of Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year and Shelor as Banjo Player of the Year. Sammy Shelor received the 2nd Annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. In honor of this award, Lonesome River Band with special guest Steve Martin made an appearance and performed on the Late Show with David Letterman on November 11, 2011. The band's newest honors include 3 IBMA 2015 nominations, including Song of the Year ("Her Love Won't Turn On A Dime"), Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year ("Holding to the Right Hand"), and Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year ("Cumberland Gap"), all from the band's Billboard Top 10 Bluegrass Album Turn On A Dime.