Though they have worked most every side of the acoustic, Americana formula, Della Mae is back to their bluegrass roots, at least on their latest single, Family Tree.
Fans who came to enjoy their music in recent years may not know that when the group launched in 2010 up in Boston, they were a more traditionally bluegrass outfit. All female from the start, they took their name from the Osborne Brothers classic, Big Spike Hammer, and toured initially with a banjo player.
Della Mae was started by champion fiddler Kimber Ludiker and songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Celia Woodsmith, who continue to lead the band today. They haven’t hired a banjo picker, but now on Compass Records for their first full-length album in nearly five years, the ladies have access to the stellar banjo work of company president Alison Brown, which is used to full effect on Family Tree.
It’s a song written by Woodsmith, Della Mae guitarist Avril Smith, and Becky Warren with a distinct old time vibe, constructed as a conversation between the song’s narrator and a sycamore tree, with whom she discusses the problems she is facing.
With Celia singing lead and Kimber on fiddle, Avril plays guitar and mandolin, and Vickie Vaughn is on bass. Brown is on banjo, and produced the track, as she did the whole project.
Give it a listen.
Family Tree is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.
It will also be included on Della Mae’s upcoming album, Magic Accident, set to release next Friday on Compass Records.
