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When Charlie Dreams 4:100:00/4:10
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Ramblin' Boy Blues 2:480:00/2:48
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Mountain Song 3:270:00/3:27
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0:00/2:42
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Judgment Day 4:130:00/4:13
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All Prayed Up 2:520:00/2:52
“At Winding Creek Bluegrass Festival, we consider Branded Bluegrass our "house band" as we will ask them to come back each year. When these boys take the stage they bring a lot of energy and are crowd pleasers.”
— Bob Auth, Promoter
BRANDED BLUEGRASS
Branded Bluegrass is a band from central Indiana with a catalog of music deeply rooted in traditional bluegrass and gospel, with a flair for some contemporary bluegrass, classic country and even a little bit of rock 'n roll now and then. Audiences are sure to enjoy their diversity, tight harmonies, energetic stage show, and charismatic personalities.
Band members have resumes including time spent playing with distinguished bands and artists such as Jimmy Martin, Marty Raybon, Doyle Lawson, James Monroe, IIIrd Tyme Out, Mac Weisman, just to name a few. Branded Bluegrass is inspired by traditionalists including Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Larry Sparks, as well as newer bluegrass acts like Blue Highway, NewFound Road, The Lonesome River Band.
Band members have resumes including time spent playing with distinguished bands and artists such as Jimmy Martin, Marty Raybon, Doyle Lawson, James Monroe, IIIrd Tyme Out, Mac Weisman, just to name a few. Branded Bluegrass is inspired by traditionalists including Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Larry Sparks, as well as newer bluegrass acts like Blue Highway, NewFound Road, The Lonesome River Band.
Sample tracks
Bluegrass Unlimited Review
BRANDED BLUEGRASS
SIMPLE DAYS
Out of Kokomo, Ind., comes Branded Bluegrass with Derek Dillman on banjo and guitar, Larry Norfleet on guitar and two tracks on mandolin, Jesse Norfleet on resonator, and Mike Martin on bass as well as hammered dulcimer on the instrumental standard “Angeline The Baker.” Randy Jones guests on mandolin. This is their debut recording, a traditional-style collection of four originals and ten covers.
In Dillman and Larry Norfleet, the group has two distinct lead singers. Norfleet has the clearer, more direct and unadorned style. He takes the majority of the leads, seven in all, and is at his best on the gospel tune “What A Beautiful Life,” on the slow Larry Sparks-style “He Died A Rounder,” and on his original composition “Simple Days,” a tuneful, upbeat wish for happier times. He also does a nice job on the pensive ballad “Soldier’s Prayer,” bringing to it just the right amount of pathos and emotion. Dillman, by contrast, has a bluesier, more traditional lead vocal, blending a moaning quality with bends and twists. His style works best on the uptempo “Everything” and “Fool For A Lonesome Train” and brings an interesting coloring to “Mr. Engineer,” arguably the most assured cut on the recording. Instrumentally, Dillman and Jones turn in the recording’s best performances.
Twice within the liner notes, the band makes a point of noting that they aimed for a “live…what you see is what you get” sound. In that, they succeed. That approach results in a certain energy and grit that recalls the bluegrass of the 1960s and the spunk of Jimmy Martin. I would say that a little more attention to detail in the harmonies and sound quality would have made this better, but it is still a pleasant release for a regional band.