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Clay Hess may be one of the leading unsung heroes in bluegrass music. He plays all the instruments and sings all the parts, has served time with many of the top acts in our field, but mostly works tirelessly on the other side of the studio glass as a producer and recording engineer. His memorable [...]
Pinecastle Records has released a music video for their current single from The Clay Hess Band, Cold and Lonely. The track is available for download purchase now, and will be included on the new band album, Just Another Story, due July 20. Clay says that they shot the video in North Carolina on some rural [...]
When Clay Hess launched his record label, 7flat Records, he really intended it for distributing the music he would record with his own Clay Hess Band. But thinking more about it recently, he began to believe that he should use the opportunity to celebrate other artists in our music that are deserving of greater attention. And [...]
The Clay Hess Band has released the first single from their upcoming album, coinciding with the band's appearances at the SPBGMA conference this weekend. They've chosen a country classic from Kitty Wells, Cold and Lonely (Is The Forecast For Tonight), and sped it up about a million times turning it from a tearjerker to a [...]
Pinecastle Records has signed bluegrass singer, songwriter, and powerhouse flatpicker Clay Hess to the label. A new record with his Clay Hess Band is expected in 2018. Hess has been known as a guitar phenom for the past 20 years, hitting the scene with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder when Bryan Sutton left the band [...]
The Clay Hess Band has announced that Brady Wallen will begin touring with them on banjo, effective immediately. Brady is from Williamsburg, KY, and is currently studying in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies program at East Tennessee State University. He spent the prior semester as part of their Pride Band, an honors [...]
Thanks to Stacey Wright, who captured these images at last weekend's Miami Valley Brewfest in Miamisburg, OH. This was their second year for the festival, organized by Max Nunery with The Repeating Arms. Stacey says it has rained both years at the Brewfest, but that enthusiastic crowds have attended despite the poor weather.
Clay Hess and Tim Shelton, a pair of noted Ohio grassers, have announced their intention to tour together in 2017. They are setting to work now on a new recording, and are accepting dates for next year now with their trio, which will include Hess' son, Brennan, on bass. Hess first came to bluegrass prominence [...]
The Clay Hess Band will have a new look for the 2016 season. Nick Keen left the group in 2015, to be replaced by Dustin Frame on mandolin. Clay has also brought Ray Cossin in to play fiddle. Both should be familiar faces from previous work in bluegrass. Dustin worked recently for Audie Blaylock, and Ray has [...]
I have found that while what happens on the stages and showcases is definitely an important part of IBMA, but I think many folks will tell you that a lot of the magic happens here in small rooms and with people meeting each other, or reuniting with others in between all the scheduled activities. In [...]
