Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley

The album pairs Rob Ickes, the International Bluegrass Music Association's 15-time Dobro Player of Year, with rising singer/guitarist Trey Hensley whom Ickes recently discovered while recording in the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee. After collaborating with Hensley on an album track from Blue Highway’s current release, and inviting him to guest on some live shows, Ickes was inspired for the two musicians to record a studio project together.BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN is the result of that effort and it is a unique project in the way it seamlessly blends contemporary bluegrass and the spare studio stylings of classic ‘60s and ‘70s country music.

Hensley’s voice is something of a miracle, a throwback to the great country singer icons of the genre’s first golden era, at one moment evoking an early George Jones or Merle Haggard, and at another, Conway Twitty or Hank Snow. The fact that Hensley is still just in his early 20’s makes the experience of listening to him even more astounding. His talent has drawn the attention of more than his fair share of Music Row heavy weights including Marty Stuart who said: “Trey Hensley is the real deal—I’m one of his biggest fans.” Dobro master Rob Ickes is the perfect musical foil to Hensley’s prodigious talent, both as a musician and co-producer. His Dobro ornaments Hensley’s vocal lines with perfect finesse one moment and with jaw-dropping fire the next, showing why he is one of the best to ever pick up the instrument. On the production side of things, Ickes has a solid hand and deep musical understanding which enables him to draw the connections between bluegrass and early country to create a cohesive and highly successful end result.

The 13-track album includes a hard-driving cover of Billy Joe Shaver’s masterpiece “Georgia on A Fast Train,” which showcases Trey’s acoustic guitar chops, “My Way Is The Highway,” an original by Trey that elicits a classic country vibe, as well as the album’s title track, which is an elegantly played country shuffle that illustrates just how well Ickes and Hensley have absorbed the sounds of shared musical influences.

Featuring: Ron Block, Mike Bub, Susanne Cox, John Gardner, Aubrey Haynie,Shawn Lane, Andy Leftwich, John Randall Stewart, Dan Tyminski and Pete Wasner

“In the ever changing world of country music, it’s comforting to know that the real deal still exists.” —Marty Stuart

“I’m sure I don’t make a true ‘critic’ since I’m already such a fan, but the new album from Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley is a wonderful piece of work. And my songwriting side is truly overwhelmed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” —Merle Haggard

“The Trey Hensley/Rob Ickes collaboration…features both electrified honky tonk and Doc Watson-style acoustic bluegrass boogie with some killer flatpicking. And above all that enthralling, nuanced singing.” —Craig Havighurst, Music City Roots