Mountain Faith - That Which Matters

(Religious music, but who am I to judge. They've got it. Jasmine)

Willis, VA -- Mountain Fever Records is proud to announce the release of the brand new album from International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Emerging Artist of the Year nominee, Mountain Faith. That Which Matters is available everywhere today!

Even late in the afternoon when the shadow of Cowee Mountain stretches across the family tire shop, passersby can catch the bright notes of Appalachian bluegrass drifting from the back room of the service station where Mountain Faith – the SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominated band from Sylva, North Carolina – rehearses between customers. Everybody’s there: Sam McMahan keeping time on bass, Summer McMahan playing the fiddle and singing lead and harmony, Brayden McMahan plucking the banjo and singing harmony, Luke Dotson strumming the guitar and singing lead and harmony, and Cory Piatt picking the mandolin.
Although the band has been performing together since 2000, it's only been in the last few years that the music industry has begun taking note of the talented ensemble. In fact, earlier this month, Summer was awarded the IBMA's Momentum Award in the Vocalist category. While bluegrass fans may have been on the Mountain Faith "bandwagon" for a few years now, the rest of the country began taking notice of the family band through regular appearances as contestants on NBC television's popular show, America's Got Talent, making it through to the semi-finals in New York City.
Mountain Faith is winning fans inside the industry including Knee Deep in Bluegrass radio host Cindy Baucom who said, "After spending 30 years in radio and a lifetime around Bluegrass music, Mountain Faith is the kind of group I love to see emerge. I choose songs for radio based on performance quality, production quality and how it fits the genre...and I have no problem including Mountain Faith because they have all those things going for them. I think singer/fiddler, Summer McMahan is poised to take her music as far as she wants to ...and I will gladly be in her corner every step of the way!"
Band members include Sam McMahan on bass, Luke Dotson on guitar along with lead and harmony vocals, new member Cory Piatt on mandolin, Summer McMahan on fiddle along with lead and harmony vocals, and Brayden McMahan on banjo and harmony vocals. Summer's strong vocals are a hallmark of the band, putting her squarely in the middle of some of today's powerhouse young female bluegrass vocalists on the rise.
That Which Matters has already drawn excellent reviews from radio and media. The first single, "Emily (It's Love)" was released earlier this year and John Lawless said, "...here Summer McMahan sings it solo with a slurry, slippery style that is very modern while remaining true to her bluegrass roots. Simply brilliant." The same could be said about every track on this positive, gospel-tinged project. The album showcases the vocal talents of the entire band with Summer singing most all the lead vocals supported by beautiful, almost haunting in places, harmony vocals. There are plenty of hot licks and high lonesome harmonies to make this a favorite among bluegrass fans while the song selection is carefully thought out with the lead track, "Someone Prayed" setting the tone for a listening experience full of songs of hope, love, celebration and praise. And even though it would be tough to choose just one favorite, the closing track, "There Is A God" is surely a top contender.