Live at Lakeview: Americana with Old Salt Union, The Young Fables

Live at Lakeview presents Americana this week with Old Salt Union and The Young Fables.

Old Salt Union is a string band founded by a horticulturist, cultivated by classically trained musicians and fueled by a vocalist/bass player who is also a hip-hop producer with a fondness for the Four Freshmen. It’ this collision of styles and musical vocabularies that informs the players’ fresh approach to bluegrass and gives them an electric live performance vibe that seems to pull more from Vaudeville than the front porch. Violinist John Brighton joins primary vocalist and bassist Jesse Farrar, along with mandolinist Justin Wallace, banjo player Ryan Murphey (the horticulturist) and guitarist Rob Kindle. “Old Salt Union has the groove and the chops of a great string band, balanced with infectious rock and roll energy. Their music occupies that sweet space between Old Crow folk and Yonder Mountain jam,” summed up No Depression.

Even old timers gotta love The Young Fables, whose followers are known as “Youngins.” The Young Fables are a promising modern-traditional country duo comprised of three-time American Idol veteran Laurel Wright and accomplished guitarist and vocalist Wesley Lunsford. The act hails from Maryville, Tennessee. They’ve appeared with such acts as Lauren Alaina, Josh Turner, Sara Evans, Chris Janson, Randy Houser, The Band Perry, Rascal Flatts and Chris Lane, quickly becoming a breakthrough faces on the country  and Americana scene. This year, The Young Fables released their sophomore album titled ‘Old Songs’ with Grammy Award winning producer Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay, Brandon Heath + Caedmon’s Call). These ten songs established the duo’s home in the Country/Americana community as a modern proclaimer and preservationist of classic country’s storytelling roots. Their latest music video, Half as Good is set to be featured on CMT this summer.